UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2

Angelo is very confident in Moreno, citing his pace, toughness, and improvement since their last fight. He believes Moreno is better everywhere and will eventually break Royval, likely in the fourth or fifth round. He notes Moreno already won this fight once and will do it again at home.

Big Brady picks Brandon Moreno to win by decision. He notes that Moreno has never been finished in 30 fights, which is crucial against a finisher like Royval. He believes Moreno has more paths to win, especially by taking the fight to the mat where Royval has poor takedown defense (40%). He thinks Moreno can control Royval on the ground and potentially submit him, but leans toward a decision. He questions Royval's ability to win a decision or finish Moreno.

Cody picks Moreno, citing Moreno's cast-iron chin, takedown ability, and the fact that Royval is coming in on short notice after a five-round war with Pantoja eight weeks ago. He notes Royval's takedown defense is a serious problem and that Moreno already beat him once. He acknowledges the line is justifiable and is not playing contrarian.

The host expects Moreno to replicate his first fight strategy by using his wrestling advantage to control Royval on the ground. He notes Moreno's good submission defense against Royval's aggressive style. Even if the fight stays standing, Moreno is the more technical striker. He predicts Moreno will grind out a decision victory.

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Moreno. He highlights Moreno's cast-iron durability as kryptonite to Royval's game, and notes that Moreno's ability to mix in takedowns will secure rounds in front of a hometown crowd. He also mentions Royval's short-notice turnaround and the altitude disadvantage, though Royval trains in Denver.

Angelo picks Ortega with low confidence, citing the first fight where Ortega was winning before his shoulder injury. He notes the elevation and crowd in Mexico could favor Rodriguez, but trusts his brain over his gut. He worries about Ortega's long layoff but believes he can squeak out a win.

Big Brady picks Yair Rodríguez to win by third-round knockout. He notes that Rodríguez has been more active and looked impressive against Josh Emmett, while Ortega has had a long layoff. He believes Rodríguez has the advantage on the feet with his kicks and power, and that Ortega is hittable. He doubts Ortega's wrestling will be effective, as Rodríguez stuffed takedowns in their first fight. He expects Rodríguez to dominate at range and eventually finish Ortega.

Cody picks Ortega, noting that in their first fight Ortega was winning before the shoulder injury. He believes Ortega's skills haven't digressed, his jiu-jitsu is second to none, and his wrestling is good enough to take down Rodriguez. He also mentions Ortega's ability to come back better after layoffs, as he did after the Holloway loss. He considers the plus 130 price good value.

The host recalls the first fight where Rodríguez kept Ortega at bay with striking and Ortega's only success was a clinch takedown that led to an injury. He believes Rodríguez needs to keep the fight standing, and even if it goes to the ground, Rodríguez has worked on his jiu-jitsu to defend and get back to his feet. He predicts Rodríguez will finish Ortega by the third round.

Paul is leaning towards Ortega but is hesitant due to the year-and-a-half layoff, Ortega's age (33), and his recent record (lost last two, hasn't finished in six years). However, he acknowledges Ortega matched up well in the first fight and has the skills to win. He says if he had a gun to his head he'd pick Ortega, but it's a wild card pick.

Angelo picks Zellhuber as the more well-rounded fighter, citing his length, takedown defense, and ability to threaten submissions. He believes Zellhuber will avoid Prado's early storm and take over as Prado fades. He mentions a decision win is likely but also considers a no action bet.

Big Brady picks Daniel Zellhuber to win by decision. He notes that Zellhuber is a hometown fighter from Mexico City and has a height and reach advantage. He likes Zellhuber's volume, cardio, and sneaky power and submission game. He is not high on Francisco Prado, who has fought lower-level competition. Brady expects the fight to be competitive but thinks Zellhuber will do enough to win a decision.

Cody picks Prado by KO in round 1, having bet that prop at +1300. He notes Zellhuber's chin is sketchy and he keeps his chin up, making him hittable. He thinks Prado's power could cause problems, though he admits Zellhuber has more intangibles. He is not touching the moneyline.

