Rizvan Kuniev

Angelo picks Jailton Almeida confidently, calling him one of the best wrestling heavyweights ever. He notes Almeida's spectacular takedown execution and believes he will dominate Kuniev on the ground. He mentions that Almeida was robbed in his last fight against Alexander Volkov, where he had 7 takedowns and 11 minutes of control time. He advises jumping on the -220 line before it moves.

Big Brady picks Rizvan Kuniev as a dog, noting that Kuniev stuffed takedowns well against Curtis Blades, who is one of the best wrestlers in the UFC. He believes Almeida has poor cardio and doesn't handle adversity well, and if Kuniev can stuff early takedowns, he will break and finish Almeida. He predicts a second-round knockout.

Cody also picks Kuniev, highlighting Almeida's lack of size and finishing ability. He notes Almeida's control time doesn't score well with judges, and Kuniev's striking and clinch work should earn him rounds. Cody expects a decision win for Kuniev, with the over being a strong play.

Connor picks Kuniev, citing his solid takedown defense and steady, measured aggression. He believes Kuniev's simple, mistake-free style could be the recipe to handle Almeida, especially if Almeida can't get takedowns. He notes that Almeida's striking is poor and Kuniev could pressure him. However, he admits it's a risky pick given Kuniev's lack of UFC experience.

Lucrative James picks Jailton Almeida to win by submission in round one. He believes Almeida's grappling will be too much for Kuniev, who showed poor takedown defense against Curtis Blades. James notes that Almeida is excellent at taking the back and finishing, while Kuniev is primarily a striker.

The host picks Kuniev by TKO in rounds 2 or 3. He believes Kuniev can stop Almeida's takedowns and work back to his feet quickly, then outbox Almeida and take over as Almeida gasses. He notes Kuniev's striking and wrestling are underrated, and that Almeida struggles when he can't get takedowns.

Paul picks Rizvan Kuniev, citing Almeida's struggles with modern judging that favors damage over control time. He notes Kuniev's better boxing and durability, and Almeida's inability to finish or hold down bigger opponents. Paul expects Kuniev to land the more impactful strikes and edge a decision.

The host picks Jailton Almeida over Rizvan Kuniev. He thinks Almeida's grappling will be too much, and he will out-scramble Kuniev. He notes Kuniev's conditioning may be an issue later in the fight. He expects Almeida to win, possibly boringly, and hopes he gets cut afterwards.

Angelo fades Curtis Blaydes, picking Rizvan Kuniev as a lean. He notes that Blaydes has abandoned wrestling and has a weak chin, while Kuniev is decent everywhere and has power. He thinks Kuniev could have success if he gets Blaydes against the cage and drags him down, but acknowledges Blaydes is the bigger favorite. He is not confident in Kuniev but prefers him due to Blaydes' declining career.

Big Brady picks Curtis Blaydes but with the caveat that Blaydes could get knocked out, as all five of his losses are by KO. He is not sold on Kuniev, who tested positive for PEDs and looks different off them. Brady thinks Blaydes has better cardio and will drag the fight into deep waters, either getting a late finish or winning a decision. He predicts Blaydes by decision.

Connor picks Blaydes, agreeing that Kuniev's pressure-counter style will lead to clinch exchanges where Blaydes can dominate. He notes that Kuniev is not as dynamic as Almeida, whom Blaydes outwrestled, and that Kuniev's soft physique and lack of athleticism make him a poor matchup for Blaydes. He believes Blaydes should be a much heavier favorite, calling it a 'minus 500 situation.'

The host notes Blaydes was a -340 favorite in March and now is around -260, which he considers a gift. He thinks Blaydes' wrestling will thwart Kuniev's, allowing him to land big shots and outdamage Kuniev, possibly getting a ground-and-pound finish, but official prediction is Blaydes by decision.

The MMA Guru picks Curtis Blaydes, criticizing Rizvan Kuniev as a known steroid cheat. He highlights Blaydes' experience, underrated striking, and excellent grappling defense. He predicts Blaydes will win by TKO via ground-and-pound in round two, noting Kuniev's inability to finish or outpoint Blaydes.