Brendan Allen

The host predicts Brendan Allen to win by submission in round two, likely with a rear naked choke. He notes that Shahbazyan is dangerous in round one with knockout power, but after that, Allen's grappling advantage takes over. He mentions that Allen has good takedowns and a strong back take, and that Shahbazyan's takedown defense fades as the fight goes on.

AJ picks Allen by submission, emphasizing Allen's elite grappling and wrestling advantage over Shahbazyan. He acknowledges Shahbazyan's striking skills but believes Allen will get the fight to the ground and submit him. AJ notes Allen's recent wins over top competition and expects a submission victory.

Angelo picks Brendan Allen, citing his clear advantage in wrestling and takedowns. He notes that Shahbazyan's takedown defense is a huge hole, and as long as Allen sticks to the game plan of getting takedowns and keeping him on the ground, he wins. He is slightly concerned about Allen's recent training camp comments but assumes he is ready.

Big Brady picks Brendan Allen to win by second round submission. He is not impressed with Shahbazyan's recent wins and notes that Shahbazyan quits when grappled. He thinks Allen should take him down and submit him, but worries about Allen's fight IQ and tendency to strike. He believes Allen is the better fighter and should win.

Brendan Allen fights like an idiot and often sells fights, as seen against Chris Curtis and Anthony Hernandez. Edmen Shahbazyan has knockout power and will likely chin Allen in round two. Shahbazyan is a huge underdog but has been training takedown defense at Extreme Couture.

Cody confidently picks Brendan Allen, arguing that Allen's wrestling and grappling will overwhelm Shahbazyan as the fight progresses. He notes Shahbazyan is dangerous in the first round but fades, and Allen has proven cardio and durability against top competition. He sees Allen as a -600 fighter at -200.

Brendan Allen is picked because he has better versatility and can grapple with Edmen Shahbazyan. The host is not sold on Shahbazyan's resurgence, noting his wins over Andre Muniz and Andre Petroski are not impressive. Allen's ground and pound and submission skills are highlighted, though he makes mistakes. The host expects Allen to win by decision, using cage control and clinch work.

Allen is a top-five middleweight with a clear grappling advantage. Shahbazyan has been submitted by lesser grapplers and hasn't faced anyone near Allen's level. Allen should get a first-round submission.

Lucrative James acknowledges Brendan Allen is the better all-round fighter and would pick him if forced, but sees value in Edmen Shahbazyan as a plus-money underdog. He notes Shahbazyan's knockout power and Allen's questionable durability and fight IQ, especially after Allen's brawl with Marvin Vettori. He believes Shahbazyan's best path is a round 1 or 2 KO, and that the betting value lies on the underdog.

Allen has superior durability and cardio; he should weather Shahbazyan's early striking and then take over in later rounds with grappling and body kicks. Shahbazyan tends to fade, and Allen will likely get a rear-naked choke in round 2.

Angelo is confident Reinier de Ridder wins, citing his size, grappling, and durability. He notes de Ridder's impressive performances against Whittaker, Bo Nickal, and Cannonier. He believes Brendan Allen will fade, similar to his fight against Anthony Hernandez, and that Allen's camp change is a disadvantage.

Big Brady acknowledges de Ridder's unorthodox striking but highlights his size, power, and dangerous knees. He thinks de Ridder has better cardio than Allen on short notice and is more dangerous in both striking and grappling. He predicts de Ridder knocks out Allen in the second round.

Cody picks de Ridder, citing his size, physicality, and excellent jiu-jitsu. He notes de Ridder's funky striking and ability to tax opponents with cage control, as seen in the Whittaker fight. He believes Brendan Allen's cardio issues and short notice will be exploited over five rounds, leading to a late stoppage or decision.

Connor leans toward de Ridder but acknowledges Allen's chances. He notes that Allen is well-rounded and could be competitive if he pushes forward and stays confident. However, he thinks Allen is likely to grapple with de Ridder, which plays into de Ridder's strengths. Connor also mentions that de Ridder is defensively flawed and could be knocked out by a big shot.

