UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales

Angelo picks Michael Morales confidently, citing that Morales is a better wrestler, striker, bigger, faster, stronger, and younger than Gilbert Burns. He notes that Burns is on the wrong side of 35 and coming off a loss to Sean Brady where his grappling was neutralized. Angelo questions what game plan Burns could have, as Morales is a national wrestling champion and Burns was just knocked out. He is shocked Morales is only -600 and expects the line to close at -1000.

Big Brady picks Michael Morales, citing Burns' age (38), three-fight skid, and declining durability. He notes Morales is a much better striker with volume and power, and expects him to find Burns' chin. He predicts a second-round knockout.

The host thinks Morales is a huge favorite but not justified given Burns' strength of schedule; Burns' three-fight losing streak came against top competition. He gives Burns the benefit of the doubt as a championship gatekeeper but worries if Burns can't dictate pace or get takedowns, his cardio fades and Morales can take over and knock him out. He picks Morales to win by knockout, but notes minus 800 is tough to get behind. He also leans under 3.5 rounds.

The Guru picks Michael Morales, calling him a crazy natural athlete who controls distance well and switches stances. He thinks Burns is past his prime and lacks the grit to engage, citing the Sean Brady fight where Burns didn't let his hands go. He believes the five-round fight benefits Morales' picking style and predicts a decision win (49-46). He notes the -850 odds are insane and thinks Morales is not that good, but still picks him.

Angelo picks Sodiq Yusuff as the underdog, but with hesitation. He notes that Yusuff is a fantastic striker with incredible speed and a wide variety of attacks, but is on a two-fight skid. He contrasts Santos's methodical approach with Diego Lopez's aggressive style that troubled Yusuff, suggesting that if Santos lets Yusuff settle in, Yusuff could win. However, he also acknowledges that Santos is good and could control the pace. Angelo's pick seems influenced by personal affinity for Yusuff's social media presence.

Big Brady picks Mairon Santos, citing his power and durability. He notes Sodiq Yusuff's inactivity, injuries, and questionable chin. He expects a standing banger and predicts Santos wins by first-round knockout, though he is not fully confident.

The host thinks the public is low on Santos due to a controversial decision win, but sees this as a winnable fight for him. He expects Santos to dictate the pace with high output and volume, which should muzzle Yusuff, who needs a knockout to win. He leans with Santos to win on the scorecards.

The Guru picks Mairon Santos, calling him underrated and believing he should have won his last fight against Francis Marshall. He thinks Santos is talented and hungry, while Sodiq Yusuff is chinny and not a full-time fighter anymore. He predicts Santos will finish Yusuff by TKO, noting Yusuff gets wobbled easily.

Angelo picks Nursulton Ruziboev confidently, calling him an absolute beast. He highlights Ruziboev's massive 6'5" frame, wrestling and grappling prowess, and a good chin. He notes that Ruziboev's only UFC loss was to Buckley at 170 lbs, which is credible. Angelo expects Ruziboev to be patient, eat a few shots, and then pour it on later. He finds the -280 odds affordable and suggests the over might be sneaky good if a round line is available.

Big Brady picks Dustin Stoltzfus as a plus-240 underdog, citing Ruziboev's poor takedown defense and lack of volume. He believes Stoltzfus can take Ruziboev down and control him, making Ruziboev's power useless. He expects a decision win if Stoltzfus fights smart.

The host acknowledges Ruziboev's power and striking advantage but notes he has been grinded out by lesser grapplers. He believes Stoltzfus, with his BJJ black belt and wrestling improvements from Extreme Couture, can get Ruziboev to the ground and grind him out from top position, either winning on the scorecards or finding a submission.

The Guru picks Nursulton Ruziboev, calling him a dirty fighter who moves well and has a ton of experience. He thinks Ruziboev is better at middleweight with more power. He notes Stoltzfus has been styled on by opponents like Bruno Ferreira and doesn't see a path to victory. He predicts a TKO in the first or second round.

Angelo picks Melquizael Costa with high confidence, stating that Costa should be better everywhere. He notes Costa's creative striking, solid grappling, and incredible scrambles. His only concern is Costa's activity level, as this will be his fifth fight in 12 months, which could lead to nagging injuries or fatigue. However, Angelo is not overly concerned and expects Costa to win.

