UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis

Angelo is very confident in Almeida, citing his dominant grappling and pressure. He acknowledges Lewis has insane power and could land an uppercut, but thinks Almeida will get takedowns and avoid danger. He is surprised the line is tightening and would throw more money on Almeida if it continues. He compares Almeida's potential dominance to Sergey Spivak's performance against Lewis.

Big Brady picks Jailton Almeida to win by first-round submission. He notes that Almeida will shoot for a takedown within 10 seconds, and if Lewis doesn't land a big shot, Almeida will take him down and submit him. He criticizes Lewis's ground game, saying he relies on strength and explosion but can't do that against a BJJ black belt like Almeida. He acknowledges Lewis's power but favors Almeida.

Daniel Levi picks Jailton Almeida, citing his elite offensive wrestling and grappling, especially at heavyweight. He notes Almeida's speed, athleticism, and fight IQ, and believes he will take Lewis down and finish him within two rounds. Levi acknowledges Lewis's knockout power and path to victory if he can survive early takedowns and explode back up, but ultimately sees Almeida's dominance on the ground as too much. He mentions he won't lay the -500 chalk but will look for other angles like parlays or fight to start round 3.

James is extremely confident that Almeida will submit Lewis in round one. He notes that Lewis has been submitted before by Spivac and Cormier, and he expects Almeida to take him down and finish with an arm triangle or rear naked choke. He calls the Lewis win over Lima a lucky knockout and believes Almeida is way too good for Lewis at this stage. He places a same-game parlay: Almeida to get 1+ takedown, win in round 1, and win by submission, which he says is plus 250 and offers massive edge over the -130 price for submission alone at other books.

Almeida is a strong, explosive heavyweight who takes opponents down and finishes them with ground and pound or submissions. Lewis is taking the fight on short notice and often gets finished when he can't get a knockout. Almeida will take Lewis down and pound him out. The fight will end in the first round, so under 1.5 rounds is the safest bet.

The MMA Guru picks Jailton Almeida over Derrick Lewis. He acknowledges Lewis' strength against athletic wrestlers but notes that grapplers who work the clinch, like Sergey Spivak and Alexander Volkov, have succeeded. The Guru believes Almeida's underrated boxing and clinch work will allow him to drag Lewis down and ground-and-pound. He cites Lewis' age (38) and declining movement. He predicts a TKO via ground and pound.

Angelo picks Gabriel Bonfim, expecting him to grapple early and get the win. He notes Dalby is tough and could take it to a decision, which would be new for Bonfim. He likes the Bonfim brother parlay. He thinks the UFC knows what they're doing with this matchup.

Big Brady picks Gabriel Bonfim to win by first-round submission. He praises Bonfim's striking and opportunistic submission game, noting he subs opponents when they shoot for takedowns. He mentions Dalby has never been finished officially but was finished by Jesse Ronson (who popped for PEDs). He expects a club-and-sub sequence, with Bonfim knocking down Dalby and snatching a submission.

Daniel Levi picks Gabriel Bonfim, impressed by his undefeated record, 15 finishes, and versatile submission game including guillotines, rear-naked chokes, and triangles. He notes Bonfim's athleticism, explosiveness, and willingness to strike, but also acknowledges concerns about his striking defense and unproven cardio. Levi sees Dalby as a tough veteran who can turn fights into dogfights and drag Bonfim into deep water, but believes Bonfim's youth and tenacity will prevail. He is not laying the -600 chalk and plans to stay away from betting this fight, possibly poking at props.

James predicts Bonfim will run through Dalby, likely in round one. He notes that Dalby has been knocked out and submitted early by Jesse Ronson (overturned to NC) and sees a similar outcome here. He acknowledges that if Bonfim doesn't finish early, Dalby has a chance to come back in later rounds, but he believes Bonfim is a dangerous striker and opportunistic submission artist. He picks Bonfim to win, probably by submission in round one.

Bonfim is one of the best prospects, with great striking that sets up his submission game. He hurts opponents and then capitalizes on desperation takedowns to lock in chokes. Dalby is older and has faced lower-level competition recently. Bonfim will hurt Dalby on the feet, forcing a bad takedown attempt, and finish via submission inside the distance.