James sees similarities between de Ridder and Dricus du Plessis, noting that de Ridder's unorthodox style, including a devastating step-in knee and judo trips, makes him difficult to prepare for. He believes Brendan Allen will start well but fade due to short notice and cardio issues, with de Ridder's pressure and grappling taking over in later rounds. James predicts a finish in rounds 3 or 4.

The host thinks de Ridder will utilize his aggressiveness to keep Allen on the back foot and mix in wrestling. He believes Allen's submission defense will be good enough to avoid a finish, but unless the short notice fight causes his gas tank to fail, de Ridder will keep top pressure and control to win on the scorecards.

Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing de Ridder's size and grappling pressure. He highlights Brendan Allen's tendency to fade in later rounds, as seen against Vettori and Curtis, and believes de Ridder's full camp and five-round experience will be decisive. He expects de Ridder to win by late stoppage or decision.

The MMA Guru picks Reinier de Ridder over Brendan Allen. He references de Ridder's performance against Whittaker and his body knees. He believes Allen is stationary and will be vulnerable to body knees, leading to a submission or TKO. He predicts de Ridder will hurt Allen with a knee to the body and finish with a submission in round two or three.

Angelo picks Marvin Vettori despite being an underdog, citing his durability and consistent forward pressure. He questions Brendan Allen's mental consistency and identity, noting Allen's talent but tendency to underperform. He suggests a plus 3.5 bet on Vettori as a safer play.

Big Brady leans Marvin Vettori, disagreeing with the line that makes Allen a heavy favorite. He argues Vettori has advantages in striking volume, cardio, and durability, and that Allen's best wins are unimpressive. He expects a close split decision, possibly influenced by Allen's hometown.

The host thinks this is a great matchup for Vettori to keep the fight upright, bully Allen in the clinch and in pocket exchanges, and pull away on the scorecards. This indicates a clear path to victory.

Angelo, a self-proclaimed 'fluffy underestimator', picks Anthony Hernandez for the first time. He credits Hernandez's incredible cardio as the key weapon that weaponizes his other skills, noting his win over Michel Pereira was wildly impressive. He thinks the pace will matter even in a three-round fight, and that Hernandez's work ethic makes the difference.

Big Brady picks Anthony 'Fluffy' Hernandez, noting his relentless wrestling and scrambling pace that most middleweights can't keep up with. He thinks Brendan Allen may have early success and win the first round, but Hernandez will wear him down, take him down, and dominate the later rounds. He references Allen's poor performance against Imavov, where he was out-grappled, and says if that version of Allen shows up, Hernandez finishes him. He predicts Hernandez by decision.

Connor picks Hernandez, agreeing that Allen's gas tank is a concern and that Hernandez's pressure will be too much. He notes that Allen improved a lot in the UFC and has submitted good grapplers, but Hernandez's style of constant scrambling and pace is a bad matchup. Connor also mentions that Hernandez's striking is terrible but his willingness to eat damage and keep pace makes it work.

The host believes Hernandez is clearly in his prime and will utilize his classic style: putting Allen through the ringer, pushing him against the cage, dragging him to the ground, and being too much. He predicts Hernandez wins on the scorecards.

The Guru picks Hernandez, citing his positional grappling dominance and better cardio compared to Allen. He notes Allen's tendency to lose position by chasing submissions, as seen in the Jacob Malkoun fight. He believes Hernandez is a better version of Malkoun—bigger, rangier, more durable—and will outgrapple Allen over three rounds. He also questions Allen's fight IQ.

Angelo picks Nassourdine Imavov, though he thinks the -200 favorite line is a bit wide. He believes Imavov's size and wrestling will be too much for Brendan Allen, who has improved but struggled with Chris Curtis until he wrestled. Allen won't be able to outwrestle Imavov, and Imavov's striking will give Allen trouble. He also likes the over 2.5 rounds.