Big Brady picks Julian Erosa as a dog, acknowledging Costa could knock him out early. He notes Costa's quick turnaround and tendency to slow down, while Erosa has great cardio and a nasty choke game. He predicts Erosa wins by second-round submission if it gets extended.

The host notes Costa's aggressiveness and unorthodox striking can catch Erosa off guard, especially since six of Erosa's seven losses have come by knockout. He feels Costa can take advantage of Erosa's mistakes and get a finish. He also likes the under 2.5 rounds.

The Guru picks Melquizael Costa, calling him a fellow 'fraud checker' who can handle Julian Erosa's gritty style. He notes Costa's grappling looked improved against Christian Rodriguez and his kicks are very good. He worries about Erosa's upset potential but believes Costa is better and more active. He predicts a TKO or decision win.

Angelo picks Matheus Camilo, noting that Gabe Green is moving down to lightweight after two years off, which he sees as a desperate move. He believes Green will look horrific at 155 lbs and that his success came from being a bully at welterweight. Angelo thinks Camilo is a rare prospect with power, cardio, and a good chin, and that the odds feel appropriate with good value.

Big Brady picks Matheus Camilo, noting his power and aggression. He highlights Gabe Green's long layoff, health issues, and suspect chin. He expects a first-round knockout as both swing dicks, trusting the younger, more durable fighter.

The host likes Camilo's raw tools, power, and aggressive BJJ game. He thinks Green has been away too long, coming back from injury and dropping to 155 lbs, which will be a bad wakeup call. He expects Camilo to be too much of a buzzsaw and get a TKO finish. He also likes the under 2.5 rounds.

The Guru picks Matheus Camilo, calling him a dangerous finisher with multiple ways to win (left hook KO, triangles). He notes Camilo showed well-rounded skills in his last fight, chewing up the leg in round three. He thinks Gabriel Green may struggle with speed and frequency at lightweight, predicting a first-round TKO.

Angelo picks Thiago Moises after going back and forth. He acknowledges that Jared Gordon has been screwed on scorecards and could be on a win streak, but trusts Moises's training and activity. He notes that Moises is a slick grappler with technical striking and that Gordon is inactive and not on as good a team. Angelo says likely no bets for this fight.

Big Brady picks Jared Gordon, citing his volume and cardio. He notes Gordon's losses are to tough competition in close decisions, and he thinks Gordon's takedown defense and chin hold up. He expects a close competitive decision win for Gordon.

The host finds this a tough puzzle but leans with Gordon's pace and pressure. He notes Moises has looked good against certain opponents but doesn't do well against guys who set the pace, and Gordon is exactly that. He expects Gordon to grind out a high pace, possibly get a late finish, but mostly win on the scorecards, provided his durability holds up.

The Guru picks Jared Gordon, citing a rule of thumb that beating Thiago Moises means you're good. He thinks Gordon has been robbed in recent decisions (Bobby Green, Nazareno Malegarie) and is better than his record. He acknowledges grappling concerns from the Grant Dawson loss but believes Gordon's fundamental grappling defense is strong. He predicts Gordon wins by decision.

Angelo picks Yadier Del Valle but with hesitation, noting that the line feels wide at more than 4:1 favorite. He acknowledges that Connor Matthews is not top-tier but not garbage either. He points out that Matthews has a chin issue and that Del Valle doesn't have knockout power, so Matthews could get an early takedown. Angelo advises against betting on this fight.

Big Brady picks Yadier Del Valle, calling Connor Matthews a 'punching bag' who has been beaten down in the UFC. He notes Del Valle is well-rounded with solid grappling and volume. He predicts Del Valle will finish Matthews by knockout in the second round.

The host thinks both fighters have questions, but Del Valle seems better than what Matthews brings. He expects Del Valle to use his physicality, forward pressure, and grinding ability to wear out Matthews and win on the scorecards. The pick is confident but not a lock.

The Guru picks Yadier Del Valle but is not high on him as a prospect. He notes Del Valle has good cardio and poured it on in his Contender Series win, but worries about takedown defense against Connor Matthews. He thinks the odds are too wide (Matthews around +400) and says Del Valle should be a 2-to-1 favorite, not a huge favorite. He predicts a TKO.

Angelo picks Tainara Lisboa, following the public trend as the line moved from Santos being favorite to underdog. He sees it as a 50/50 fight where Lisboa is the better striker and Santos the better grappler. He notes that Santos relies heavily on judo throws and if Lisboa can stay off the cage, she can land the more meaningful strikes. He also suggests parlaying the over 2.5 rounds in this fight with another women's fight.

