Joshua Van

Angelo picks Joshua Van, emphasizing his striking pressure and volume. He notes Van lands a high number of strikes and has shown takedown defense against wrestlers. He thinks Taira's striking pressure is weak and Van will keep the fight standing. He expresses concern about a possible injury to Van that caused the fight to be moved, but assumes both are healthy. He compares Taira's loss to Brandon Royval as a blueprint for Van.

Angelo picks Joshua Van, citing his incredible volume and takedown defense. He believes Van's striking will be too much for Taira, similar to how Royval beat Taira with volume. He notes that Van doesn't get frustrated when taken down and focuses on getting back up.

Big Brady picks Tatsuro Taira, citing his elite back-taking and grappling. He notes Van has been submitted before and Taira has power on the feet. Brady expects Taira to get the fight to the ground and secure a submission, specifically a second-round submission. He acknowledges Van's volume but thinks grappling will decide the fight.

Cody picks Taira, emphasizing his well-rounded skills and ability to take Van down and control him. He notes Taira's improved striking and grappling, and believes he can neutralize Van's volume by wrestling. Cody expects Taira to win by submission or decision, as Van's takedown defense is suspect.

Connor picks Van, emphasizing his faith in Van's game in Taira's area of expertise (striking) over Taira's game in Van's area. He notes Taira's lack of pocket feel, as seen against Moreno, and Van's ability to metabolize takedown threats. Connor believes Van's fight-building style will break Taira down, as Taira has no build-back plan.

Daniel picks Van, agreeing with Cody and Malcolm. He highlights Van's superior striking and ability to defend takedowns, though he notes Taira's back-taking ability and heart. Daniel is confident Van will make the fight his and Taira will have to absorb many strikes.

The host leans toward Taira but does not place a pre-fight bet. He notes Taira's superior grappling and back takes, but Van's dangerous boxing and potential cardio advantage. He prefers to live bet this fight to get more information on Van's takedown defense. He mentions Van +5.5 fight spread as interesting but holds off.

Predicted method: Submission Round 3. Taira's grappling-heavy style (3.12 takedowns per round, 1.6 submission average) poses a clear threat to Van, who has 81% takedown defense but has faced less relentless wrestlers. Van's striking volume (8.84 SLpM) is impressive, but Taira's 2.44 SApM indicates he absorbs few strikes, and his recent KO win over Brandon Moreno shows improved power. Taira's reach advantage (70" vs 65") helps him close distance for takedowns. Expect Taira to mix in takedowns, neutralize Van's striking, and secure a submission or dominant decision.

Jacob is confident in Joshua Van, praising his confidence and athleticism. He thinks Van's takedown defense and cardio will be key, and that Taira will struggle to get takedowns in later rounds. He believes Van will dominate once the takedowns stop working.

Lucrative James favors Tatsuro Taira because he believes the grappling gap is larger than the striking gap at flyweight, and submissions are more decisive than knockouts at this weight class. He notes Taira needs one moment to finish, while Van needs multiple moments. He also cites Van's high fight frequency (5 fights in 13 months) as a potential negative, and Van's chin issues. He predicts Taira by submission.

The host picks Van, believing his defensive grappling has improved enough to keep Taira from dominating. He expects Van to outstrike Taira, work the body, and win on the scorecards. He notes that Taira is dangerous early but Van's pace and striking will be too much in championship rounds.

Paul also picks Taira, citing his grappling advantage and experience in five-round fights. He thinks Taira's takedowns and control will be key, and that Van's slow starts and defensive holes will be exploited. Paul expects Taira to win by submission or decision.

The MMA Guru picks Tatsuro Taira, citing his superior grappling and reach advantage. He notes Taira's ability to secure dominant positions and improved ground and pound. He believes Van's takedown defense against lesser grapplers won't hold up against Taira's explosive entries. He predicts a finish in the second or third round.

Angelo picks Alexandre Pantoja, calling him one of the best flyweights ever. He praises Pantoja's pressure, takedowns, and jiu-jitsu. While he acknowledges Joshua Van's impressive pocket striking and takedown defense, he believes Pantoja's experience and wrestling will be too much for Van at this stage. He thinks the odds are a discount on Pantoja.

Big Brady picks Alexandre Pantoja, citing his elite ground game and ability to take Van's back. He notes Van's grappling inexperience and mistakes, and expects Pantoja to submit Van with a rear-naked choke in the second round.

Cody picks Pantoja, noting his submission threat and takedown ability. He acknowledges Van's striking and pace but questions his takedown defense, as he has been taken down by lesser grapplers. He mentions that Pantoja took Van's back and submitted him, and he has a bet on Pantoja by submission at plus 200. He believes Pantoja's path to victory is via submission.