Big Brady picks Nassourdine Imavov by second-round knockout, citing Imavov's superior striking and takedown defense. He notes Allen has been on a streak but has poor striking defense (47%) and has been knocked out before. He expects Imavov to land significant shots and finish Allen.

Cody sees Brendan Allen as a live underdog due to his superior wrestling and grappling. He notes that Imavov has been protected from wrestlers and has shown defensive grappling vulnerabilities. Allen's game plan of takedowns and top control should neutralize Imavov's striking, and the three-round format favors Allen's approach.

Connor picks Imavov because he believes Allen's defensive deficiencies on the feet will be exploited by Imavov's size, range, and power. He notes that Allen's best wins have come against grapplers or lower-level strikers, and he has struggled against fighters who can keep him at range. Connor also points out that Allen tends to be cautious against strikers he respects, which will play into Imavov's hands. He acknowledges that Allen could win if he pressures relentlessly, but doubts he will do so effectively.

Daniel Vreeland picks Imavov to win, but is not confident he covers the -210 price. He thinks Imavov's speed, power, and distance management will be key, and that he has a good chance to knock out Allen. However, he believes if Imavov doesn't finish, the fight will be close and Allen has value as a dog. He ultimately picks Imavov but notes the price is high.

JP picks Nassourdine Imavov because he thinks the three-round format favors Imavov's striking. He notes Brendan Allen has a grappling advantage but Imavov throws harder, more accurate strikes and is more mobile. He says if it were five rounds, he'd pick Allen, but in three rounds Imavov should edge it out by decision.

Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing Allen's seven-fight win streak and his ability to take down Chris Curtis six times. He believes Allen's grappling advantage is clear and that Imavov's defensive wrestling is suspect. Paul also notes that the line doesn't reflect the competitive nature of the fight, making Allen a good dog pick.

The MMA Guru picks Nassourdine Imavov over Brendan Allen, citing Imavov's technical striking and ability at all ranges. He notes Imavov's good takedown defense and performance against Strickland. He predicts Imavov will win a decision, possibly 30-27 or 29-28, and that Allen may get frustrated.

Angelo picks Chris Curtis because he already knocked out Brendan Allen in under two minutes in their first fight. He believes Allen's recent win streak is impressive but that he can only win by getting the fight to the ground, which is very difficult against Curtis's takedown defense. Angelo also notes that Curtis on short notice may be better because he doesn't overthink. He mentions that underdogs have won 63% of main events in 2024 and expects that trend to continue.

Big Brady picks Chris Curtis as the underdog, noting that he doesn't understand why Allen is a 2-to-1 favorite. He highlights Curtis's elite takedown defense, durability, and cardio, and believes the fight will take place on the feet, where Curtis is more defensively sound and durable. He thinks Allen is hitable and has been knocked out before, and predicts Curtis will find Allen's chin over 25 minutes and win by third-round knockout.

Cody agrees with Paul, noting that Allen's wins have come against one-dimensional grapplers, while Curtis is a sprawl-and-brawl boxer who works the body and legs. He points out that Curtis has looked midling lately but still has the style to beat Allen. Cody also highlights that Curtis knows Allen from sparring and took the first fight on short notice, and that the five-round fight favors Curtis's power and cardio. He expects Curtis to win by TKO again.

Daniel Vreeland picks Brendan Allen but is hesitant due to Allen's ego and past knockout loss to Curtis. He notes Allen has improved since their first fight, with a six-fight win streak and better grappling as a black belt. However, he worries Allen might get distracted by Sean Strickland's trash talk and engage in pocket exchanges where Curtis excels. Vreeland believes Allen has more paths to victory if he fights smart, using kicks and distance to avoid brawling, and can win by volume or submission if he gets top control.