The MMA Guru picks Gabriel Bonfim over Nicolas Dalby. He emphasizes Bonfim's athleticism, size, and finishing ability, predicting a first-round submission. The Guru notes Dalby needs to be perfect for three rounds to win, while Bonfim can end it quickly. He references Bonfim's dominant win over Trevin Giles and his signature guillotine choke. He predicts a first-round guillotine.

Angelo picks Nascimento, trusting his grappling and cleaner path to victory. He notes Mayes has heavy hands and power, but Nascimento has a good chin. He hopes for an over 1.5 rounds line and would bet that, expecting Mayes to be more defensively aware after their first fight. He advises not betting on sloppy heavyweight fights otherwise.

Big Brady picks Rodrigo Nascimento to win by second-round submission. He notes that Nascimento won their first fight by submission and has improved at American Top Team. He believes Nascimento is better everywhere, with a BJJ base and 60% submission rate. He mentions Mayes has 56% takedown defense and can be taken down. He acknowledges Mayes has power but favors Nascimento.

Daniel Levi picks Rodrigo Nascimento, recalling that Nascimento dominated Mayes in their first fight, out-striking him and taking him down at will. He notes that Nascimento has been motivated in training, taking his diet and preparation seriously. Levi acknowledges Mayes' physical attributes and one-punch knockout power, but believes Nascimento's mental edge and proven superiority will carry him. He has concerns about Nascimento's chin and cardio, but still favors him to win.

James has a different take than most, believing the +160 price on Mayes is due to the previous fight result rather than skill disparity. He notes that Mayes didn't look bad in the first fight, getting up from bottom and landing decent strikes before giving up his back. He thinks if Mayes doesn't give up his back, the fight is a pick 'em. He also mentions that Nascimento is hittable and Mayes could get a knockout. However, he is not massively passionate about this pick, calling it more of a hunch.

The MMA Guru picks Rodrigo Nascimento over Don'Tale Mayes. He dismisses Mayes' win over Andrei Arlovski as facing an aging fighter. The Guru notes Mayes looked poor against Augusto Sakai and Hamdy Abdelwahab, being held against the cage. He believes Nascimento's grappling and clinch work will be the difference, and he also favors Nascimento's inside boxing. He predicts a 29-28 decision.

Angelo gives a slight lean to Borralho, expecting him to wrestle and get takedowns. He acknowledges Magomedov is a powerful striker and that Borralho has looked vulnerable in fights. He does not bet on this fight, considering Borralho a potential parlay buster. He notes that if Magomedov was fraud checked by Strickland, then Borralho should win easily.

Big Brady picks Caio Borralho to win by submission in the third round. He notes that Abus Magomedov has cardio issues, gassing after the first round against Sean Strickland. He believes Magomedov will win the first round but then fade, allowing Borralho to take over with takedowns and submissions. He also mentions Magomedov took the fight on short notice and is traveling to Brazil.

Daniel Levi picks Caio Borralho, citing his intelligent fighting style, elite Jiu-Jitsu under Damien Maia, and consistent performances. He notes that Borralho has shown holes in his game, such as cardio concerns and low striking output, but believes he is more reliable than Magomedov. Levi is concerned about Magomedov's performance against Sean Strickland, where he looked defeated and gassed quickly. He sees Magomedov as a wild card with a padded record, and while he considered a plus-money stab on Magomedov earlier, he ultimately leans Borralho.

James thinks the line is too wide and likes Magomedov at +250. He argues that Borralho rarely covers -300 unless he can dominate with grappling, and he is not sure Borralho can do that against Magomedov. He notes that Borralho gasses and that Magomedov has looked good in fights, including against Dustin Stoltzfus. He believes if the fight stays on the feet, it will be close, and Magomedov has value as a big underdog.

The MMA Guru picks Caio Borralho over Abusupiyan Magomedov. He questions Magomedov's cardio and durability, noting he gassed badly against Sean Strickland. The Guru highlights Borralho's size (6'2"), strong double-leg entries, and improving striking. He believes Borralho's grappling will neutralize Magomedov's wild striking and lead to a finish or dominant decision. He also calls Magomedov a 'quitter'.

