Ko Seok-hyun

Angelo picks Ko Seok-hyun, citing his heavy hands, forward pressure, and ability to mix in takedowns. He notes Phil Rowe is a good striker with length but can be low volume and gets hit a lot. He thinks Ko's weird stance and aggression will cause problems, and if Ko gets takedowns like he did against Oban Elliott, he is worth the money.

Big Brady picks Philip Rowe as an upset, citing a market overreaction after Ko Seok-hyun's win over Oban Elliott. He notes Rowe has a 9-inch reach advantage and is the much bigger fighter with power. However, he acknowledges Ko's new wrestling wrinkle and that Rowe often loses the first round. He predicts Rowe will stuff takedowns and get a third-round knockout.

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Ko's aggressive clinch game and pressure will be a problem for Rowe. He thinks once Ko gets a strong start, he will be more aggressive and controlling as the fight goes on. He acknowledges Rowe could win if he sits outside and throws straight shots, but Ko's style is difficult to handle.

Lucrative James picks Ko Seok-hyun to win, highlighting his well-rounded skills including southpaw striking reminiscent of Conor McGregor, judo throws, and strong grappling. He notes that Philip Rowe has issues with being taken down and playing guard, which plays into Ko's strengths. James expects Ko to win a clean decision, possibly 30-27, by controlling the fight with his grappling and striking.

Ko can disrupt the space of Rowe, who needs comfort to get off his offense. Ko will keep Rowe moving backwards, land a few takedowns, and win on the scorecards.

The MMA Guru picks Song Yadong KO (Ko Seok-hyun) over Philip Rowe. He notes Rowe's size and reach but believes Ko's aggression, grappling, and KO power will be decisive. He criticizes Rowe's slow starts and lack of quality wins, while Ko's win over Oban Elliott impressed him. He predicts an early KO in round one.

Angelo picks Oban Elliott confidently, noting his well-rounded skills, cardio, and ability to flow. He contrasts Oban's movement with Ko's stiffness and power, predicting that Oban will avoid big shots and win early. He thinks Oban's footwork and range control will be key, and that Ko's lack of setup will be exploited.

Big Brady picks Oban Elliott, the biggest favorite on the card. He notes Elliott has fixed previous chin and cardio issues, is only 27, and trains at a good gym. Brady is not sold on Ko, who had limited footage and a boring Contender Series win. He thinks Elliott will do better work on the feet and can mix in takedowns. He predicts Elliott by decision.

The host acknowledges that Ko will provide resistance, especially if Elliott looks for a takedown-heavy approach. However, he expects Elliott to mix it up well with volume striking and takedown threat to grind out a decision win.