The host sees Zellhuber as an improving prospect with a rangy striking style and slick jiu-jitsu. He believes Zellhuber's footwork and straight shots will keep Prado from getting inside the pocket, and even if Prado tries to take it to the ground, his wrestling isn't good enough. He predicts Zellhuber will touch up Prado, possibly get a late finish, but ultimately win on the scorecards.

Paul picks Zellhuber, citing his superior volume, speed, length, and developing ground game. He notes Zellhuber's cast-iron chin and ability to take a punch to give back two or three. He believes Zellhuber's volume and range will overtake Prado, and he may mix in takedowns and grappling. He is backing Zellhuber.

Angelo is very confident in Jauregui, believing the UFC set this up for her to get back on track. He notes her striking and grappling are impressive, and while she was knocked out quickly in her last fight, Sam Hughes doesn't hit as hard. He trusts the process.

Big Brady picks Yazmin Jauregui to win by second-round knockout. He notes that Jauregui is the biggest favorite on the card at -500 and that the matchup is favorable. He praises Jauregui's takedown defense and striking, while criticizing Sam Hughes's hittability and toughness. He thinks Jauregui will dominate on the feet and potentially finish Hughes, though he questions Jauregui's chin after being dropped in her last two fights.

Cody picks Jauregui but is hesitant, calling it the coward's way out. He notes Jauregui's durability is a question mark after being knocked out by Denise Gomes, but her takedown defense held against Lendo. He thinks Jauregui has a massive advantage on the feet and is more interested in live betting.

The host believes Hughes will be the best wrestler Jauregui has faced, despite Jauregui's 100% takedown defense rate (only two attempts faced). He thinks Hughes's improvement at Fortis MMA and game planning will allow her to take the fight into deep waters and win on the scorecards, springing a massive upset.

Paul leans towards Hughes due to the massive plus price. He notes Hughes is 3-1 in her last four, gritty, and has been using more wrestling lately. He questions what makes Jauregui such a huge favorite, as she hasn't excelled in hard 15-minute fights. However, he admits Hughes isn't a power puncher and if it's a striking affair, Jauregui likely wins.

Angelo picks Torres as the more dangerous fighter, citing his length and finishing ability. He acknowledges Duncan's durability and toughness but believes Torres will eventually break him. He mentions that over 1.5 rounds might be solid but Torres is the pick.

Big Brady picks Manuel Torres to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Torres has 15 finishes in 16 fights, all in the first round, and is a chaotic striker. He criticizes Chris Duncan's 49% striking defense and notes that Duncan has been knocked down and knocked out before. Brady believes Torres will draw Duncan into a brawl and that Torres has more power and durability. He expects the fight to end in the first round.

Cody picks Duncan as an underdog, noting that Torres is a first-round finisher with suspect cardio and grappling. He believes Duncan can take Torres down, make him carry weight, and grind him out. He mentions Duncan's improved wrestling and game plan against Ashmus. He acknowledges the risk of getting melted early but likes the plus price.

The host acknowledges Torres's power and early finishes but notes he overextends and can be countered. He believes Duncan is a more educated striker with a well-rounded game. If Duncan can survive the early onslaught, he can grind Torres against the cage and on the mat, finding a finish in the second or third round as Torres slows down.

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Duncan. He notes Torres is an offensive dynamo but has cardio issues and poor grappling defense. Duncan's takedowns and pressure could be key. He mentions Duncan's camp at American Top Team and his improved fight IQ. He thinks Duncan can avoid a gunfight and grind out a win.

Angelo picks Quiñonez as the underdog, citing Barcelos' age (36) and recent skid. He notes that Barcelos has lost to fighters he shouldn't have and that lower weight classes age out faster. He believes Quiñonez is younger, fresher, and more durable.

Big Brady picks Cristian Quiñonez to win by first-round knockout, but with low confidence. He notes that if this fight were three years ago, he would max bet Barcelos, but Barcelos is now 36, looks older, and has durability and cardio issues. Quiñonez has power and is nine years younger, and Barcelos has been finished multiple times. However, both fighters have questionable durability, and Brady expects someone to get finished.

