Wang Cong

AJ is not very interested in betting this fight but leans toward Wang winning by decision. He notes that Wang by decision at +250 is a possibility, though he thinks Cortez might try takedowns but Wang's ground game is underrated. He mentions the fight is expected to go over 2.5 rounds.

AJ picks Kong Wang to win, citing her elite kickboxing, takedown defense, and improved grappling. He believes Wang's striking will be too much for Tracy Cortez, who relies on wrestling. He notes Wang survived a bad position against Eduardo Mora and expects her to fend off takedowns and out-strike Cortez.

AJ leans toward Wang Cong, noting her striking is sick and fast, and her getup is fine. He thinks Cortez's takedowns and control don't bring a massive sub threat, so Wang should be chilling. He also mentions Wang survived Eduarda Moura's jiu-jitsu which is better than Cortez's.

AJ picks Wang Cong nervously, indicating a hesitant lean. No further reasoning is provided in the transcript.

AJ picks Wang Cong, citing her superior kickboxing, speed, and elusiveness. He acknowledges the takedown threat from Cortez but believes Wang's takedown defense and ability to get back up will be key. AJ expects a close decision win for Wang, though he notes there are more confident bets on the card.

Angelo picks Wang Cong because she is a former professional kickboxer with fast, powerful striking and improved takedown defense. He believes Tracy Cortez's only path is grinding out a decision with wrestling, but judges may favor Cong's striking. He notes that Cong has multiple ways to win while Cortez has only one, and the line movement makes sense.

Angelo leans towards Wang Cong, citing her superior striking and rapid improvement, while Tracy Cortez has stagnated. He notes Tracy's wrestling is good but Wang's takedown defense is improving. He thinks the fight will be one-sided either way, with Wang likely winning by striking.

Big Brady leans towards Cortez as a live dog, citing her grappling advantage. He notes Wang Cong has terrible grappling and ground game, as seen in the Mara fight, while Cortez has excellent control and a big butt that makes it hard to get her off. However, he worries Cortez might not care anymore. He sees the path: take Wang down, win rounds. He might bet Cortez by decision.

Big Brady picks Tracy Cortez to win by decision. He criticizes Wang Cong's poor ground game, citing rookie mistakes in her last fight, and believes Cortez's wrestling and top control will be decisive. He notes Cortez's underrated striking and ability to keep opponents down once she takes them down. He expresses slight concern about Cortez's motivation but sees her as the clear pick.

Big Brady passes on this fight after missing the line on Cortez at plus money. He thinks Cortez should win due to her ground advantage but is worried about her mentality and infrequent fighting. He does not make a pick.

Cody picks Tracy Cortez, emphasizing her wrestling background and ability to take down opponents. He notes Wang Cong's striking credentials but questions her takedown defense and durability. He believes Cortez can grind out a win.

Daniel Levi picks Tracy Cortez to upset Wang Cong, contingent on Cortez implementing her wrestling. He notes Cortez's skills are there but her mental focus is questionable. Levi believes Cortez can get a submission or win a decision if she is mentally prepared, but acknowledges Wang Cong's striking advantage and Cortez's potential distractions.

Jacob picks Wang Cong, noting that Tracy Cortez is solid but doesn't excel anywhere and has squeaked by against lesser competition. He believes Cong's takedown defense has improved and if she defends takedowns, Cortez will be in trouble. He thinks Cortez is too willing to exchange on the feet and goes to wrestling too late.

Lucrative James picks Tracy Cortez via decision, citing her superior wrestling and grappling. He acknowledges Wang's striking advantage but believes Cortez can take Wang down and control her, as Wang's bottom game was exposed against Eduarda Moura. He notes Wang's slow-building style and Cortez's durability, predicting a close fight where Cortez's grappling edge wins rounds.

The host believes Cortez's grappling and experience will prevail. He expects her to find spots to drag Wang to the ground and make it look easier as the fight goes deeper, winning by decision.

