UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan

Cody also picks Dern by submission but expresses hesitations about her takedown accuracy (9%) and ability to get the fight to the ground consistently. He notes that Yan Xiaonan is tough and has good takedown defense, and that Dern's path to victory is entirely on the mat. He suggests live betting Yan if Dern fails to secure early takedowns, and mentions that Dern's submission win is the most logical outcome but not a lock.

Paul picks Mackenzie Dern by submission, noting her world-class jiu-jitsu and ability to get the fight to the ground via pulling guard or ugly clinch work. He acknowledges her one-dimensional striking and that Yan Xiaonan will likely win the standup, but believes Dern's durability and submission threat will prevail. He mentions the over/under on prize picks and the inside distance prop, but his official pick is Dern by submission.

The MMA Guru believes Mackenzie Dern's elite BJJ will be the deciding factor over five rounds. He notes that Yan Xiaonan has lost two straight and was dominated by Carla Esparza, who used a similar grappling-heavy game plan. He thinks Dern will eventually get the fight to the ground and secure a submission, as Yan has not faced a grappler of Dern's level since a faded Claudia Gadelha. He acknowledges Yan could win rounds early but expects Dern's persistence to pay off.

Cody picks Trinaldo as a plus money underdog, believing the line should be closer to -170/+150. He argues that Trinaldo is very good at making opponents fight at his pace and that Brown's boxing is not as functional as it seems. He expects a close fight and wants to be holding the plus 270 ticket if it goes to decision. He plans to bet Trinaldo and may wait for a better price at weigh-ins.

Paul picks Randy Brown by decision, citing Brown's significant reach advantage, improved striking, and ability to use his jab and footwork to outpoint Trinaldo. He acknowledges Trinaldo's durability and winning streak but believes Brown's superior technique and youth will prevail. He notes that Trinaldo has never been knocked down and hasn't been submitted since 2017, so a decision is the most likely outcome.

The MMA Guru sees this as a complete mismatch, citing Randy Brown's significant advantages in height, reach, and athleticism over the 44-year-old Trinaldo. He expects Brown to use volume striking from distance and possibly mix in wrestling, similar to his win over Cowboy Oliveira. He believes Trinaldo's only path is an early knockout, but Brown's activity and youth should overwhelm him. He calls it a 'free betting boost' and includes Brown in his parlay.

Cody picks Trevin Jones by knockout, noting that Jones hits hard and Barcelos has been taking a lot of damage recently. He expects Barcelos to be winning the minutes until he gets caught. He is tempted by the +575 knockout prop but is not as confident as his Trinaldo bet. He suggests playing the moneyline instead of the prop to avoid a decision loss.

Paul picks Raoni Barcelos by unanimous decision, expecting him to outwork Trevin Jones with higher output, better footwork, and superior hand combinations. He acknowledges Barcelos has slowed down slightly but believes his technical boxing and well-rounded game will be enough to win rounds. He notes Jones has power but low volume, and Barcelos has never been knocked down, so a decision is likely.

The MMA Guru picks Raoni Barcelos, believing he is the more consistent and skilled fighter. He notes that Barcelos looks like his old self when allowed to fight at his own pace, and Trevin Jones lacks the volume and pressure to exploit Barcelos's cardio issues. He thinks Barcelos will win a clear decision, as Jones is sloppy and gets backed up easily. He includes Barcelos in his parlay and calls him a favorite double-up.

Cody picks Sodiq Yusuff to win, but is not fully sold on him due to his tendency to fight to his opponent's level and get hit. He acknowledges Shainis has a puncher's chance but believes Yusuff's talent and experience will prevail. He prefers the under (fight doesn't go to decision) as a bet, noting that Shainis usually finishes or gets finished.

Paul picks the under (fight doesn't go to decision) rather than a side, believing that either Yusuff finishes Shainis or Shainis catches Yusuff early. He notes that Shainis has power and Yusuff has been wobbled before, but Yusuff is the more talented fighter. He sees value in the 'fight doesn't go to decision' prop at -200 and expects it to move to -300. He also mentions parlaying this prop with other picks.

The MMA Guru is very confident in Sodiq Yusuff, calling the fight a mismatch. He notes that Yusuff has fought and beaten high-level competition, while Don Shainis's opponents have been low-level. He believes Yusuff can win however he wants, whether by striking or wrestling. He acknowledges the short-notice factor but thinks Yusuff's skills are far superior. He does not bet due to the heavy favorite price.

Cody picks Mike Davis to win, highlighting Davis's talent and the praise from training partners. He notes Davis has been inactive but is still young and improving. He expects Davis to counter Borshchev's hooks and low kicks with his jab and straight right, and to mix in takedowns to secure rounds. He is confident Davis gets the job done despite the layoff.

Paul picks Mike Davis by decision, citing Davis's superior wrestling and ability to mix in takedowns. He notes that Borshchev gives up takedowns frequently and Davis has underrated wrestling. He expects Davis to use his jab and hand speed to outpoint Borshchev on the feet if he chooses, but believes mixing in wrestling will solidify rounds. He mentions the 2.5 takedown prop on PrizePicks.

The MMA Guru picks Mike Davis, emphasizing his multiple paths to victory. He notes that Davis is a smart fighter who can implement wrestling and grappling, similar to Mark D. Casey's game plan against Borshchev. He warns Davis not to get into a pure striking affair, as Borshchev is a world-class kickboxer. He expects Davis to mix takedowns with striking and win a decision, citing Davis's layoff and Borshchev's short notice as factors.