Curtis has the striking advantage and an iron chin. Allen's wrestling isn't good enough to get Curtis down consistently. In the pocket, Curtis will land the bigger shots and likely knock Allen out again, as he did in their first fight. The line is too wide for Allen.

Paul thinks Chris Curtis is a bad matchup for Brendan Allen again. He notes Allen has improved but Curtis is a brick wall with solid boxing, body work, and five-round cardio. Paul believes Curtis's sprawl-and-brawl style will stifle Allen's takedowns and that Curtis will eventually land his power, likely by TKO. He also mentions Curtis took the fight on short notice last time and still won, and that the five-round distance favors Curtis's pressure.

Angelo is very confident in Brendan Allen, citing his five-fight win streak and well-rounded game. He notes Allen has better striking and wrestling than Paul Craig, and is putting everything together at the right time. He has bets on Allen and expects him to win.

Big Brady thinks the odds are silly because Paul Craig is always a live dog with his guard-pulling submissions. He questions Allen's fight IQ, expecting him to grapple despite the smarter path being striking. He picks Allen to win by submission, possibly a club and sub, but notes Craig is dangerous and can never be counted out. He says Allen has more ways to win but the fight could get tricky.

Cody picks Brendan Allen confidently, citing his significant advantages on the feet and well-rounded grappling. He notes that Paul Craig's only path is a submission via pulling guard, but Allen's top control and BJJ training make that unlikely. Cody mentions the line is wide but expects Allen to smash Craig, possibly by TKO. He acknowledges Craig's opportunistic submission game but sees Allen as too well-rounded.

Allen is the far superior striker with improved striking defense and a dangerous submission game. Craig has sketchy striking and relies on Jiu-Jitsu, but Allen can keep the fight standing and pick him apart. Allen will eventually find a TKO after posturing up with ground and pound, likely in the second or third round.

Paul agrees with Cody, fading Paul Craig as usual. He acknowledges Craig's magic touch and opportunistic submissions but notes that Craig's wins come against opponents with glaring weaknesses. Brendan Allen is young, well-rounded, and trains at a top gym. Paul highlights Allen's submission win over Andre Muniz and his ability to wrestle, grapple, and strike. He sees Craig's suspect gas tank as a liability in a five-round fight and expects Allen to win, likely by TKO.

Angelo leans toward Brendan Allen, thinking he probably wins if he avoids Bruno Silva's big power. He notes Allen is well-rounded and on a four-fight win streak, but historically inconsistent. He considers a bet on Bruno Silva inside the distance (finish only) at plus money if available.

Big Brady picks Brendan Allen despite not trusting him, citing Allen's tendency to make poor fight IQ decisions. He notes Silva's massive hole in grappling with seven submission losses. He believes if Allen takes the fight to the mat, he will dominate via submission. However, if Allen chooses to strike, he risks getting knocked out by Silva's power. He predicts a first-round submission.

Cody picks Allen, agreeing that his wrestling and jiu-jitsu will be decisive. He notes Silva's power but thinks Allen can make the fight ugly and take him down. He compares Allen to Pat Sabatini in terms of grappling advantage.

Connor picks Allen, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Silva is a dangerous puncher but lacks form and consistency. Allen has been improving his striking under Henry Hoof and has become more durable. Connor points out that Allen has only been finished once early in his career and that his grappling is elite. He sees Silva's only chance as landing a lucky shot.

Daniel Levi picks Brendan Allen but is concerned about a letdown spot after losing a main event booking. He acknowledges Allen's superior skills but notes Silva's knockout power and Allen's history of being knocked out. He thinks Allen is the more skilled fighter but sees this as a dangerous fight and a dog-or-pass situation at -180.

The host picks Brendan Allen to win by submission. He believes Allen's grappling advantage will be too much for Silva, as Silva has struggled against grapplers in the past. He expects Allen to get the fight to the ground, work to dominant positions, and eventually find a submission. He also suggests the fight doesn't go to decision as a prop.

