Ben Rothwell

Angelo leans toward Ben Rothwell, reasoning that he only needs one takedown to finish, while de Lima needs 15 minutes of a clean game plan. He acknowledges de Lima's path to victory through stick-and-move but thinks Rothwell's size and durability are key.

Big Brady is confident in Ben Rothwell, citing de Lima's atrocious cardio and tendency to fade after one round. He notes Rothwell has a legendary chin (not knocked out since 2009) and superior takedown defense. Brady expects Rothwell to take over as the fight progresses and predicts a second-round submission, as de Lima has been submitted five times.

Cody emphasizes Rothwell's durability (not finished since 2009) and de Lima's tendency to fade. He points out de Lima's poor takedown defense and submission vulnerability. He expects Rothwell to pressure, take de Lima down, and eventually submit him. He also notes Rothwell's 70% takedown defense and that de Lima gasses quickly.

Daniel Levi picks Ben Rothwell by submission, predicting that de Lima will be faster and more athletic early but will eventually make a mistake and tap to a choke. He references Rothwell's history of opportunistic finishes, including the comeback against Brandon Vera and the gogoplata against Josh Barnett. Levi notes de Lima's tendency to quit when put in a choke, making Rothwell's submission threat a key factor.

Jacob picks Ben Rothwell, believing he will plod forward, make it dirty, and grind out a win. He notes that Rothwell has a granite chin and hasn't been TKO'd since 2009. Jacob thinks de Lima has no way to win except maybe a weird decision.

Paul notes that de Lima is a quitter when things go south and has a pattern of alternating wins and losses. He thinks Rothwell is durable, has better submission skills, and will wear de Lima down. He predicts Rothwell wins by submission in round 2, and mentions a prop at 13-1.

Big Brady confidently picks Rothwell, expecting an early finish via knockout or submission. He notes Barnett's low level of competition and tendency to give up his back, while Rothwell's experience and power should be enough. He suggests an inside-the-distance prop.

Cody Saftic picks Ben Rothwell, noting that Barnett is a short, overweight heavyweight with poor cardio. He believes Rothwell will weather Barnett's early athleticism and then tire him out, eventually getting a TKO or submission. Saftic is intrigued by Rothwell by submission at 11-1, given Rothwell's history of submissions, but acknowledges Barnett has never been submitted. He suggests a small play on the prop.

Daniel Levi leans toward Ben Rothwell, noting that Rothwell has more UFC experience and that Chris Barnett has been knocked out by lesser competition. However, he is hesitant because Rothwell is at the worst point of his career, slow, and has not looked good in a long time. He calls it a dog or pass situation and says he cannot lay the price on Rothwell.

Matt picks Ben Rothwell to win by decision, but with low confidence. He acknowledges Chris Barnett is a live dog due to his deceptive athleticism and power, but thinks Rothwell's experience and clinch work will be enough. He is not trusting Rothwell at -310, as Rothwell doesn't always let his hands go. He expects a grinding decision rather than a finish.

Paul Shaughnessy picks Rothwell but is hesitant due to the price. He notes that Rothwell is past his prime and has looked slow, but Barnett is a short-notice replacement with a history of gassing. He believes Rothwell will eventually get the win, but at -300, he prefers to pass or look for a prop. He mentions that Rothwell by knockout is around even money, which might be a better play.

Big Brady picks Rothwell due to his durability and power, noting Tybura has been knocked out four times and has a questionable chin. He expects Rothwell to pressure Tybura against the cage and land bombs. He acknowledges Rothwell is older (38) but believes his power and durability are key. He mentions the fight could be low output.

Daniel picks Ben Rothwell primarily because he believes Rothwell is tougher and hits harder. He acknowledges that Rothwell has looked slow since returning from suspension and takes a lot of damage, but he thinks Rothwell's pressure and durability will be enough. He also notes that Tybura has questionable toughness and may fold under pressure, but he wouldn't be surprised if Tybura wins a sloppy decision.

Rothwell's pressure and awkward striking angles will overwhelm Tybura, who lacks output and combination punching. Tybura's takedown attempts will be unsuccessful, and Rothwell's power will break him in the second round via TKO.

Big Brady leans with Ben Rothwell as an underdog, believing Rothwell's power and chin give him a good chance to knock out Ovince Saint Preux. He thinks OSP will struggle to take Rothwell down and that the fight will stay on the feet, where Rothwell has the advantage. He acknowledges OSP could win a decision if Rothwell fights poorly, but sees a knockout as more likely and considers betting on Rothwell at plus odds.

Daniel Levi picks OSP, citing his athleticism and speed advantage over Rothwell, who has looked slow since his suspension. He notes OSP's suspect chin and cardio at heavyweight, and says he won't bet him at -140 due to those concerns, but still picks him for the win.