Connor picks Van, believing that Pantoja must get a finish or will be outworked. He notes that Van is a rare pocket fighter who stays dialed in and adjusts well late in fights. Connor points out that Pantoja tends to gas and, while he fights brilliantly tired, Van's defensive wrestling and striking are superior to other dangerous punchers Pantoja has faced. He thinks Van can replicate Steve Erceg's success but with better defense and aggression.

Daniel is torn on this fight, calling it a 'dog or pass' situation. He respects Pantoja's elite back-taking and championship pedigree but also acknowledges Van's volume, takedown defense, and youth. He sees paths to victory for both and plans to finalize his pick on fight week.

Lucrative James sees this as a striker vs grappler matchup. He believes Pantoja's relentless wrestling and superior jiu-jitsu will be the difference, especially given Joshua Van's relative inexperience in grappling (only 3 years of wrestling training). He worries about Van's overconfidence in his jiu-jitsu and thinks Pantoja can submit him or control him on the ground. He notes the line should be closer to -150 and mentions the under 4.5 rounds as a potential play.

The host acknowledges that many think it's too soon for Van, but believes Van will be prepared to defend submissions early and then put it on Pantoja in the championship rounds. He even suggests a TKO finish for Van to become the new champion.

Paul leans toward Van as a live underdog, citing his youth, striking volume, and cardio. He notes that Van outpaced Brandon Royval and has a path to victory if he keeps the fight standing. However, he is concerned about Van's takedown defense and Pantoja's back-taking ability. He admits he is flip-flopping but ultimately picks Van for the plus money.

The Guru picks Alexandre Pantoja to submit Joshua Van, despite Van's striking talent. He believes Pantoja's relentless grappling and takedowns will overwhelm Van, who is inexperienced in championship fights. The Guru predicts a first or second round rear-naked choke.

Angelo picks Brandon Royval because he believes Royval is still in his prime and will be the best fighter Joshua Van has ever faced. He notes that Van's UFC record is loaded with wrestlers and lower-level guys, and the last time Van fought a predominant striker, he was finished in the third round. He placed a bet on Royval weeks ago and is confident in the pick.

Big Brady believes Royval is underrated, citing his wins over top competition like Taira, Moreno, and Nicolau. He notes Van has durability concerns, having been knocked out by Charles Johnson and hurt by Edgar Chairez. Brady thinks Royval's experience, cardio, and grappling advantage will be key, and predicts Royval will hurt Van, who will then shoot for a takedown and get submitted. He picks Royval by second-round submission.

Connor initially wanted to pick Van but was convinced by Phil that Royval's style is a bad matchup for Van. He notes that Royval has become a long-range volume fighter who can frustrate opponents, and Van has struggled against tall, rangy fighters. He also mentions Royval's durability and pace as factors. However, he is not fully confident because Royval's style is not championship-level and he gives away a lot.

The host acknowledges Royval's unorthodox striking may cause early trouble, but expects Van to land big shots in the second and third rounds, possibly getting a late TKO, but ultimately winning on the scorecards in the biggest win of his career.

The host picks Joshua Van, praising his boxing, head movement, and body work. He notes that Royval's volume often lacks sting and that Van's activity and recent form are advantages. He predicts Van will win a decision, taking the first two rounds, while Royval may take the third.

Angelo picks Joshua Van because of his rapid improvements and clean technique. He acknowledges Bruno Silva's power and toughness but thinks Bruno is sloppy and older. He worries about Joshua's chin after the Charles Johnson KO but believes Joshua's striking will be too clean. He notes the odds are becoming unusable at 5-to-1.

Big Brady picks Joshua Van but acknowledges this is his toughest test. He likes Van's volume, pressure, and pace, and thinks he will break Silva in the later rounds. He notes Silva's power and that Van has been finished before, but expects Van to overcome early adversity and knock Silva out in the third round. He cites Silva's history of being finished in the third round.

The fight may be competitive early, but Van's classic style is expected to take over as he batters Bruno Silva through the last 12.5 minutes. Van wins on the scorecards.

Angelo picks Cody Durden as a dog, citing Durden's relentless pressure wrestling and cardio as key factors. He believes Durden's takedowns will frustrate Joshua Van and deplete his confidence. Angelo notes both fighters are chinny but expects Durden to focus on winning rather than brawling. He is monitoring the line movement and may bet if the odds widen further.