Angelo picks Kruschewsky (referred to as 'reix' or 'rabix') despite Brener's upset win over Guram. He thinks the striking gap is wide and Brener's knockout was a lucky punch in a fight he was losing. He notes Kruschewsky has sneaky power, solid BJJ, but takedown defense is a concern. He placed a half-unit bet on Kruschewsky at +113, now +130.

Daniel Levi picks Elves Brener, noting his well-rounded skills, toughness, and ability to overcome adversity. He acknowledges that Brener's kill-or-be-killed style leaves openings and he gets hurt in fights, but he has never been finished. Levi is wary of Kruschewsky's short-notice debut and his own impressive record, but believes Brener's preparation and hometown advantage give him the edge. He expects an exciting fight and picks Brener, but cautions that an upset wouldn't surprise him.

James passes on this fight because he hasn't taped Kruschewsky yet, as the fight was made only 24-48 hours ago. He mentions he had a bet on Rivaldo Vieira against Brener at +145, but that fight was called off. He does not provide a pick or analysis for this matchup.

Brener has a BJJ black belt but doesn't often grapple; however, his path to victory is through grappling. Kruschewsky has sketchy takedown defense and Brener can control him on the ground. Brener is competitive enough in striking and has durability. If he implements grappling, he could get a submission finish, but there's low confidence because he doesn't usually grapple.

The MMA Guru picks Elves Brener over Kaynan Kruschewsky. He criticizes Kruschewsky's recent performances, calling them sloppy, and praises Brener's toughness and finishing ability. The Guru notes Brener's win over Guram Kutateladze and his competitive fight with L'udovit Klein. He predicts Brener will win by TKO in the later rounds.

Angelo is very high on Fakhretdinov, calling him the pick done right. He highlights Fakhretdinov's non-stop wrestling, power, and pressure. He thinks the 36-year-old Zaleski won't have what it takes. Angelo has made money on Fakhretdinov in every UFC fight and likes him even more now. He considers Fakhretdinov safe to parlay.

Big Brady picks Rinat Fakhretdinov to win by decision. He notes Fakhretdinov's dominant wrestling, controlling Brian Battle for 14 minutes and taking down Andreas Michailidis five times. He believes Fakhretdinov can take down Zaleski and grind out a decision, though he's not sure about a finish. He acknowledges Zaleski's toughness and BJJ but favors Fakhretdinov's wrestling and cardio.

Daniel Levi picks Rinat Fakhretdinov, impressed by his incredible stats: absorbs less than one strike per minute, 67% striking accuracy, over 5 takedowns per 15 minutes, and 100% takedown defense. He sees Fakhretdinov as a dominant wrestler who can control and finish fights. Levi respects Zaleski's toughness and highlight-reel kicks, but believes at 36 years old and coming off a suspension, Zaleski is in a tough spot. He expects Fakhretdinov to pressure, take him down, and possibly finish him.

James bet on Zaleski at +290, believing the line is too wide. He argues that Zaleski has much better takedown defense than Fakhretdinov's previous opponents and that if the fight stays on the feet, Zaleski is the more educated striker with nasty setups. He worries that Zaleski may be washed and can get hurt early, as seen in the Abubakar fight, but he also has Russian intel suggesting Fakhretdinov may be dealing with an injury and might strike more than grapple. James sees value in Zaleski as an underdog.

Fakhretdinov is a strong grappler with high-level cardio who chains takedowns together well. Zaleski may fend off takedowns early, but as the fight goes on, Fakhretdinov's pressure will be too much. He will accumulate top control time and win by decision. The line is a bit wide but Fakhretdinov should implement his style without too much resistance.

The MMA Guru picks Rinat Fakhretdinov over Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. He acknowledges Zaleski's underrated resume but notes his age and recent performances. The Guru highlights Fakhretdinov's dominant win over Brian Battle and his improving hands, combining grappling and striking. He believes Fakhretdinov's athleticism and pressure will be too much for the older Zaleski, predicting a decision or late finish.

Angelo picks Petrino but is not super confident. He notes Petrino is dangerous with power and athleticism, but can be sloppy and dropped. Bukauskas is a good striker with decent takedown defense. Angelo thinks Petrino's relentless aggression will win him the fight, but he leaves Petrino out of parlays because Bukauskas could play spoiler at plus money.