Big Brady leans with Tainara Lisboa as a dog, noting she is the better striker with solid grappling. He is concerned about Lisboa's injury layoff but thinks if she is healthy, it's a close fight. He picks Lisboa by decision with little confidence.

The host agrees with the line moving towards Santos but with not a lot of confidence. He thinks her BJJ black belt and judo background will allow her to get positions on the ground to avoid Lisboa's Muay Thai striking advantage. However, he notes Santos has been flaky in the striking realm and may have trouble if she can't close the gap. He gives her the benefit of the doubt to grind out a decision win.

The Guru picks Luana Santos but admits he doesn't know why, calling it a guess. He notes Santos is young (25) and lost to Casey O'Neill, while Lisboa barely edged a decision. He predicts a 29-28 decision, possibly with a late submission. He rambles about a dog controversy and seems uncertain.

Angelo picks Denise Gomes, acknowledging that the odds are wide but understanding why she is the favorite. He notes that Elise Reed is a gamer and can make it competitive, but Gomes is a very good fighter who can grapple and strike. He mentions that without Jacob in Reed's corner, there is concern about her getting held against the cage. He thinks Gomes will win if she moves forward and uses pressure.

Big Brady picks Denise Gomes, highlighting her power and ground-and-pound. He notes Elise Reed's huge hole in her ground game, with all four losses by finish. He predicts Gomes will hurt Reed on the feet or take her down and submit her in the second round.

The host is surprised by the wide line, noting Gomes is not a high-level grappler and doesn't often look to grapple, which has been Reed's issue. He thinks if it's a striking battle, Reed can be competitive with her taekwondo background. He leans with Gomes due to her physicality and clinch work, but says don't be surprised if Reed pulls off the upset. Official prediction is Gomes by decision.

The Guru picks Denise Gomes confidently, calling her a -575 favorite who 'hits like a man' and has decent grappling. He thinks Elise Reed is outmatched and will be finished, predicting a TKO in the first round. He criticizes the matchmaking as a sacrificial lamb for Reed.

Angelo picks Park Hyun-sung but notes that the 2:1 odds seem a bit off. He describes Park as a slick grappler who is a finisher but has looked uncomfortable on his feet. He notes that Carlos Hernandez is a grappler with okay striking and improving wrestling. Angelo thinks this fight is a test for Park and that Hernandez is tough, so he might consider the over if a 1.5 round line is available.

Big Brady picks Park Hyun-sung, citing his finishing upside and slick grappling. He notes Carlos Hernandez is okay everywhere but lacks knockout power and has poor takedown defense. He expects Park to mix in takedowns and win a competitive decision.

The host is high on Park as one of his favorite Korean prospects, citing his firepower, physicality, and athleticism. He believes Park can land more significant damage whether striking or mixing in takedowns, and that will be the difference maker. The pick is confident but not a lock.

The Guru picks Park Hyun-sung, calling him a great prospect with finishing potential. He notes Carlos Hernandez has lost too many times and lacks fluidity. He acknowledges Hernandez could make it gritty and win later rounds, but leans toward Park getting a TKO. He does not see Park as a legitimate contender yet.

Angelo picks Tecia Pennington, stating she should win all day long. He notes that Pennington is good everywhere, with good boxing, solid grappling, and insane cardio. He acknowledges that the line at -400 is a little sketchy but believes she wins more often than not. He suggests the over might be more affordable and advises keeping an eye on the over line.

Big Brady picks Tecia Pennington, noting that Luana Pinheiro fades after the 7.5-minute mark. He argues Pennington's losses are to elite fighters in close decisions, and a loss to Pinheiro would be her worst ever. He expects Pennington to win by decision.

The host is surprised Pennington is such a big favorite, believing Pinheiro matches her in physicality and may be the better striker in terms of landing significant damage. He sees Pinheiro as very live to pull off the upset and picks her to win by decision. However, the pick is not made with high confidence, as he acknowledges the line is surprising.

The Guru picks Tecia Pennington, calling her underrated and strong for the division. He believes she scrambles well and won't be outgrappled by Luana Pinheiro. He notes Pennington was robbed in past decisions against Mackenzie Dern and Tabatha Ricci, and thinks she is better overall. He predicts a 29-28 decision win.