The host believes Cortez's wrestling will be the decisive factor, as she can take Wang down and grind her out. He acknowledges Wang's striking advantage but thinks the grappling gap is wider, and Cortez's cardio will hold up better than Wang's previous opponents.

Paul has no pick for this fight, calling it a 'pick 'em' and saying he will steer clear entirely. He notes question marks around both fighters and does not have a take.

Angelo picks Wang Cong confidently, citing her excellent striking, power, speed, and accuracy. He notes her takedown defense has held up well. He thinks Eduarda Moura's striking is nowhere near good enough to hang, and if Wang defends takedowns, she will win easily. He expects Moura to shoot desperate takedowns from far away. He also mentions that Vegas hates wrestlers, so even if Moura gets takedowns, it may not matter.

Big Brady picks Wang Cong, praising her as one of the best strikers in the division with excellent takedown defense. He notes that Moura may have early grappling success but will slow down, and Cong will piece her up over 15 minutes. He expects a decision win for Cong.

Cody agrees, highlighting Wang's volume and Moura's struggles at 125. He notes Moura's weight-cutting issues and inability to bully larger opponents. Cody expects Wang to dominate on the feet and win comfortably.

Connor agrees, noting that Wang has good instincts to counter wrestle and that Moura's game is meat-and-potatoes striking. He points out that Moura threw a lot against Lauren Murphy but landed very little, and that Wang will not be scared off. Connor expects Wang to win comfortably.

Lucrative James picks Wang Cong to win by TKO in round three. He believes Wang's striking is far superior and that she will defend takedowns, while Moura tends to gas out. James notes Wang's chin might be a concern, but he trusts her takedown defense and striking volume to secure a late finish.

The host picks Wang Cong by TKO in round three. He believes Wang's superior striking and takedown defense will be too much for Moura, who struggles to get takedowns and has poor cardio. He expects Wang to stick and move, punishing Moura's entries, and eventually put together a barrage in the third round for a finish.

Paul picks Wang Cong, citing her elite striking and physical strength. He notes Moura's lack of standout skills and poor striking defense. Paul expects Wang to outwork Moura and win a decision or late stoppage.

The host picks Wang Cong over Eduarda Moura. He notes Wang Cong is fundamentally sound on feet and ground, with good takedown defense. He thinks Moura has had close fights and stinkers, and if someone is sharper and can match her strength, they will do well. He expects Wang Cong to win.

Angelo picks Wang Cong but is not fully confident. He acknowledges Ariane Lipski's underrated striking and ability to make it competitive. He thinks Wang's power will add up over time and Lipski will become afraid to engage. He notes the odds are almost 4-to-1 and says he will likely avoid betting on this fight.

Big Brady picks Wang Cong, citing her high-level striking and the fact that Ariane da Silva has been finished in five of her losses, four by KO. He thinks da Silva doesn't like getting hit and that Cong can finish her on the feet or by mixing in takedowns, as da Silva's ground game is suspect. He predicts a second-round knockout.

Connor agrees, citing Lipski's experience and comfort in MMA striking. He notes Wong Kong's struggles with commitment and defense in MMA, and thinks Lipski's aggression and durability will be key. Connor acknowledges Wong Kong's technical edge but doubts she can overcome Lipski's pressure.

Wang Cong is expected to be more effective with her footwork, distance management, and combinations. She will land more effective damage throughout the fight and chip away at Lipski to win on the scorecards.

The MMA Guru confidently picks Wang Cong, citing her superior kickboxing, power, and ability to finish. He notes Ariane da Silva has submission skills but lacks power and is reactionary. He predicts Wang Cong wins by TKO in the first round, dominating exchanges. He mentions Wang Cong's only loss was a fluke submission she would win 8 out of 10 times.

Big Brady picks Wang Cong to win, but he is not laying -515 on her. He notes that Bruna Brasil is moving up a weight class and will be a small flyweight. He questions Brasil's chin, as she has been knocked out three times and looked uncomfortable in the Denise Gomes fight. Brady believes Wang Cong will land big shots and get a knockout, predicting a second-round finish.