Big Brady picks Vitor Petrino to win by knockout in the second round. He criticizes Bukauskas as a boring point fighter and praises Petrino's evolving skillset, including takedowns and cardio. He believes Petrino can win by any method but prefers the knockout. He notes Petrino's physical strength and ability to go 15 minutes.

Daniel Levi picks Vitor Petrino, describing him as a physical freak with one-punch knockout power, strong wrestling, and submission skills. He notes that Petrino is still evolving and should be able to steamroll Bukauskas. Levi points out Bukauskas' poor striking defense, with his chin often in the air, and his history of being knocked out. He sees Bukauskas as a low-volume kickboxer who can be overwhelmed. Levi expects Petrino to finish the fight, possibly in the second round.

James is quite confident in Petrino, stating he has all the upside in every aspect of the fight: knockout, submission, and decision. He believes Petrino deserves to be a big favorite and that Bukauskas' only path to victory is if Petrino gasses or if it becomes a low-volume point striking affair, which he does not see happening. He does not specify a method of victory but is confident Petrino gets the win.

Petrino has shown a solid gas tank for light heavyweight and is working on his jiu-jitsu, as seen in his last fight. He has speed, power, and explosiveness that will trouble Bukauskas. Petrino can either knock him out or use his grappling advantage to take him down and grind him out. The -200 range is a good spot to jump in.

The MMA Guru picks Modestas Bukauskas as an underdog over Vitor Petrino. He highlights Bukauskas' experience and reach advantage, and notes his impressive performance against Tyson Pedro on short notice. The Guru believes Bukauskas is underrated and that Petrino may struggle with the reach and stand-up. He also mentions Bukauskas was arguably robbed against Marcin Prachnio. The Guru likes Bukauskas' odds.

Angelo picks Denise Gomes, citing the 15-year age gap and Hill's age. He notes Hill is durable and experienced, but Gomes is tough, comes forward, and has power. He placed a small half-unit bet on Gomes at -141. He cautions that if Gomes fights recklessly and gasses, Hill could win as an underdog.

Big Brady picks Angela Hill to win by decision but is hesitant. He notes Hill's experience and better competition, but worries about her age (38) and Gomes' power. He says Gomes is hittable but has real power for the division. He mentions that Hill just fought a five-round fight with Mackenzie Dern, so this is a step down in competition. He says he won't bet this fight.

Daniel Levi picks Denise Gomes, citing her rare one-punch knockout power in women's MMA and her aggressive style. He notes that Angela Hill, at 38, has slowed down and taken significant damage in recent fights, including a beating from Mackenzie Dern. Levi believes Gomes can hurt Hill on the feet and may even knock her out for the first time. He acknowledges Hill's experience and toughness, but sees Gomes' physicality and power as decisive factors. He is waiting for plus money on Gomes but leans toward her.

James sees this as a very close fight and is passing on betting. He believes Angela Hill is on a downward trajectory at 39 years old, gets hit often, and has been dropped in recent fights. He thinks Denise Gomes has power and could hurt Hill, but he is not sold on Gomes' overall game, describing her as uneducated on the feet. He notes that Hill has never been knocked out and could make it look easy if she can take Gomes' power, but he is not confident she can avoid getting clipped. He concludes it is a massive stay away.

Hill's volume striking style, speed, and footwork will allow her to stay out of danger and pick apart Gomes from distance. Gomes' wrestling is not good enough to hold Hill down for extended periods. Hill should be able to operate at distance and win a decision, making her a good underdog spot.

The MMA Guru picks Angela Hill as an underdog over Denise Gomes. He praises Hill's composure and durability, noting she is very hard to finish. He references Hill's win over Loma Lookboonmee on short notice in Australia as evidence of her toughness. The Guru believes if Gomes doesn't get an early finish, Hill will pull ahead in later rounds, predicting a close 29-28 decision. He also mentions he likes the underdog odds.

Angelo picks Eduarda Moura despite fading high-level wrestlers, because Montserrat Ruiz hasn't shown her wrestling consistently in the UFC. He notes Ruiz gets taken down and hit, and thinks the UFC is feeding her to Moura. However, he does not bet on this fight because Moura is a UFC newcomer in the favorite spot.

