UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Muniz because he is a little too good for Allen. He notes that Allen has gotten lucky battling through bad positions, but this is where that luck runs out. Connor emphasizes Muniz's technical grappling and ability to force submissions, and while Allen is a confident grappler, Muniz's pressure and chain wrestling will be decisive.

Zane picks Muniz because of his superior positional grappling and chain wrestling. He notes that Muniz is a much better back-taker than Jacob Malcolm, who repeatedly took Allen down with single legs. Zane highlights Muniz's ability to cut through guards and create pressure, and while Allen is a tough grappler who scrambles well, Muniz's technical edge should prevail. He also mentions Muniz's tendency to gas in the third round but believes his early dominance will be enough.

Connor picks Sakai, believing he can edge out a win by slowing the fight down with clinch work and using his durability. He notes that Mayes' inability to hit the same spot repeatedly makes it unlikely he'll knock Sakai out, and Sakai will do just enough work to pull out a decision. Connor acknowledges it's a close fight and that Sakai's confidence may be shaken, but he trusts Sakai's meat-and-potatoes approach over Mayes' chaos.

Zane picks Mayes despite his lack of structure, because Sakai's confidence has taken a hit after four straight finishes. He notes that Mayes is athletic, durable, and willing to try takedowns, and Sakai is not good on the ground. However, Zane admits he has no good reason to pick Mayes and calls it a coin flip, but he feels Sakai is not feeling himself lately.

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Suarez because De La Rosa will let her wrestle. He notes that De La Rosa is a competitive fighter but lacks strategy, and if Suarez is the same fighter, she will do Tatiana Suarez things for as long as she is able. Connor also mentions that De La Rosa's tight pocket boxing style gives opportunities for opponents to get in on her hips, which Suarez can exploit.

Zane picks Suarez, assuming she will look like her old self and dominate with wrestling. He notes that De La Rosa is a classic test fighter who will accept whatever fight her opponent wants, and if Suarez can bring physical dominance, she will win. However, he acknowledges major X-factors: Suarez hasn't fought in almost four years, has neck and knee injuries that could affect her wrestling, and her striking is poor. Still, he believes she will get the takedowns she wants.

Connor picks Malott, noting that Lainesse is not a good wrestler and has no change-up; he has to get a knockout. Connor points out that Lainesse's solution to gassing was to reduce output, which is not sustainable. Malott, while not a great wrestler, is willing and has a nice left hook. Connor also mentions that Lainesse may never have faced someone who throws good punches, and Malott's compact punching could be a problem for him.

Zane picks Malott because he is the smoother, more defensively mindful fighter with better pocket mechanics. He notes that Malott has a great sense of spatial awareness in the pocket and throws compact, solid punches. Lainesse, on the other hand, is a raw power puncher who gasses easily and has poor wrestling. Zane believes if Malott survives the first round, he can push Lainesse to fatigue and potentially hurt him with his left hook.

Connor picks Gonzalez, noting that he has a five-inch reach advantage and should be able to stick at range with jabs and kicks. He acknowledges that Gonzalez doesn't maintain range well and gets into the pocket, but he believes Gonzalez is trying to be a good fighter and has better structure than Peek. Connor also points out that Gonzalez's early career losses were not by knockout, which is a good sign for his durability here.

Zane picks Peek because Gonzalez is made of glass and his style pushes him forward into the pocket, where Peek can land. He notes that Gonzalez is uncomfortable at range and gets clipped, while Peek is a messy brawler who will storm the castle. Zane admits Peek could get knocked out in the process, but he picks him to get the knockout.

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Fernandes. He emphasizes that Jasudavicius needs to develop a more aggressive mindset to walk through punches and get to her clinch, but she hasn't shown that. He notes that Jasudavicius was put off by Silva's speed and couldn't time her punches, and that she needs a 'Julianna Peña' mentality. He also mentions that Jasudavicius's other loss to Alyssa Kraus is further evidence of her getting scared off her game.

Zane picks Fernandes despite acknowledging Jasudavicius has a clear wrestling advantage. He notes that Jasudavicius is a slow, ponderous striker with awkward form, and that Fernandes manages distance well and has good output. He believes Jasudavicius will struggle to close the distance and get to her top game, and that Fernandes is solid enough on the ground to survive. He also points out that Jasudavicius has a history of being put off by opponents who fire back, as seen against Natalia Silva.

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Leavitt. He emphasizes that Leavitt is a strategic thinker who keeps opponents at range and clings to them when they get close. He notes that Martinez's striking game would fit a better athlete, but he is not that athlete. He also mentions that Leavitt's style is specifically crafted to take advantage of regional-level opponents like Martinez.

Zane picks Leavitt, describing him as a dysfunctional but frustrating fighter who knows how to win rounds with awkward distance management, kicks, and opportunistic grappling. He notes that Martinez has a slick boxing game but is not a good athlete, and that Leavitt's style will be very difficult for Martinez to handle. He compares Leavitt to Elias Theodorou and Ryan Hall in terms of being awkward and frustrating.

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Johnson. He highlights that Johnson has become a more aggressive fighter since his loss to Muhammad Mokaev, and that Osbourne is a tricky but fragile fighter who often loses by getting knocked out. He notes that Johnson is a big flyweight with good range and durability, and that Osbourne's style of gambling with strikes makes him vulnerable.

Zane picks Johnson, noting that Johnson has added an aggressive mindset to his already solid technical skills. He believes Johnson will knock Osbourne out, as Osbourne is not very durable and tends to get cracked when his gambles don't pay off. He also notes that Johnson is a big flyweight who is tough to hit clean and has never been knocked out.

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Solecki. He describes Deaton as having a striking style that is very difficult for him to pull off, with low output and awkward movement. He notes that Solecki is a good wrestler and grappler who will dominate once he gets to his positions.

Zane picks Solecki, stating that Solecki will easily take Deaton down and choke him out. He notes that Deaton's striking is limited and awkward, and that Solecki will have an easy time getting to his positions. He also mentions that Deaton's win over Justin James is not meaningful, as James was on a losing streak.

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Alves. He notes that Alves is a very hard fighter to beat because he puts opponents in hard spots, as seen in his fight with Demir Magomedov. He believes Aliev is too unproven and that this is too much too soon for him. He also criticizes the matchmaking, suggesting Aliev should be fighting someone like Carl Deaton instead.

Zane picks Alves, despite acknowledging that Aliev is an interesting prospect. He notes that Aliev is not experienced enough and not comfortable on the feet or on top, and that Alves is an athletic freak who fights hard everywhere. He compares the dynamic to the Blanchfield-Andrade fight, where the less experienced fighter struggled with the athleticism. He also mentions that Aliev's win over Josh Wick was unimpressive, as he did little for the first four minutes.