Daniel Levi mentions Wang Cong as a massive favorite against Bruna Brasil, noting Wang's knockout wins and Bruna's recent career-best performance against Molly McCann. He does not state a pick, only describing the matchup and asking if Bruna can come through as a big underdog.

Angelo is very confident in Wang Cong, citing her kickboxing background and power. He believes Fernandes will struggle with Wang's power and resort to desperate takedowns. He calls it one of his most confident picks on the card.

Big Brady picks Wang Cong to win by decision. He thinks Wang is the better striker and also has a sneaky path to victory via takedowns, as Fernandes can be taken down and controlled on the mat. Despite the massive -800 line, Brady expects Wang to get it done, likely on the feet or with grappling.

Cody agrees, calling Wang a legitimate prospect with world-class kickboxing. He notes that Fernandes has been taken down and outstruck in recent fights, and Wang's physicality in the clinch will be too much. He expects Wang to win big, possibly by knockout or even submission, as she continues to develop her grappling.

Connor also picks Wang, comparing her to a more athletic Yan Xiaonan with less experience. He notes that Fernandes is not a great grappler but a physical fighter, and Wang's athleticism and striking should prevail. Connor acknowledges that Wang's ground game could implode under pressure but thinks it's unlikely against Fernandes. He agrees the odds are too wide.

Daniel Vreeland picks Wang Cong despite the steep -800 line. He highlights her clean kickboxing, having beaten Valentina Shevchenko in a kickboxing match, and her well-rounded game including takedowns. He acknowledges Gabriella Fernandes' power and improving get-up game but sees a clear technique gap. He expects Wang Cong to pick her apart, though not necessarily with a highlight-reel KO.

James leans towards Wang Cong as a real prospect, but admits he hasn't done full tape study. He notes Wang's striking and thinks Fernandes is not a great fighter, but the -800 price is too high to bet. He may look for a decision or KO prop after further research.

Wang is clearly the superior striker. She will take her time and work to a TKO in the third round.

Paul picks Wang Cong confidently, noting her elite striking and improving grappling. He points out that Fernandes is not a strong grappler and has been outmuscled in the clinch. He expects Wang to win by knockout, possibly early, and sees this as a showcase fight to build her up.

The MMA Guru picks Wang Cong confidently, citing her aura, power, KO ability, and kickboxing background. He mentions she knocked out Victoria Leonardo and beat Valentina Shevchenko in kickboxing. He acknowledges Gabriella Fernandes is strong and athletic but lost to Jazzy Decious and Theresa Bleda. He predicts a KO win for Wang Cong.

Angelo picks Wang Cong, calling her the biggest favorite on the card at 8-to-1 odds. He notes her high-level kickboxing background, including a win over Valentina Shevchenko, and her striking speed and power. He thinks she is light years ahead of Leonardo in striking and should win, potentially by stoppage. However, he warns against betting the moneyline because the odds are too far gone and she is an untested UFC debut. He considers a bet on the under 2.5 rounds if the line is juiced.

Cody picks Wang Cong because of her striking pedigree, including a kickboxing win over Valentina Shevchenko. He notes that Leonardo is 1-3 in the UFC and has been finished by lesser strikers. He thinks Wang Cong's power and precision will be too much. He also mentions that the UFC is building her up as a potential contender.

Daniel Vreeland confidently picks Wang Cong, noting her kickboxing background and Leonardo's history of being finished by UFC-caliber opponents. He expects a dominant performance, possibly by head kick or other finish.

Brevin picks Wang Cong by KO, citing her strong wrestling and grappling, and noting that Leonardo is a terrible striker with no striking ability. He is confident Wang will get the job done on Saturday. JP piggybacks, also taking Wang by KO, emphasizing Leonardo's poor record of 1-4 with KOs.

Paul picks Wang Cong, noting her kickboxing background and the UFC's intention to build a Chinese star. He thinks Leonardo is a gatekeeper who will be used to propel Wang Cong. He also mentions that Wang Cong showed grappling skills on Road to the UFC. He says he's willing to pay the chalk.