Darrick Minner

Angelo picks Nuerdanbieke, impressed by his fight IQ and ability to initiate and control grappling. He notes Minner is better than his record but was outstruck by Ryan Hall, which is embarrassing. He expects Nuerdanbieke to bully forward and control on the mat. He mentions he got the moneyline at -200.

Big Brady sees Minner as a live dog due to his dangerous submission game and Nuerdanbieke's history of being submitted. He notes Minner's improvements with coach James Krause and his ability to survive submissions (e.g., against Ryan Hall). He predicts Minner will find a first-round submission, though he acknowledges Minner could gas out if it goes longer.

Cody picks Darrick Minner as an underdog, noting his one-dimensional submission game, especially a nasty guillotine. He thinks Minner could catch Nuerdanbieke early in transition, as Nuerdanbieke has shown poor wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu in his UFC debut against Josh Culibao and was taken down by Sean Soriano. Minner's cardio is questionable, but if he doesn't finish in the first round, Cody suggests live betting Nuerdanbieke. He sees Minner as a live underdog who could snatch a submission.

Connor picks Minner because Nuerdanbieke has six submission losses, four in the first round, and Minner is a fast, opportunistic grappler who capitalizes on mistakes. He acknowledges that if the fight goes past the first round, Nuerdanbieke likely wins, but Minner's early explosiveness and submission threat are decisive. Connor notes that Nuerdanbieke's losses to T.J. Brown and Sean Soriano show he can be broken by aggressive fighters like Minner.

Daniel Levi picks Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, citing his strength and top control. He notes that Darrick Minner is dangerous early with submissions but tends to fatigue, and once Shayilan neutralizes those early threats, he can dominate the second and third rounds.

The host sees Minner as sub-round-one-or-bust, with a dangerous submission threat early. He expects Shayilan to survive the early danger, use his strong clinch and grappling to grind Minner down, and win by decision. He notes the line is typical for a fighter with a wider path to victory but warns Minner could catch a desperation guillotine. He passes on betting.

Paul is more drawn to the under 2.5 rounds than the moneyline. He notes that Nuerdanbieke has been submitted by nobodies on the Chinese regional scene, and while he survived four submission attempts against TJ Brown, that's not high-level competition. Minner tends to gas if he doesn't get the early finish, but Paul thinks the fight ends inside the distance. He prefers the under 2.5 rounds prop over the moneyline.

The MMA Guru picks Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, citing his weird strength, improved cardio, and methodical style. He notes that Minner has pulled off upsets but against wild opponents, while Nuerdanbieke is technical and low-risk. He predicts a 29-28 decision in a competitive fight, respecting Minner's abilities.

Big Brady picks Ryan Hall by submission in the second round, but he is not fully confident. He notes that Minner is a kill-or-be-killed fighter with poor submission defense (8 submission losses) and tends to gas out after the first round. Hall is a phenomenal grappler, but his striking is unorthodox and he looked bad in his last fight. Brady believes Minner will engage in grappling and eventually get caught in a submission as he tires. He recommends staying away from this fight due to its unpredictability.

Daniel Levi picks Ryan Hall to win by submission, specifically a leg lock. He notes that Darrick Minner is a submission specialist himself but tends to get submitted when he grapples with elite jiu-jitsu practitioners. Levi believes Minner will try to grapple with Hall, which plays into Hall's strength. He also mentions that if the fight stays standing, Hall's unorthodox spin kicks could be effective. Levi is confident Hall will find a submission.

This is a volatile fight. Minner has discipline issues and a questionable gas tank, but if he stays disciplined and counters Hall's unorthodox striking, he can win a decision. Hall's BJJ is a threat, but if he can't get the fight to the ground, he struggles. Minner's path is to avoid submissions and grind out a win, but confidence is low.

Angelo picks Darrick Minner because he is the more technical fighter, improving, and has a relentless pace. He expects Minner to take Elkins down and finish with elbows. He likes the under on rounds and the less/less on monkey knife fight, predicting a stoppage. He has Minner in his DraftKings lineup.

Big Brady picks the dog Darren Elkins despite his age (37) and damage taken, because he questions Darrick Minner's cardio after only one fight showing improved stamina. He notes Elkins has not been submitted since 2010 (only loss to Charles Oliveira) and has faced strong grapplers. He expects Minner to have early success but fade, allowing Elkins to finish late. He calls this the hardest fight to call on the card.

Cody picks Elkins as a dog, citing his experience against top competition and his wrestling and cardio advantages. He thinks Minner's style is erratic and his cardio is suspect, and that if Minner doesn't get a first-round submission, Elkins will grind him out. He notes Elkins is a larger man and should be able to wrestle him.

Daniel Levi picks Darrick Minner to dominate, noting that Minner is in the best part of his career with Krause's coaching, while Elkins' best days are behind him. He expects Minner to control the minutes, possibly via doctor stoppage or clear decision, as Elkins cuts easily and gets taken down. Levi warns about Minner's history of being finished but believes Elkins won't win rounds.

Jacob picks Darrick Minner because he thinks Minner will eventually submit Elkins. He notes that Elkins is tough and has fought top competition, but Minner is younger and improving. He likes the more/more on monkey knife fight, expecting a grappling-heavy fight with lots of action. He acknowledges that Elkins is always live but thinks Minner gets the job done.

The host picks Darren Elkins, citing his durability, wrestling, and experience. He believes Minner's cardio issues will be exposed as Elkins pressures him. He notes Minner's recent decision win was against a weak opponent and that Elkins has not been submitted in over a decade. He likes Elkins by decision at +290 and also mentions Elkins inside the distance at +350.

Paul agrees with Cody, calling it a clear dogger pass. He notes Minner's last win was against Charles Rosa, who was complacent on the ground, and that Elkins will try to get back up. He mentions the only person to submit Elkins is Charles Oliveira. He already bet Elkins at +152.

Big Brady picks T.J. Laramie because he sees Minner as a first-round submission or bust fighter who tends to gas out. He believes Laramie is the better striker and can keep the fight on the feet to win a decision or find a knockout after Minner fades. He warns that Minner is dangerous in the first round but expects Laramie to stay safe and grind out a win.

The host sees T.J. Laramie as a more well-rounded fighter with superior striking and grappling transitions, while Darrick Minner is a one-round submission threat who fades if he doesn't finish early. He expects Laramie to survive Minner's early attacks and take over in the second round, finishing via TKO. He notes Laramie's experience at the Apex and his training with Cody Stamann as advantages.