Cody picks Van but expects a tough first round. He notes Durden's wrestling and fast starts, but thinks Van's cardio and volume will take over in later rounds. He suggests live betting Van after the first round.

Connor picks Durden, though he hates to do it. He notes that Durden starts fast and pressures aggressively, which could overwhelm Van, who tends to start slow and build into fights. Connor points out that Van has been taking too much damage recently and is fighting too frequently, which raises concerns about his durability. He also mentions that Durden's pace and wrestling could be a problem for Van, who has shown vulnerability early in fights.

Daniel admits bias as Durden's friend but provides analysis: he believes Durden's well-rounded attack and ability to exploit Van's uncomfortable ranges will lead to a win. He expects Durden to mix takedowns and striking effectively.

Van successfully bounced back from his knockout loss to Charles Johnson by defeating Edgar Chairez. He will take that momentum, showcase improved takedown defense, keep the fight standing, and eventually catch Durden slipping to get a knockout victory.

Paul picks Durden as an underdog, citing his wrestling and fast starts. He notes Van's high fight frequency and potential wear. He thinks Durden can win the first two rounds and hold on, but acknowledges the risk.

The MMA Guru picks Cody Durden, citing Van's tendency to get rocked on the feet and Durden's improved hands and grappling. He thinks Durden's size and takedowns will be too much for Van, and that once Durden gets a lead he is hard to catch. He predicts a 29-28 decision based on the first two rounds.

Angelo picks Joshua Van, calling him the better fighter skill-for-skill. He notes Van is a solid striker with good aggression and decent grappling, while Cháirez is hittable with a negative striking differential. Angelo acknowledges Van is coming off a KO loss but sees this as a good bounceback spot against a more stationary target. He suggests waiting for weigh-ins if nervous about the short notice, but expects Van to win as a 2-to-1 favorite.

Big Brady initially considered Cháirez as a live dog due to his submission threat and Van's recent KO loss, but after watching Cháirez's fights, he found Cháirez rarely wrestles and relies on opponents shooting in. He believes Van will win if the fight stays on the feet, but he hates the price and is concerned about Van's durability coming back from a knockout. He predicts Van by decision.

Daniel picks Joshua Van, citing his volume and pressure, but warns that Cháirez is dangerous with heavy hands and opportunistic submissions. He thinks Van will out-volume Cháirez but could get caught. He ultimately believes Van gets the win.

The transcript does not discuss this fight.

Van is the cleaner and crisper striker of the two, but there is concern about his recent knockout loss. However, his defensive striking is normally not bad. Expects Van to deal with Cháirez's aggressive style early and run away with the fight in deep water, winning on the scorecards.

Angelo picks Charles Johnson as an underdog, citing his experience against higher-level competition and short-notice adaptability. He acknowledges Joshua Van's power and prospect status but believes Johnson's veteran savvy and awkward style could frustrate Van. Angelo has a small bet ($25, quarter unit) on Johnson at +170 and mentions a potential plus 3.5 round bet as a safer alternative.

Cody picks Van, citing his youth, volume, and cardio. He notes Van's slow starts but believes his pace will overwhelm Johnson, who tends to fade. He expects Van to win by decision or late finish.

Daniel Vreeland picks Charles Johnson to win a close decision. He notes that Johnson is a veteran who has been in tough battles and has prepared well for the altitude. He acknowledges Van's talent but thinks Van may face a roadblock. He likes the plus 180 underdog value and expects a split decision type fight.

Joshua Van's style is more reliable with consistent output. Despite a height and reach disadvantage, Van will crash the pocket and land body shots, setting up his striking game. The minus 200 line is a bit wide, but Van should win on the scorecards.

Angelo picks Joshua Van, citing his faster and more accurate striking, good scramble skills, and youth at 22. He notes that Van's takedown defense is just okay but believes his striking and scrambling will keep him out of trouble on the ground. He acknowledges Felipe Bunes' BJJ threat but thinks Van can avoid submissions. He placed a 1.5 unit bet on Van at -225 but won't parlay him due to being unproven and a lackluster last performance.

Big Brady is a big fan of Joshua Van, noting his rapid improvements and high volume striking. He believes Van's durability and activity will overwhelm Bunes, who may struggle to out-strike him. Brady sees Bunes' path to victory as either a knockout or grappling, but doubts his ability to finish Van. He predicts Van wins by decision.

Cody picks Van, citing his youth, volume striking, and improvement in grappling. He notes that Van has shown the ability to adjust between rounds and has a huge gas tank. He believes Van's striking will be too much for Bunes, who is older and may not be able to take him down and hold him down.