Paul picks Allen, citing his grappling advantage and ability to take Silva down. He notes Silva's power but thinks Allen can neutralize it with wrestling and submissions. He acknowledges the risk but believes Allen's grappling is the key.

The Guru picks Brendan Allen but expresses worry about Allen's tendency to strike instead of grapple. He believes Allen is much better than Gerald Meerschaert, who dropped Silva, and that Allen can frustrate Silva by mixing in grappling. He predicts Allen will shoot a takedown when Silva rushes with a combo and win by TKO via ground and pound. He pleads with Allen to grapple and not trade power punches.

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Muniz because he is a little too good for Allen. He notes that Allen has gotten lucky battling through bad positions, but this is where that luck runs out. Connor emphasizes Muniz's technical grappling and ability to force submissions, and while Allen is a confident grappler, Muniz's pressure and chain wrestling will be decisive.

Cody picks Brendan Allen by decision, citing Allen's youth and improvement. He notes that Jotko's style of controlling against the cage may not be enough to win rounds if he doesn't do damage. He expects a greasy, close fight and takes the slight underdog.

Paul leans towards Brendan Allen as a slight underdog, believing the fight is 50/50. He notes that Jotko's control-heavy style may not impress judges, and Allen has shown improvements and a willingness to push the pace. He expects a close fight and gives a slight edge to Allen on the feet.

Angelo picks Malkoun as an underdog, trusting his wrestling and takedown ability. He notes Allen is inconsistent and looked terrible against Sam Alvey despite winning. He believes Malkoun's grappling is as good or better than Allen's, and he likes the plus 3.5 round bet as a safer play.

Big Brady picks Brendan Allen to win by first-round knockout. He highlights Allen's superior grappling, having submitted Kevin Holland and outgrappled Kyle Daukaus, and notes that Malkoun's wins came against lower-level competition. He believes Allen has the striking advantage and will finish Malkoun early, either by TKO or submission.

Cody confidently picks Allen, citing his superior striking and grappling. He dismisses Malkoun's credentials, noting he is a purple belt and not a high-level grappler. He thinks Allen's wrestling is good enough to keep the fight standing and win by TKO or decision.

Daniel Levi picks Brendan Allen, citing his superior athleticism, experience, and grappling. He respects Malkoun's relentless takedown style but believes Allen has the tools to reverse or submit him. He notes that Allen is better everywhere and that Malkoun's path to victory is narrow. He is confident Allen will find a way to win.

Allen is the more complete fighter and should have advantages on the feet and in submission grappling. However, Malkoun is a pure wrestler who can grind out a decision. Allen is overpriced at -320; the value is on Malkoun. I predict Allen wins but the best bet is over 2.5 rounds at plus money.

Paul leans Allen but is not confident due to the price. He thinks Allen is the rightful favorite but the juice is too high. He considers Malkoun by decision at +800 but likely passes.

Angelo picks Brendan Allen but with hesitation. He notes Allen is the better athlete and wrestler, but has chin issues and is coming off a knockout loss. Alvey is on a long winless streak but has power and experience. Angelo thinks Allen should wrestle and take it seriously, but calls it a live bet fight if Allen stands and trades. He picks Allen with the assumption he wrestles.

Cody agrees with Paul, noting that Alvey's only path is a knockout. He points out that Allen has better volume and technique, and that Alvey's takedown defense is historically strong but Allen's wrestling may not be good enough to take him down. However, he thinks Allen should win on the feet. He is confident in Allen.

Daniel Levi leans Brendan Allen but calls it a dog-or-pass situation. He notes Allen is taking the fight on four days' notice, moving up to 205 lbs, and has been knocked out in two of his last three. However, he thinks Allen is the better fighter and should have the tools to beat Alvey, who often does nothing for long stretches. Levi suggests a small bet on Alvey at +325 for those looking for a dog, but his pick is Allen.

