UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Barber

Angelo picks Ľudovít Klein, citing his smooth striking, accuracy, and 90% takedown defense. He notes that Gamrot is chinny and gets dropped often, and that Klein will do damage on the feet while Gamrot holds on. He prefers a prop bet of 'inside the distance/decision no action' because Klein has finishing upside and Gamrot could win a takedown-heavy decision.

Big Brady picks Mateusz Gamrot, noting this is a massive step down in competition for Gamrot compared to his recent fights. He expects Gamrot to wrestle for 15 minutes, using the small cage to his advantage. He worries about judges in a damage-over-control era but still believes Gamrot wins a decision.

Connor agrees with Zane that Gamrot is the clear pick. He emphasizes that Klein's tendency to be a back-foot, pot-shot striker will not work against Gamrot's pressure and wrestling. Connor also notes that Klein's wrestling, when he uses it, will only lead him into Gamrot's world, where Gamrot is superior. He compares the matchup to Klein's fight with Michael Trizano, where Klein was out-jabbed, and expects a similar outcome with Gamrot's wrestling being the difference.

Matt picks Ľudovít Klein as an underdog. He believes Klein's 91% takedown defense and power striking will neutralize Gamrot's wrestling. Klein lands damaging shots and should win the first two rounds, potentially pulling off the upset. Matt likes Klein by decision at +330.

The MMA Guru picks Mateusz Gamrot, though he acknowledges Klein's danger. He believes Gamrot's size and grappling will be key, especially after getting hurt. He notes Klein's cardio issues and that Gamrot is world-class. He predicts Gamrot wins the later rounds, possibly by finish or decision.

Zane picks Gamrot because he believes Klein's style is a poor matchup for him. Klein tends to fight on the back foot, picking shots one at a time, and relies on either a wrestling advantage or a tempo advantage to win. Against Gamrot, who is a high-pressure wrestler with excellent grappling, Klein's wrestling will likely lead him into trouble. Zane also notes that Klein's recent opponents have been low-output, and Gamrot's pace and ability to wrestle will overwhelm him, similar to how Michael Trizano out-jabbed Klein.

Angelo picks Dustin Jacoby as the better striker with good takedown defense, but plants a seed of doubt about Jacoby's ability to handle forward pressure. He notes that Jacoby was losing to Vitor Petrino before a comeback KO, and that Bruno Lopes pressures forward well. He advises caution but believes Jacoby wins.

Big Brady picks Dustin Jacoby, believing Bruno Lopes is reckless on the feet and leaves openings. He notes Lopes has a path via grappling but doubts he will use it, citing Lopes' tendency to stand and trade. Jacoby has good get-up game and is hard to hold down. Brady predicts Jacoby will clip Lopes and knock him out in the first round, as Jacoby has many first-round KOs.

Connor also picks Lopes, citing that Jacoby's chin issues have made him hesitant and his game has lost its structure. Lopes, despite being a brawler, has a clear goal and is confident in his aggression. Connor notes that Jacoby used to be able to adjust to wrestlers, but now he seems aimless, making Lopes the safer pick.

Matt picks Dustin Jacoby to win by decision. He notes that Jacoby is a volume-based striker with good takedown defense, while Lopes is a BJJ black belt who struggles against better strikers. Jacoby should outwork Lopes on the feet, though his durability is a concern. Matt likes the decision prop at +250.

The MMA Guru picks Dustin Jacoby by TKO in rounds 2 or 3. He believes Jacoby's striking is too technical for Bruno Lopes, who has power but is less impressive. He notes Jacoby's good chin and ability to recover, and sees a kickboxing advantage. He predicts Jacoby will piece up Lopes after a shaky first round.

Zane picks Lopes because Jacoby's game has deteriorated significantly; he no longer fights with a clear plan, hesitates, and does wacky things like switching stances needlessly. Lopes, while limited, at least has a simple game plan of aggression, either brawling or pushing to the cage and looking for takedowns. Zane notes that Jacoby historically had issues with wrestlers, and his current indecisiveness makes him vulnerable to Lopes' pressure.

Angelo picks Ketlen Vieira, believing she can bully Macy Chiasson by closing the distance and negating Chiasson's length. He notes that Vieira lost to Kayla Harrison (potential champion) while Chiasson's win was due to a cut. He is cautious about betting on someone coming off a loss but would bet on Vieira as a dog if odds flip.

Big Brady picks Ketlen Vieira with low confidence, citing her elite takedown defense (88%) as the key factor. He notes that even Kayla Harrison struggled to take Vieira down. He believes Vieira is the better striker if the fight stays standing and may even take Chiasson down, as Chiasson has been taken down by lesser fighters. He expects a close decision.

Connor picks Chiasson for being crazy and aggressive, and because Vieira looks consistently uncomfortable on the feet. He notes that if Vieira cannot get takedowns, Chiasson could be the more aggressive clinch striker. However, he acknowledges the fight is low-level and hard to call.

Matt picks Macy Chiasson to win by decision. He values Chiasson's physicality and improving striking, which he believes will overcome Vieira's technical striking. He notes that Chiasson blends her striking with grappling effectively and sees value at -125, estimating her true odds around -150 to -185. He expects a decision win.

The MMA Guru picks Macy Chiasson over Ketlen Vieira, citing Chiasson's volume, pressure, and physicality advantage. He criticizes Vieira's recent performance against Miesha Tate and believes Chiasson's grit will force a high-output fight. He worries about a potential submission from Vieira but overall favors Chiasson.

Zane picks Vieira because he believes she can out-wrestle and out-grapple Chiasson, and that her strength and top control will be decisive. He notes that Chiasson has improved but still struggles in the clinch and is easy to hit. However, he acknowledges that if Vieira cannot get takedowns, she will struggle due to her poor striking confidence.

