Danilo Marques

Angelo picks Jailton Almeida as a real prospect with powerful hands and relentless grappling. He notes Almeida's submission over position style can be risky but his overall grappling is superior to Marques. Marques has solid control but may not match Almeida's aggression. Angelo warns that if Almeida gets too reckless, Marques could sneak out rounds.

Cody agrees with Paul, noting that Almeida is bigger, stronger, and has better cardio. He thinks Marques will gas and Almeida will dominate on the ground. He is confident but acknowledges the high price.

Daniel Levi leans Jailton Almeida but calls it a dog-or-pass situation. He notes Almeida has limited footage but submitted an undefeated Russian on Contender Series. Marques has some jiu-jitsu and could capitalize on scrambles. Levi says Almeida's aggression and black belt should be enough, but he wouldn't fault a small bet on Marques at +300 due to the unknowns. His pick is Almeida.

Lock of the Night picks Marques as an underdog, citing his durability and wrestling. He questions Almeida's cardio and striking, noting that Marquez can control him on the ground. He likes Marques by decision at +800.

Paul thinks Almeida is the better grappler with better cardio. He notes that Marques gasses in his fights and has low-level competition. He believes Almeida will take him down and grind him out. He is confident but notes the price is steep.

Angelo picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, citing his power, reach advantage, takedown defense, and ability to take a beating and come back. He has a moneyline bet and a bet on over 1.5 rounds because he doesn't see a quick finish. He notes the line flipped from underdog to favorite.

Big Brady picks Kennedy Nzechukwu to win by third round KO, citing his excellent takedown defense and get-up game, youth, and cardio advantage. He notes Marques has poor striking and cardio, and relies on takedowns which Nzechukwu can stuff. He expects Nzechukwu to out-strike Marques as the fight goes on and finish him when Marques gasses. He agrees with the line flip.

Cody picks Nzechukwu, believing he has made improvements. He notes Nzechukwu's durability and that he has been training at Fortis MMA. He thinks Nzechukwu's takedown defense has improved and that he can keep the fight standing, where he has a striking advantage. He acknowledges Marques' grinding style but thinks Nzechukwu's size and power will be too much if he stuffs takedowns.

Jacob picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, praising his fight IQ in the last fight where he shelled up and let his opponent gas out. He notes Nzechukwu's takedown defense is very good and his striking is sharp. Jacob has Nzechukwu in his lineup at 8200 and thinks he is great value.

Nzechukwu has much better striking and should stuff takedowns to keep the fight standing. Marques is the worst 2-0 fighter in the UFC with poor striking. Nzechukwu will punish Marques on the feet and likely get a KO in the first or second round. However, Marques has proven me wrong before, so there is some hesitation. Nzechukwu's takedown defense and get-up game are solid.

Paul leans toward Marques as a dog, noting his effective if ugly grinding style. He thinks Marques can scoop up Nzechukwu's lead leg for takedowns and control him on the ground. He mentions Marques by submission or decision as possible plays. He is not confident because Nzechukwu's get-up game looked decent against Stosage.

Big Brady picks Ibragimov despite acknowledging his poor UFC record and questionable gas tank. He believes Ibragimov has advantages in striking and takedown defense, while Marquez is underwhelming and older. He expects a sloppy fight with Ibragimov likely getting a finish, but he's not confident and is surprised the line is close.

Daniel Levi picks Khadis Ibragimov because he has faced tougher competition in the UFC despite losing, while Danilo Marques has padded his record against cans. He notes Ibragimov is the heavier puncher but has a wild fighting style and energy management issues. He leans Ibragimov but is not confident enough to lay the slight chalk.

The host believes Khadis Ibragimov will win, likely by first-round KO, due to his aggressive style and power. He notes that Danilo Marques has poor stand-up and a questionable gas tank, and that Ibragimov's takedown defense should be sufficient to keep the fight standing. He also likes the under 2.5 rounds at -135.