Lock of the Night picks Allen, citing the massive skill discrepancy. He notes Allen's improved striking and ability to stay at range, similar to the Soriano fight. He warns that Allen should not chase takedowns excessively to avoid gassing. He likes Allen by decision at +165 and the over 2.5 rounds.

Paul thinks Allen is the younger, faster, and quicker fighter. He notes that Alvey is on a seven-fight winless streak and hasn't won since 2018. He believes Allen's volume and leg kicks will be key, and that Alvey's only path is a lucky punch. He is confident Allen wins but acknowledges the short notice could affect his gas tank.

Angelo picks Brendan Allen, noting his improved striking and BJJ. He warns that Curtis has power and a boxing background, but Allen can win a technical striking fight or by wrestling. Angelo thinks -350 is too steep but Allen is the pick.

Big Brady picks Brendan Allen to win by submission. He notes Allen is a BJJ black belt with excellent grappling, and if he takes the fight to the mat, he will look like a massive favorite. He highlights Allen's submission wins over Kevin Holland and Tom Breese, and his striking improvements training at Sanford MMA. He criticizes Chris Curtis' takedown defense and notes Curtis has been submitted before. Brady is confident but hopes Allen uses his grappling rather than striking, as Curtis has knockout power.

Cody picks Curtis as a big underdog, citing his experience, body work, and takedown defense. He thinks Curtis's veteran savvy and ability to weather early storms will pay off. Cody notes that Curtis has fought at multiple weight classes and that his cardio and pressure will be key. He believes the line should be closer to -150 and that Curtis has a 40% chance to win.

Daniel Levi picks Brendan Allen to finish Chris Curtis in the first round via submission. He believes Allen's jiu-jitsu is much better and that he will take Curtis down and finish him. He notes that Allen's stand-up has improved and that he gave Punahele Soriano a vet lesson. He warns Allen to keep his emotions in check due to Sean Strickland's presence in Curtis's corner.

Jacob picks Brendan Allen, emphasizing he must wrestle and submit Curtis. He notes Curtis has terrible takedown defense and Allen is a BJJ black belt. Jacob warns that if Allen tries to strike, he will get knocked out like Phil Hawes did.

I like Allen. He is much bigger and should use kicks to keep Curtis at range. Curtis is a natural welterweight and will struggle with the size. Allen can also take the fight to the ground where his jiu-jitsu is a threat. I expect Allen to win a decision, and the decision prop at plus 150 is a good play.

Paul picks Allen, believing he is too big for Curtis and that the -365 line is a bit wide but justified. He notes Allen's win over Puna Soriano showed improvement and that Allen's size and youth are advantages. Paul thinks Allen can use his reach and grappling to control the fight.

Angelo does not make a clear pick for this fight, calling it a very hard fight to pick. He notes that Soriano has power and can knock anyone out, while Allen has high fight IQ and grappling. He leans toward grapplers but is undecided. He is confident in the over 1.5 rounds and likes the less/less on monkey knife fight, expecting a decision or late stoppage.

Big Brady picks Punahele Soriano to win by first-round knockout. He highlights Soriano's power (4 knockdowns in last two fights) and wrestling background, while Brendan Allen is very hittable (39% striking defense) and has a history of not attempting takedowns in key fights. He questions Allen's takedown success against Soriano's wrestling and expects the fight to stay standing, where Soriano's power will be decisive.

Cody picks Soriano, citing his massive power and wrestling background. He thinks Allen has durability and cardio issues, and that Soriano will land a bomb. He notes Soriano's training at Extreme Couture with top partners. He is not fully on the bandwagon but expects a first-round finish.

Daniel Levi leans toward Punahele Soriano, citing his power and wrestling base, but notes that Allen's experience and jiu-jitsu are concerns. He questions Soriano's cardio and Allen's durability, stating that the fight starts on the feet where Soriano has the edge. Levi agrees that a dog price is needed to back Soriano, as Allen's body-lock takedowns could be a factor.

