Luan Lacerda

Angelo picks Hecher Sosa confidently, praising his clean striking, range management, and leg kicks. He notes that Luan Lacerda is a dangerous grappler but Sosa's takedown defense should be good enough. He thinks Sosa will be the much better striker and should win, calling the -230 line a potential bargain.

Big Brady picks Hecher Sosa to win by second-round knockout. He praises Sosa's well-rounded game, including solid striking and grappling, and notes his impressive Contender Series performance. He questions Lacerda's cardio and durability, calling him 'submission or bust' and expecting Sosa to dictate the fight on the feet and eventually knock him out.

Cody picks Sosa confidently, citing his regional success, well-rounded game, and durability. He notes Lacerda's poor performance against Simon Olivera and lack of improvement. He expects Sosa to take him down and dominate.

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Lacerda. He describes Sosa as awkward and ropey, with poor technical know-how. He believes Lacerda's aggression will be too much for Sosa, who is not used to facing fighters who are willing to engage. Connor calls it a bad bantamweight fight.

James picks Hecher Sosa to win inside the distance, citing his well-rounded game and ability to adapt. He notes Lacerda's submission threat but believes Sosa's strength and defensive wrestling will prevail. He expects Sosa to finish Lacerda, who has been finished in his losses.

The host favors Sosa due to his well-roundedness and ability to shut down Lacerda's submission game. He expects Sosa to outstrike Lacerda and take him down, where he can land damage and avoid submissions. He predicts a decision win for Sosa, noting that Lacerda's only real threat is submissions, which Sosa can neutralize.

Paul picks Sosa, noting his impressive wins and readiness for the UFC. He thinks Lacerda is a step down in competition. He expects Sosa to win.

The Guru picks Hecher Sosa, citing his recent TKO wins and physicality advantage. He believes Sosa is entering his prime and that Lacerda has been unimpressive in the UFC, with losses to Damon Blackshear and Cody Stamann. He predicts a competitive decision, 29-28.

Angelo picks Luan Lacerda based on his raw notes from watching their last fights. He describes Luan as 'incredibly dangerous' and constantly working towards submissions, while his notes for Saimon simply say 'sucks.' He acknowledges the layoff for Luan but believes he is fighting a lesser opponent and should win. He also suggests the odds might be a discount.

Big Brady picks Luan Lacerda by default, as he is not picking Saimon Oliveira to beat anyone in the UFC. He notes Oliveira has no takedown defense, no cardio, and no durability, and that he almost died in a training accident. Lacerda is 0-2 in the UFC but has taken a two-year layoff; Brady expects him to get takedowns at will and potentially find a submission or win a decision. He calls the fight sketchy with two fighters who arguably shouldn't be in the UFC.

Cody picks Lacerda, citing Oliveira's poor durability and technique. He notes Lacerda's body work and wrestling, and expects him to wear Oliveira down. He suggests live betting if Lacerda starts slow.

Lucrative James picks Luan Lacerda to win, noting that Lacerda has shown better performances in the UFC despite being 0-2, and believes he should be 1-1. He highlights Lacerda's superior grappling and submission game, with six submission wins leading up to his UFC debut. He also mentions Lacerda's dangerous leg lock game but warns about his tendency to roll for leg locks, which got him knocked out in his last fight. He expects a finish inside the distance, likely by submission, but passes on betting due to the -245 price tag and layoff concerns.

Manpreet picks Lacerda but is wary of the long layoff and chalky odds. He believes Lacerda's BJJ will be the difference, expecting a submission win. However, he notes that Oliveira's grappling defense is not as dangerous as previous opponents, and the layoff makes Lacerda tough to trust at minus 260.

Paul picks Lacerda, calling Oliveira the worst guy on the roster. He notes Oliveira's 0-3 record and reckless style, while Lacerda has faced better competition. He expects Lacerda to win, possibly by knockout or decision.

Angelo picks Blackshear, impressed by his toughness and performance in his loss to Fareed. He thinks Blackshear is better than his winless UFC record and can defend Lacerda's takedowns, noting Lacerda is not the wrestler Fareed was. Angelo acknowledges Lacerda is dangerous everywhere but believes Blackshear's speed and accuracy will be key. He placed a $20 bet on Blackshear at +111.

