Ike Villanueva

Angelo picks Tyson Pedro, believing he can get takedowns and win via grappling. He notes Villanueva has zero leg kick defense and only one takedown attempt against him in the UFC. However, he says the odds are crazy (Pedro almost -500) and he will watch the scales due to Pedro's multi-year layoff. He warns that if Pedro can't get takedowns, he'll get lit up.

Big Brady picks Tyson Pedro to win by knockout in the first round, citing Villanueva's poor chin and defensive liabilities. He notes that Villanueva has been finished many times and has terrible striking defense. Despite Pedro's long layoff, he expects Pedro to finish early, either by knockout or submission.

Cody picks Pedro, calling it a setup fight. He notes Pedro's submission skills and Villanueva's poor record. He thinks Pedro will take him down and submit him. He suggests Pedro inside the distance as a better bet than the moneyline.

The host picks Tyson Pedro to win, including him in his quick picks. He also includes the fight in his totals parlay under 1.5 rounds, expecting a finish. He trusts Pedro more than Dean Barry.

Paul agrees, noting Pedro's submission wins aged well and Villanueva's inability to grapple. He thinks Pedro will take him down and submit him. He questions the price but expects Pedro to win.

Angelo picks Negumereanu because he has a plan B with takedowns, while Villanueva only has boxing and heart. He notes Negumereanu is incredibly durable, throws with bad intentions, and can force sloppy takedowns. Villanueva's legs were chopped in his last fight and he has no backup. He likes the more/more on the monkey knife fight as his most confident money play.

Big Brady picks Negumereanu as the younger, more durable fighter with a five-inch reach advantage. He notes Villanueva's 11 finish losses and age (37), while Negumereanu has shown next-level toughness. He predicts a second-round knockout, though acknowledges Villanueva's power and toughness.

Cody picks Nicolae Negumereanu, but prefers the inside distance prop at +110. He notes that Ike Villanueva is a one-round fighter who gasses quickly, while Negumereanu has good durability and cardio. Cody believes Negumereanu can survive the first round and then take over, likely finishing Villanueva in the second or third. He emphasizes that Villanueva is the worst fighter in the division and that Negumereanu, despite being low-level, is the better fighter.

Lock picks Negumereanu based on grappling advantage. He notes Villanueva is a boxer with poor cardio and Negumereanu should get the fight to the ground. He expects a finish inside the distance, possibly by ground and pound. He also likes Villanueva by KO as a prop.

Paul picks Negumereanu, calling Villanueva the worst guy in the division. He notes that Negumereanu looked improved in his last fight and that Villanueva is a one-round fighter with poor cardio. Paul believes Negumereanu's durability and pressure will be too much for Villanueva, though he hates the -220 price. He suggests that Negumereanu inside the distance is a good play.

Angelo picks Ike Villanueva, citing his toughness, forward pressure, speed, and power. He notes that Prachnio's three first-round knockout losses raise chin questions. Angelo believes Villanueva is a solid underdog and likes the under on rounds as a prop.

Big Brady picks Ike Villanueva to win by first round KO, calling it a clear dog pass. He notes Prachnio's weak chin (four KO losses) and poor striking defense, while Villanueva is a powerful brawler with 83% finish rate. He believes the smaller Apex cage favors Villanueva's pressure style, and that Prachnio's path to victory (staying on the outside) is unlikely. He thinks the line is off and Villanueva should be closer to even.

Cody picks Villanueva as a dog, noting his power and that Prachnio's chin has been checked. He thinks Villanueva has a puncher's chance and that Prachnio's defensive liabilities make him vulnerable. However, he is not confident and says he won't bet it, but for PRP purposes he takes Villanueva. He also likes the under 1.5 rounds.

Jacob picks Marcin Prachnio, calling the fight a coin flip and going with Prachnio because he thinks he has a little more power than Ike. He notes a weird stat that Prachnio has never had a fight end in the second round. Jacob is not very confident and suggests staying away from this fight.

Villanueva is durable and has heavy hands. Prachnio has a vulnerable chin and relies on a kicking game to stay away from power. Villanueva will march forward, absorb kicks, and land a knockout punch. Prachnio's chin issues will be exposed. Villanueva is one of my favorite dogs on the card.

Paul leans toward Prachnio based on his technical improvements in the last fight, but he is not betting him at -190. He notes both fighters have questionable chins and thinks the under 1.5 rounds is a better play. He acknowledges Villanueva's power but thinks Prachnio's volume could be key.

Big Brady calls this a low-level fight and expects it to end inside the distance. He notes Vinicius Moreira is very chinny and has no gas tank, while Ike Villanueva has power. He predicts Villanueva will stuff early takedowns and knock out Moreira in the first round. He says the best bet is under 1.5 rounds or fight doesn't go to decision, as both fighters have high finish rates.

The host leans towards Ike Villanueva due to his power and the diminishing durability of Vinicius Moreira, who is on a three-fight skid. He thinks Ike can land a bomb and finish the fight early, but is not confident enough to bet the moneyline. His favorite play is the under 1.5 rounds, which he sees as great value.

Big Brady picks Jordan Wright to win by knockout, expecting an early finish. He is not impressed with Ike Villanueva, who looked awful against Chase Sherman, landing only 20 strikes before getting knocked out. Wright is faster and has power, though he has fought mostly nobodies. Wright is coming up from 185 to 205, but Brady likes his style and expects him to land a shot and finish Villanueva.

Daniel Levi picks Ike Villanueva to win by knockout. He notes that Jordan Wright is too small for light heavyweight, weighing in at 200 pounds, and lacks the toughness to compete in the UFC. Levi believes Villanueva has better size and experience, and that this is likely the only fight Villanueva will win in his UFC career. He expects a sloppy fight but sees Villanueva's power and durability as decisive.

Wright is explosive, fast, and has knockout power, while Villanueva is 36 and was just finished by Chase Sherman. Wright's speed and footwork should be too much for Villanueva, who has durability issues. Expect a first-round KO from Wright. If Wright comes out as an underdog, he might be worth a small bet.

Big Brady leans with Chase Sherman due to his UFC experience and size advantage, noting that Ike Villanueva is moving up from light heavyweight and will be the smaller fighter. He acknowledges Villanueva's speed and power but believes Sherman can weather the early storm and take over in the second round, predicting a second-round knockout. However, he calls it a very low-level fight and is not highly confident.

Daniel Levi leans with Chase Sherman, citing his size, UFC experience, and thunderous leg kicks. He notes that Villanueva is a former middleweight/light heavyweight and smaller, but admits Sherman's head movement is poor and a knockout from Villanueva wouldn't surprise him.