Daniel Vreeland picks Joshua Van to continue his run, citing his high pace and boxing skills. He acknowledges Bunes's opportunistic finishing ability and danger on the ground, but thinks if the fight goes the distance, Van's striking output will be too much. Vreeland warns that Bunes is live for a finish, but Van's youth and athleticism should prevail.

James does not discuss this fight in the transcript.

Joshua Van is a talented 22-year-old striker with fluid movement and improving takedown defense. He showed resilience in his last fight against Kevin Borjas, coming back from an early knockdown to win a decision. Felipe Bunes is a 34-year-old debutant who relies on striking but has been knocked out before. Van's slicker striking and defensive grappling should allow him to outpoint Bunes over three rounds. I expect Van to win by decision, as Bunes may struggle to land anything significant.

Paul picks Van, noting his impressive volume and ability to fight at a high pace. He mentions that Van's takedown defense and get-up game have improved, and that Bunes' best chance is on the ground, but Van is steadily improving. He believes Van will expose Bunes as just serviceable.

Angelo picks Van, citing his patience, cardio, and grappling advantage. He thinks Van can avoid Borjas' combinations and use takedowns. He avoids betting due to the short odds and Van's youth, but believes Van is the more well-rounded fighter.

Big Brady picks Joshua Van to win by second-round knockout. He is impressed by Van's power for a flyweight and his slick submission game. He notes Borjas is willing to eat one to give one and has been hurt before, which is dangerous against a power puncher like Van. Brady trusts Van's durability and defensive soundness in what he expects to be a war.

Cody picks Van, impressed by his debut win over Zhalgas Zhumagulov on short notice. He notes Van's footwork, timing, and athleticism, and thinks he'll only improve with a full camp. He expects Van to outpoint Borjas with counters and maybe mix in takedowns.

Van has a huge technical striking advantage over Borjas, being too slick and fast on the feet. Even if Borjas tries to take it to the ground, Van has improved takedown defense and submission ability off his back. Borjas has faced poor competition and this is too big a step up. Expects Van to run away with the fight and possibly find a finish later on.

Paul picks Van, noting his impressive performance against Zhumagulov and his cardio. He thinks Van's striking and movement will be too much for Borjas, who is making his UFC debut. He sees Van as a legitimate prospect.

Angelo picks Zhalgas Zhumagulov, citing a giant skill gap. He notes Zhalgas has been screwed by judges but should bully the UFC newcomer Joshua Van with his wrestling and pressure. He mentions the line at -185 is expensive for a guy 1-4 in his last five but expects Zhalgas to blow through Van.

Big Brady picks Zhalgas Zhumagulov, believing he is the better fighter everywhere. He notes that Joshua Van is only 21 and coming into the UFC too soon, with poor takedown defense. He expects Zhumagulov to wrestle and control the fight, winning a decision. He acknowledges Zhumagulov's deceptive UFC record due to tough competition.

Cody picks Zhumagulov, noting his wrestling and grappling advantage. He thinks Van is too young and inexperienced, and that Zhumagulov's pressure will overwhelm him. He mentions the Paddy Pimblett haircut as a good luck charm.

Connor picks Zhumagulov as the far more experienced fighter who has proven in recent fights to be more willing to be crazy and aggressive. He notes that Joshua Van is super raw, only 21 with eight pro fights, and while he has a good foundation, he often gets surprised and doesn't get out of range quickly. Connor thinks Zhumagulov's athleticism and aggression will be too much for the young Van. He also mentions the caveat that Zhumagulov's head may not be in the right place, but against this level of competition, he still expects Zhumagulov to win.

Daniel Levi picks Joshua Van, citing his athleticism, killer instinct, and ability to create finishes. He thinks Zhumagulov is beatable, fights close, and fades. He acknowledges Van's greenness but believes he can bully Zhumagulov. He is taking a shot on the newcomer.

The host picks Zhalgas Zhumagulov to win by dominant decision. He believes Zhumagulov's experience and motivation will be key, and that he will keep the pressure on from the start, landing takedowns and controlling on the mat. He notes Van's lack of experience (only 2.5 years in MMA) and thinks the experience gap will be too much.

Paul picks Zhumagulov, citing his experience and durability. He thinks Van is too green and that Zhumagulov's pressure and wrestling will be too much. He expects a clear win.

The Guru picks Zhalgas Zhumagulov, noting that Joshua Van relies on finishes and has only won by finish or been finished. He believes Zhumagulov is very difficult to finish, with only Manel Kape stopping him, and has experience against tough competition. He doubts Van can push a pace for three rounds in his debut, especially since Van was training for a fight in August and may not have ideal cardio.