Big Brady picks Eduarda Moura to win by first-round submission. He notes that Moura is much bigger, has vicious ground and pound, and forces opponents to give up their back. He compares her favorably to Jacqueline Amorim, who dominated Ruiz but lacked finishing ground and pound. He questions why Ruiz is in the UFC, citing her inactivity and recent loss.

Daniel Levi picks Eduarda Moura, noting her physicality, size advantage (6 inches taller), and strong wrestling and grappling. He sees Ruiz as a one-dimensional fighter who relies on head-and-arm throws, which won't work against a stronger opponent. Levi expects Moura to neutralize Ruiz and win by submission or ground-and-pound TKO. He acknowledges the risk of laying heavy chalk on a female fighter making her debut, but believes the matchup is favorable.

James predicts Moura will dominate due to her size advantage and physicality, noting she has a 6-inch height advantage over Ruiz. He acknowledges that Moura is inexperienced with only 1.5 years as a pro and that she struggled in a grappling exchange against a Muay Thai fighter in 2021, but he believes she has improved significantly since then. He sees Ruiz as offering little and expects Moura to get takedowns easily and control the fight. However, he is annoyed that the line is -600, which he considers crazy, and he would have liked to bet against Moura if the opponent were different.

Moura is very strong and physical for the weight class, and will likely take Ruiz to the ground and smash her from top position. Ruiz is a one-trick pony with a head and arm throw, and Moura will be too big and strong for her. Moura should get the fight to the ground and eventually get a finish.

The MMA Guru picks Eduarda Moura over Montserrat Ruiz. He highlights Moura's grappling advantage, noting her impressive takedown entries on the Contender Series. He also points out a significant size and reach advantage for Moura, with Ruiz being very small for the division. The Guru believes Moura is more skilled overall and will win convincingly, likely via grappling.

Angelo leans towards Fernandes despite Diakiese's experience and competition edge. He believes Fernandes can defend takedowns and will stay in Diakiese's face with striking, causing trouble. He notes Diakiese has become more of a wrestler lately, but his wrestling is decent at best, while Fernandes has solid takedown defense. Angelo placed a small underdog bet on Fernandes at +145, noting the line is tightening.

Big Brady picks Marc Diakiese to win by decision. He notes that Diakiese has evolved into a wrestler, with 11 takedowns against Slava Borshchev and 8 against Damir Hadzovic. He trusts Diakiese's cardio and fight IQ, and believes Fernandes is dangerous early but fades. He also mentions that Diakiese's submission loss to Joel Alvarez was due to a head clash.

Daniel Levi picks Marc Diakiese, citing his UFC experience, improved cardio, and well-rounded game. He notes that Diakiese has evolved from a dynamic striker to a more complete fighter who uses offensive wrestling. Levi acknowledges Diakiese's inconsistency and tendency to flake, but believes this is a step down in competition. He sees Fernandes as dangerous early with his BJJ and head kicks, but expects Diakiese's cardio and wrestling to take over in later rounds. Levi is leaning Diakiese but not with high confidence.

James acknowledges that Diakiese deserves to be a favorite but sees too much danger on the Fernandes side due to his unproven UFC debut and potential cardio issues. He notes that Diakiese has been submitted multiple times and that Fernandes has speed and power, but he also points out that Fernandes gassed in his last extended fight. Ultimately, James is not betting this fight because he cannot trust either fighter, but he leans Diakiese as the rightful favorite.

Diakiese has a solid submission defense to thwart Fernandes' offensive attacks on the mat. As the fight goes into deeper waters, Diakiese will find it easier to control Fernandes on the mat and do good work from top position. Diakiese is good enough in the striking realm to deal with Fernandes' early threat, and will likely drag the fight to the ground and grind out a decision win.

The MMA Guru picks Marc Diakiese over Kauê Fernandes. He notes that Fernandes is a good regional fighter with finishing potential, but he gassed after the first round when facing adversity. Diakiese is tough to finish early, having only lost to Joel Alvarez due to a head clash. The Guru expects Diakiese to weather an early storm and then take over in the later rounds via grappling, predicting a third-round TKO or submission.