Marquel Mederos

Angelo leans toward Chris Padilla, believing his relentless pressure and smothering style will overwhelm Mark O. Madsen. He notes Madsen's composure and clean technique but thinks Padilla's pace and grinding approach will be too much, similar to how Austin Hubbard troubled Madsen. He expects Padilla to set a higher pace and win.

Big Brady notes Padilla has been an underdog in all four UFC wins but is now favored. He praises Padilla's pressure, toughness, power, and wrestling. He thinks Padilla will make Medeiros uncomfortable with pressure and takedowns, winning a decision. He dislikes the -195 price but picks Padilla.

Cody also picks Padilla, noting his well-rounded game and Mederos' defensive flaws. He thinks Padilla's calf kicks and clinch work will lead to a win.

Connor picks Padilla based on his recent surge in confidence and fight IQ. He notes that Padilla has figured out how to win, using pressure and pace to overcome more technical fighters. He acknowledges that Medeiros is a more natural athlete but trusts Padilla's determination and recent trajectory.

Daniel admits he has been wrong about Padilla before and finally gives him credit. He thinks Padilla will edge a close decision, though he notes Mederos is a solid point fighter.

Daniel Vreeland picks Marquel Mederos, believing the odds are skewed. He notes that Padilla sits back and waits for opponents, while Mederos has good footwork, volume, and takedown defense. He thinks Mederos will outpoint Padilla over three rounds, especially if Padilla can't land a big shot.

James picks Mederos, believing his leg kicks and range control will be too much for Padilla, who is a late replacement. He thinks Padilla's style is not suited to beat Mederos.

Padilla's pressure, calf kicks, and Muay Thai should wear down Mederos over time. Mederos is fast and athletic but may fade after a round and a half. Padilla's durability and aggression have carried him in past fights. However, Mederos could win early rounds with speed. Padilla likely wins a decision or late finish, but the line is fair.

Paul is confident in Padilla, praising his veteran savvy, Muay Thai, and cage control. He thinks Padilla's advanced basics will overwhelm the green Mederos.

The MMA Guru picks Chris Padilla over Marquel Mederos. He calls Padilla a crafty veteran who has been winning as an underdog, with a nasty elbow finish over Rong Zhu. He notes Mederos had a split decision with Austin Hubbard, and believes Padilla's craftiness and back takes will earn him a 30-27 decision.

Angelo picks Mark Choinski but is hesitant due to the unusual circumstances. He notes Marquel Mederos was sick last week and had to pull out, which raises concerns about his conditioning. He thinks Mark is a good wrestler with creative striking, but he doesn't wrestle enough. He picks Mark because he can't trust a guy who was too sick to fight days ago.

Big Brady picks Mark Choinski as a live underdog. He notes Choinski's wrestling background and solid top control, and thinks he can take Mederos down and win a competitive decision. He points out that Mederos struggled with Austin Hubbard and Landon Quiñones, and that Choinski is a better wrestler than Hubbard. He acknowledges Mederos has 85% takedown defense but thinks Choinski can still get takedowns.

Choinski makes his UFC debut on short notice but has strong NCAA wrestling credentials. He is expected to take down Mederos, grind him out, and possibly threaten submissions. The pick is for Choinski to win on the scorecards.

Connor picks Mederos, noting his Tony Ferguson-like style of fighting in the pocket with high activity and creativity. He thinks Mederos's pressure will overwhelm Hubbard, who is reactive and lacks power. He acknowledges that Mederos's style puts him in danger but believes he can go far before a potential fall.

Angelo picks Marquel Mederos, citing his composure, dangerous striking, and takedown defense. He notes that Mederos is a touted prospect but warns against overexposure due to his UFC debut. He mentions that Mederos is part of a parlay with Thomas Petersen but only one bet on him.

Big Brady picks the underdog Landon Quiñones to win a close decision. He notes that both fighters are evenly matched and the line should be closer. He highlights Quiñones' incredible toughness, volume, leg kicks, and power, as well as his defensive wrestling. He expects the fight to primarily take place on the feet and go to decision, with the judges potentially messing it up.

Cody picks Quiñones, citing his volume, cardio, and technical striking. He notes Mederos' power but questions his cardio and wrestling. He thinks Quiñones' output and durability will earn him a decision or late stoppage.

Mederos has a great striking game with educated kicks and decent grappling. Quiñones looked out of shape in his last fight and has questionable cardio. Mederos should control the fight with his kicks from range and possibly mix in takedowns to drain Quiñones' energy. The host expects Mederos to win by decision.

Paul picks Quiñones, noting he missed the better plus-money price but still likes him. He highlights Quiñones' performance against Hackbarth and his grappling improvements. He thinks Mederos is a one-round threat but Quiñones can weather it.