Cody picks Lacerda, agreeing with Paul. He notes Lacerda looked like a problem in his debut against Stamann, showing strong takedown defense and striking. Cody highlights Blackshear's poor takedown defense and inability to get back to his feet. He thinks Lacerda's physicality and grappling will be too much, and that -150 is fair.

Connor fully agrees with Zane, praising Lacerda's assertiveness and well-rounded skills. He compares Lacerda favorably to a more aggressive version of Hacran Dias, noting that Lacerda knows how to lead and break opponents down methodically. Connor believes Blackshear's lack of striking comfort and tendency to give up the initiative will be exploited by Lacerda's pressure and takedowns.

Daniel picks Lacerda, praising his elite Jiu-Jitsu and ability to sweep and take backs. He notes that Blackshear is explosive and athletic but makes defensive mistakes and puts himself in deep submissions. He believes Lacerda's consistency and grappling will be the difference, and he wouldn't be surprised by a submission win.

Jacob picks Lacerda, believing he is the better striker with more power and Muay Thai kicks. He thinks Lacerda is next level on the ground and Blackshear will be outclassed everywhere. Jacob notes Lacerda struggled against Cody's elusive style but Blackshear will be more in front of him. He does not see a finish but expects Lacerda to out-grapple and out-strike Blackshear to win a decision.

Lacerda is a BJJ black belt who gets most of his work done on the mat with submissions. Blackshear has cardio issues and his efficiency drops after the first two rounds. Lacerda will land takedowns, establish dominant control, and find a submission in the latter half of the fight.

Paul picks Lacerda confidently, calling him the most value on the card at -150. He notes Lacerda's strong grappling and physicality, and that Blackshear cannot fight off his back. Paul recalls Lacerda's impressive UFC debut against Cody Stamann, where he nearly won. He thinks Lacerda's second fight will show an even better version, and that he has the tools to submit or dominate Blackshear.

The MMA Guru leans towards Luan Lacerda, acknowledging it's a tough matchup to predict. He notes Lacerda had a competitive fight with Cody Stamann, a tough veteran, and that Lacerda is more talented and had momentum coming into the UFC. He also mentions that Blackshear had a close fight with Farid Basharat and made big mistakes. The Guru thinks Lacerda will mix in grappling and get takedowns, but warns that Blackshear could win by finish as an underdog.

Big Brady picks Cody Stamann as the rightful favorite due to fighting much better competition. He notes Lacerda has a legit BJJ black belt but often pulls guard and rolls for submissions, which doesn't work as well in the UFC. He thinks Lacerda won't be able to get takedowns and will have to rely on a Hail Mary submission. Stamann has been submitted twice but against elite grapplers like Sterling and Said. He predicts a decision win for Stamann.

Cody picks Cody Stamann confidently, noting his wrestling, cardio, and versatility. He says Stamann is a generalist who can do everything well, while Lacerda is a one-dimensional BJJ specialist. He thinks Stamann will neutralize Lacerda's grappling and win on the feet. He mentions Stamann's experience against top competition and his ability to avoid submissions.

Connor agrees, noting Lacerda is not proactive and Stamann is a tough gatekeeper. Lacerda's style is janky and he may not be able to exploit Stamann's flaws.

Paul picks Cody Stamann, noting his wrestling and striking advantages. He says Stamann is a safe bet among the big favorites on the card. He mentions Lacerda's BJJ is dangerous but thinks Stamann will avoid submissions and win a decision. He says Stamann's experience and versatility will be too much.

The Guru picks Stamann despite acknowledging the risk of decline. He notes Stamann's losses are to top bantamweights like Sterling, Develashvili, and Rivera, and he beat Eddie Wineland convincingly. At 33, Stamann is still hungry and training at Extreme Couture. The Guru believes Lacerda is not on the level of Sayed or Song to submit Stamann, and that Stamann's wrestling and pressure will carry him to a 29-28 decision after surviving an early bad situation.