Cody picks Barcelos, citing his superior boxing, wrestling, and experience. He notes Quiñonez has been finished in all his losses, has poor takedown defense, and gives up his back. Barcelos is a seven-time Brazilian national wrestling team member and has sharp counter-punching. He thinks Barcelos can make mistakes and still win.

The host believes Quiñonez's volume striking and footwork from distance will give Barcelos trouble. He notes Quiñonez's speed advantage and output, and his ability to stay away from pocket exchanges where Barcelos is dangerous. He also mentions Quiñonez's takedown defense and get-ups, and cautions that he must not get overzealous like in the Kong fight. He predicts a decision victory for Quiñonez.

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Barcelos. He notes Quiñonez seems KO-robust but Barcelos has the skills to neutralize him. He mentions Barcelos completely neutralized Trevon Jones, outlanding him 73-11 in significant strikes. He thinks Barcelos is a fine parlay piece at -200.

Angelo picks Mendonça, agreeing with the sportsbooks. He notes the wide variance between public and bookmaker opinion and sides with the books. He believes Mendonça is the more dangerous fighter on the feet and on the ground.

Big Brady picks Jesus Aguilar to win by third-round submission, but with low confidence as he has been flipping on this fight. He notes Aguilar has a 62-inch reach which is a concern, but he is a great grappler with decent wrestling. He criticizes Mendonça's poor fight IQ and submission-over-position style, and mentions that Mendonça is a Shooto Box guy arriving late to Mexico City, while Aguilar has been there for six weeks. He expects the fight to hit the mat where Aguilar can win grappling exchanges.

Cody picks Aguilar, calling Mendonça a 'goof' and questioning why he's a favorite. He notes Aguilar has cardio for days, a decent submission game, and has finished fights late. He thinks if Mendonça doesn't catch him early, Aguilar will tire him out and put a beating on him. He sees it as a good live betting opportunity.

The host is leaning towards Aguilar, believing his power punching style will keep Mendonça on the back foot. He thinks Aguilar is durable enough to handle Mendonça's technical striking and will push the pace to exploit Mendonça's cardio issues. He expects Aguilar to either grind with wrestling or find a finish in the second or third round.

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Aguilar. He notes Mendonça looked lost in his last fight against Nate Maness, with a terrible game plan. Aguilar has cardio and submissions, and Mendonça's weight cut to 125 may be an issue. He thinks Aguilar can survive the initial onslaught and take over.

Angelo picks Ziam, citing his range control and technical striking. He believes Puelles will struggle to get the fight to the ground and may resort to pulling guard. He expresses frustration with Puelles' style but acknowledges his danger on the ground.

Big Brady picks Claudio Puelles to win by second-round submission, but with low confidence due to Puelles' terrible performance against Dan Hooker. He notes that Ziam is the better striker but has low volume and no power, so Puelles isn't in much danger on the feet. On the mat, Puelles is an incredible grappler with a BJJ black belt, and Ziam has been submitted in three of his four losses. Brady worries about Puelles' wrestling but thinks he can find ways to get the fight down.

Cody picks Ziam, noting Puelles is a one-trick pony with leg locks and hasn't evolved. Ziam has shown improvements in takedown defense and striking volume. He thinks Ziam keeps the fight upright, lands shots, and tires Puelles out. He acknowledges the leg lock threat but believes Ziam can avoid it.

The host sees this as a grappler vs. striker matchup, with Puelles being a knee-bar specialist but a sitting duck on the feet. He believes Ziam has shown enough improvement to keep the fight upright and use his kickboxing advantage to outbox and outkick Puelles en route to a decision win.

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Ziam. He echoes that Puelles is a one-trick pony with no evolution in his game. Ziam has improved takedown defense and striking. He thinks Ziam will box him up on the feet and avoid the leg locks. He notes Puelles' only path is a leg lock, which is low percentage.

Angelo picks Denys Bondar but with very low confidence, calling it impossible to know what will happen. He notes that if Luis keeps it standing, he wins, but Bondar's wrestling and slams could be decisive. He says he will watch without any bets.