Cody leans towards Daniel Santos as a plus money underdog, expecting a low-volume fight where Santos's power and killer intent could be the difference. He acknowledges Castañeda's durability and pressure but thinks Santos has a puncher's chance. He is not fully confident and may not bet it.

Paul leans towards John Castañeda, citing his durability, forward pressure, and ability to break opponents. He notes that Santos has a history of first-round finishes but fades if he doesn't get the early finish. He expects Castañeda to mix in wrestling and outwork Santos in the later rounds. He considers live betting Castañeda if Santos wins the first round.

The MMA Guru is high on John Castañeda, calling him one of his favorite favorites on the card. He believes Castañeda's smothering wrestling and fundamental striking will overwhelm Daniel Santos, who he views as a wild Muay Thai striker not ready for UFC level. He predicts Castañeda will get a submission, possibly an arm triangle, after wearing Santos down on the ground. He includes Castañeda in his parlay.

Cody picks Ilir Latifi to win, highlighting his power and the favorable matchup. He notes that Oleinik has a compromised chin and that Latifi's big hooks could knock him out. He expects Latifi to either knock out Oleinik early or grind out a decision. He mentions that Latifi has been training at All-Stars in Sweden and looks motivated.

Paul picks Ilir Latifi to win, citing his takedown ability and top control. He notes that Oleinik is unlikely to submit Latifi due to his lack of a neck, and that Latifi's power could lead to a knockout. He expects a slow, grinding fight but believes Latifi's style is a bad matchup for Oleinik. He is not betting due to emotional attachment to both fighters.

The MMA Guru picks Aleksei Oleinik, despite acknowledging the difficulty of submitting Latifi due to his lack of a neck. He believes Oleinik has the cardio advantage and can outlast Latifi, who hasn't knocked anyone out since 2016. He thinks Oleinik will win a decision by outworking Latifi with volume and grappling. He calls the plus money on Oleinik 'crazy' and bets on him.

Cody picks Jesse Ronson as an underdog, citing his better striking and size advantage. He acknowledges Ronson looked bad in his last fight but attributes it to the illegal knee and layoff. He believes Ronson's counter-punching could knock out Silva, who has a questionable chin. He is not very confident but likes the plus money.

Paul picks Joaquim Silva, but is not confident. He notes that both fighters are coming off losses and are in a 'kill or be killed' situation. He believes Silva has a slight grappling advantage and that Ronson looked poor in his last fight. He prefers the 'fight doesn't go to decision' prop as the best bet on this fight.

The MMA Guru picks Joaquim Silva, noting that Silva has fought better competition and is more reliable than Jesse Ronson. He mentions that Ronson is 'chokey' and has questionable split decision losses, while Silva has been training grappling extensively. He thinks Silva can win by submission or decision, but is not confident enough to bet on it.

Cody picks Brendan Allen by decision, citing Allen's youth and improvement. He notes that Jotko's style of controlling against the cage may not be enough to win rounds if he doesn't do damage. He expects a greasy, close fight and takes the slight underdog.

Paul leans towards Brendan Allen as a slight underdog, believing the fight is 50/50. He notes that Jotko's control-heavy style may not impress judges, and Allen has shown improvements and a willingness to push the pace. He expects a close fight and gives a slight edge to Allen on the feet.

The MMA Guru picks Krzysztof Jotko, calling him a well-rounded fighter who is better than people admit. He believes Jotko's defensive wrestling and kickboxing will frustrate Brendan Allen, who he views as 'wolf tickets' and unlikely to be ranked. He expects Jotko to win a decision by blending his skills and avoiding Allen's grappling. He considers Jotko a significant favorite and includes him in his parlay.

Cody leans towards Julija Stoliarenko, noting her dangerous armbar and improved striking. He is concerned about Chandler's size and the catchweight, but believes Stoliarenko's submission threat is real. He prefers the submission prop but may wait for weigh-ins to assess size discrepancy.

Paul picks Julija Stoliarenko by submission, noting her specialty is the armbar and she has shown improvement in her overall game. He acknowledges Chandler is bigger and has some jiu-jitsu, but believes Stoliarenko's experience and ability to capitalize on mistakes will be key. He suggests waiting for a better price on the submission prop.

The MMA Guru leans toward Julija Stoliarenko, noting her specific skill set of armbars and judo. He thinks she can take Chandler down and control her on the ground, possibly submitting her. He is less confident because Chandler is untested and has a thyroid issue affecting weight cut, but he believes Stoliarenko has faced better competition. He calls it a pick'em fight.

Cody picks Randy Costa to win, citing his striking and power. He notes that Costa has looked good in recent fights and that Cannetti is 42 and has durability issues. He expects an early finish and likes the under 2.5 rounds. He also sees value in Guido Cannetti as a live underdog if Costa fades.

Paul picks Randy Costa to win, but is not confident in the -300 moneyline. He expects Costa to come out fast and finish early, but acknowledges Costa's cardio issues. He is interested in props on Guido Cannetti if Costa fades. He believes the fight will not go the distance and likes the under 2.5 rounds prop.

The MMA Guru picks Guido Cannetti, believing he will knock out Randy Costa in the first round. He notes that both fighters fade after the first round, but Cannetti has power and Costa has a weak chin. He calls Costa 'wolf tickets' and criticizes the -300 price on Costa, saying anyone betting that has a gambling addiction. He expects a first-round KO from Cannetti.