Jacob picks Brendan Allen but is not confident enough to put him in his DraftKings lineup. He thinks Allen will find a way to get the fight to the ground and submit Soriano, but he is wary of Soriano's power after being burned by him before. He notes that Soriano's last win was against a fighter who kept his hands down, so he's not as good as he looked.

The host picks Punahele Soriano, expecting him to use his power and wrestling to finish Brendan Allen early. He notes Soriano's D3 wrestling background and training at Extreme Couture. He believes Allen's durability is questionable and Soriano will find a knockout in the first round. He likes Soriano by KO at +165 and Soriano in round one at +300.

Paul also picks Soriano, noting his power in both hands and developing fight IQ. He thinks Allen's gas tank is suspect and that Soriano's wrestling will keep the fight standing. He mentions the line movement and plans to bet Soriano. He sees Soriano as a coming out party.

Big Brady picks Allen to win by first-round submission, but is hesitant because Allen often fails to implement his wrestling game plan. He notes Allen's striking defense is poor and he was knocked out by Strickland when he didn't wrestle. However, Roberson's weakness is takedown defense and ground game, and Allen is a good submission artist. He hopes Allen learned from his last loss.

Cody leans toward Allen but is not confident, noting Allen's grappling skills and Roberson's weakness against wrestlers. He worries about Allen's cardio and tendency to stand and strike. He thinks Allen must take Roberson down early to win, and if he doesn't, he could get knocked out. He also likes the over 1.5 rounds.

Daniel picks Brendan Allen, expecting him to take Roberson down and submit him. He notes Roberson has been choked out three times in the UFC and that Allen's striking has improved. He hopes Allen's fight IQ is on point and predicts a first-round submission.

I'm going the opposite way on this one. I think Roberson keeps the fight on the feet and uses his leg kicks to set up a knockout. Allen's takedown accuracy is only 37%, and Roberson has decent takedown defense. If Roberson can stuff the takedowns, he has the striking advantage. I like Roberson by KO at +335, but we need to wait for weigh-ins to see if he makes weight.

Paul picks Allen but is hesitant, citing Allen's grappling advantage and Roberson's susceptibility to takedowns. He notes Allen's cardio issues and tendency to tire if he doesn't get an early finish. He thinks Allen needs to use a wrestling-heavy approach to win, and if he stands with Roberson, he could get knocked out. He also likes the over 1.5 rounds.

Big Brady leans toward Allen due to his grappling advantage and improvements, though he is concerned about Allen's gas tank. He notes the catchweight at 195 may favor Allen as the bigger fighter, and he wants to see weigh-ins before betting. He expects Allen to win a close decision by taking the first two rounds.

Daniel slightly leans with Strickland, viewing him as the more well-rounded fighter with a great jab and improved willingness to sit down on his punches. He thinks if Strickland can maintain distance and keep Allen off him, he can outpoint him to a decision. He acknowledges Allen's forward pressure and jiu-jitsu threat but believes Strickland's striking advantage and ability to avoid bad positions will be key.

Big Brady picks Brendan Allen, though he acknowledges the line might be a bit wide due to Daukaus' dangerous BJJ off his back. He thinks Allen is the better striker and stronger fighter, and if he fights smart on the feet or controls top position, he can finish. He predicts a first-round ground-and-pound KO. He notes Daukaus is undefeated and dangerous but favors Allen's upside.

Daniel Levi picks Brendan Allen, emphasizing Allen's experience and recent dominant performances. He notes that Allen has overcome past setbacks and is now confident, while Daukaus is still green and has shown vulnerabilities in grappling exchanges. Levi thinks Allen's top pressure and submission threat will be too much, predicting a finish. He acknowledges Daukaus's size and southpaw stance could cause trouble but believes Allen's experience will prevail.