Angelo picks Zachary Reese but is hesitant due to Reese's tendency to play jiu-jitsu off his back and give up positions. He acknowledges Reese's power and size advantages and Todorović's questionable chin, but worries Reese might make bad decisions. He rates it as medium confidence on the website.

Big Brady fades Zachary Reese despite being a favorite, citing Reese's poor takedown defense (33%) and tendency to get finished. He notes Todorović has good ground-and-pound and can take Reese down. Although Todorović has terrible striking defense, Brady thinks Reese lacks the power to knock him out. He picks Todorović by second-round TKO.

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Reese because Todorović is a technical mess and easy to hit. He notes that Reese is also flawed but has more aggression and power. Connor emphasizes that this is a low-level fight and hard to pick with confidence.

Matt picks Zachary Reese to win by knockout in round one. He expects a short fight, noting that Reese is explosive and violent with 7 of 8 wins in the first round, while Todorović has deteriorating durability and often gets finished. Matt likes the under 1.5 rounds and Reese round one knockout prop, and also mentions Reese by submission round one as a long shot.

The MMA Guru picks Zachary Reese by first-round TKO, very confident. He notes Reese's size advantage (6'4") and Todorović's poor durability and chin. He mentions Todorović has been KO'd many times and Reese's pace is strong. He also had a PrizePicks bet on Reese under 5.25 minutes.

Zane picks Reese because he thinks Reese still has unchecked aggression and faith in his game, whereas Todorović seems to have lost confidence after a brutal loss. He notes that both fighters are low-level, but Todorović's tendency to knock himself out and his poor technical game make him the riskier pick.

Angelo picks Jafel Filho, noting his fast-paced style, solid takedown defense, and good fight IQ. He trusts Filho to be smart with aggression, unlike the unknown Gustafsson. He is concerned about Filho's lack of decision wins and Nascimento's durability (never finished), but believes Filho can win a decision if needed.

Big Brady expects a grappling-heavy fight and picks Allan Nascimento as the better grappler, noting he has never been submitted while Jafel Filho has been submitted twice. He believes Nascimento will eventually catch Filho in a submission later in the fight as Filho slows down. He predicts a third-round submission.

Matt leans with Jafel Filho at plus money. He believes Filho has good enough submission defense to neutralize Nascimento's grappling and is the better striker. Filho's calf kicks could slow Nascimento's takedown attempts. Matt expects Filho to win by decision, noting that Nascimento's losses have all come by decision.

The MMA Guru picks Jafel Filho as an underdog, citing his sharper striking, activity, and youth. He notes Filho's submission attempts are more varied (armbars, leg locks) while Nascimento relies on rear-naked chokes. He also highlights Nascimento's long layoff and multiple fight cancellations as concerns.

Angelo picks Kurt Holobaugh, calling Jordan Leavitt a one-dimensional jiu-jitsu nerd with poor striking and wrestling setups. He believes Holobaugh's forward pressure, power, and better all-around skills will prevail, though he notes Holobaugh's age (38) and subpar takedown defense as concerns. He placed a half-unit bet on Holobaugh at plus 140.

Big Brady picks Jordan Leavitt due to Kurt Holobaugh's terrible takedown defense, which he describes as a huge gaping hole. He notes that Holobaugh was easily taken down by lesser wrestlers like Hernandez and Trey Ogden. Leavitt is a good grappler with improving striking, and Brady expects him to take Holobaugh down and win a decision.

Matt picks Jordan Leavitt to win by decision. He notes that Holobaugh has poor takedown defense and is too accepting of being on his back, which plays into Leavitt's strength as a top-position grappler. Leavitt is not great on the feet but should be able to grind out a decision. Matt likes the over 2.5 rounds and Leavitt by decision prop.

The MMA Guru picks Kurt Holobaugh to finish Jordan Leavitt by TKO in the first or second round. He believes Holobaugh's striking and timing will be too much for Leavitt, and that Leavitt won't get an early submission. He notes Holobaugh's ability to get back up from takedowns and work in the clinch, and that the Apex environment benefits Holobaugh.

Matt picks Bolaji Oki to win by decision. He highlights Oki's power punching and ability to maintain his gas tank over three rounds, while Aswell is a basic pressure fighter moving up a weight class on short notice. He expects Oki to land the more eye-catching shots and win on the scorecards, noting Aswell's durability but lack of power.

Angelo picks Rayanne dos Santos because she is the better overall fighter with fluid striking, good movement, and solid takedown defense. He notes that Alice Ardelean is tough and a gamer but lacks technique and hasn't shown improvement. He expects a decision win for dos Santos, who should win two out of three rounds.

Big Brady picks Rayanne dos Santos but is hesitant due to her poor fight IQ, as seen in her loss to Puja Tomar where she chose to strike instead of using her black belt. He believes dos Santos has a clear grappling advantage but worries she will stand and strike, leading to a split decision. He ultimately picks her by decision, noting the risk of leaving it to the judges.

Matt picks Rayanne dos Santos to win by decision. He notes that dos Santos is the better striker and BJJ specialist, but has underperformed in her first two UFC fights, losing split decisions. He believes she will kick it up a notch with her back against the wall, mixing in takedowns and top pressure. He is not confident in the moneyline at -265 but likes the decision prop.

The MMA Guru picks Rayanne dos Santos based on her higher ceiling and younger age (27 vs 34). He acknowledges Alice Ardelean could out-physical her but believes dos Santos is the better technical fighter. He notes both are low-level but sees more potential in dos Santos.