Big Brady picks Luis Rodriguez (Ronaldo Rodríguez) to win by third-round submission. He criticizes Denys Bondar's fraudulent record and poor performances, including a loss to Malcolm Gordon and a brutal knockout loss to Carlos Hernandez. He notes Rodriguez has been in Mexico City for six weeks, giving him a cardio advantage, and believes Bondar's durability and cardio are questionable. He expects Bondar to have some early success but fade as the fight goes on.

Cody picks Bondar, noting Rodriguez is making his UFC debut, is young and green, and has suspect takedown defense and cardio. Bondar is aggressive, has forward pressure, and a wrestling advantage. He thinks Bondar can march him down and win a decision. He admits it's a coin flip and doesn't have high confidence.

The host believes Bondar is the better fighter despite his recent losing streak and durability concerns. He thinks Bondar will be the best wrestler Rodríguez has faced and, as long as Rodríguez doesn't get an early finish, Bondar will grind out a decision victory.

Paul picks Bondar as a slight underdog. He notes Rodriguez is unimpressive and Bondar has more aggression and wrestling. He thinks Bondar's forward pressure and takedowns will be enough. He acknowledges Bondar's poor UFC record but sees a path to victory.

Angelo picks Felipe dos Santos as the more dangerous fighter, citing his shootboxing style and aggression. He notes that both fighters are tough and coming off tough losses, but dos Santos' danger gives him the edge. He also mentions hoping for an over 1.5 rounds line.

Big Brady picks Felipe dos Santos to win by decision, but notes the line is too high at -275. He acknowledges dos Santos looked good in his debut against Manel Kape but has red flags in his film, including poor takedown defense and get-up game. He thinks Altamirano can wrestle a bit but doesn't have much control, so the fight will play out on the feet where dos Santos has volume and variety. He also mentions that dos Santos is a Shooto Box guy arriving late to Mexico City, which is a concern.

Cody picks dos Santos by submission at +600, having bet that prop. He notes dos Santos has a bunch of submission wins on the regional scene and Altamirano's takedown defense is suspect. He thinks dos Santos can exploit that and find a submission. He also mentions Altamirano has never been knocked out but has been submitted.

The host sees both fighters as similar but gives the edge to dos Santos due to his more aggressive approach. He expects dos Santos to utilize either a grapple-heavy or volume-heavy striking game with kicks and punches from distance to grind out a decision win.

Paul picks dos Santos on the moneyline, though he thinks the price is a bit much. He notes dos Santos looked great against Manel Kape on short notice and has a full camp now. Altamirano is hittable and not durable. He expects dos Santos to win, possibly by knockout, though he hasn't bet it yet.

Angelo picks Naimov as the more well-rounded and dangerous fighter, citing his power and wrestling ability. He notes that Naimov benefited from fouls in his last fight but still believes he should win. He mentions waiting for prop bets on round lines but is confident Naimov gets the job done.

Big Brady picks Muhammad Naimov to win by TKO in the second round. He notes that Naimov came into the UFC on short notice and pulled off a big upset against Jamie Mullarkey, then beat Nathaniel Wood. He criticizes Erik Silva's performance against TJ Brown, saying Silva gassed out in five minutes and makes mistakes on the ground. Brady believes Naimov can hang in grappling early but will break Silva as the fight goes on due to Silva's poor cardio.

Cody picks Silva as a PRP pick, noting Naimov's suspect cardio, wrestling, and striking. He thinks Silva can wrestle and take Naimov down, holding him for two rounds. He acknowledges Silva may gas but Naimov will too. He sees value at the plus price and is fading Naimov.

The host acknowledges the heavy betting line on Naimov (close to -600) but believes Naimov's pure wrestling advantage and aggressive style will overcome any altitude concerns. He expects Naimov to out-grind Silva, who is an early finisher but will be overwhelmed by Naimov's pressure.

Paul does not make a clear pick for this fight. He calls it a dog-or-pass situation, noting Naimov's suspect cardio and Silva's wrestling but also Silva's age and submission losses. He is not interested in parlaying Naimov and doesn't commit to either side.