Ian Heinisch

Angelo picks Ian Heinisch but notes it's a close fight. He thinks Heinisch's wrestling and pressure will be key, but Imavov is a good counter-striker and has decent grappling. He expects Heinisch to win a decision or via grappling control. He likes the more/more on monkey knife fight because both fighters will be busy. He does not have Heinisch in his DraftKings lineup at $8,500 but thinks he's not a terrible play.

Big Brady picks Ian Heinisch by decision, citing a massive step down in competition for Heinisch and a step up for Imavov. He notes Heinisch can replicate Phil Hawes' game plan of holding Imavov against the cage and mixing takedowns. Despite Heinisch's low takedown accuracy (18%), he attributes it to facing elite wrestlers, while Imavov has been taken down frequently. He expects Heinisch's relentless wrestling and pace to overwhelm Imavov.

Cody picks Heinisch, arguing that Imavov is not a wrestler and that Heinisch will finally be able to strike without worrying about takedowns. He notes Heinisch has fought elite grapplers and has good takedown defense. He expects Heinisch to mix in his own wrestling and win by decision. He also likes the over.

Daniel Levi leans toward Ian Heinisch, acknowledging he should be favored but at the current price it's a pass or Imavov. He expects a close fight with clinch exchanges, predicting Heinisch via split decision. Levi notes that Heinisch has fought better competition but has been losing rounds, while Imavov is a dog who won't quit.

Jacob picks Ian Heinisch because he believes Heinisch will out-wrestle Imavov, who tends to accept grappling positions. He notes that Imavov gassed in his last fight against Jordan Williams and that Heinisch, being a tough Rikers guy, won't tire. He doesn't like Heinisch enough to put him in his DraftKings lineup because if the wrestling fails, things could go south quickly.

The host picks Ian Heinisch, citing his wrestling and pressure advantage over Imavov. He believes Heinisch will take Imavov down and control him, especially as the fight progresses. He notes Imavov's grappling deficiencies and recent hand injury. He likes Heinisch by decision at +145 and also mentions a potential third-round finish.

Paul also picks Heinisch, noting his move to Sanford MMA and improved training. He thinks Imavov looked awful against Phil Hawes and has poor ring IQ. He likes Heinisch's power and has a small bet on Heinisch by KO at +700 and round 1 KO at +2000. He thinks the finish props have value.

Big Brady picks Kelvin Gastelum to win by decision, but with no confidence. He thinks Gastelum's recent losses are to top competition and that Heinisch is a step down. He believes Gastelum has better takedown defense, cardio, and striking. However, he acknowledges Gastelum has looked awful and Heinisch has heart and grit. He advises staying away from betting this fight.

Daniel Levi picks Kelvin Gastelum but with low confidence, calling it a 'dog or pass' situation. He acknowledges Gastelum is the better fighter on paper but questions his motivation and recent performances since the Adesanya fight. He notes Gastelum's inconsistency and that Heinisch could sneak a decision if Gastelum doesn't show up. He ultimately picks Gastelum as a pure pick but advises against betting him at -225.

The host believes Gastelum has the better hands and will be able to keep the fight on the feet, outstriking Heinisch. He notes that Heinisch's grappling-heavy style has struggled against wrestlers like Brunson and Akhmedov, and that Gastelum is a crafty grappler himself. He predicts a third-round TKO as Gastelum's power and pace overwhelm Heinisch late.

Big Brady leans toward Ian Heinisch, believing the matchup favors him stylistically. He thinks Heinisch can close the distance, land takedowns, and avoid Meerschaert's BJJ. He notes Meerschaert's reach advantage and improved striking but feels Heinisch's wrestling and pressure will earn a close decision. He acknowledges Meerschaert is underrated.

Daniel finds it hard to cap Meerschaert because he often wins despite looking slow and unathletic. He sees this as a 50/50 fight and leans toward Meerschaert as the dog, citing his veteran savvy, jiu-jitsu black belt, and ability to capitalize on mistakes. He acknowledges Heinisch's cardio and will but thinks Meerschaert can snatch a submission or win a decision.

Ian Heinisch has great cardio and submission defense, which should help him avoid Gerald Meerschaert's submissions. Heinisch has the speed advantage and should be able to get in and out. However, his output has been a concern in past fights. If he lets his hands go, he can outpace Meerschaert. The pick is Heinisch, but not confident enough to bet.