Taylor Lapilus

Angelo is very confident in Taylor Lapilus. He praises Lapilus's footwork, counter-striking, and takedown defense. He expects Vince Morales to come out looking for an early finish, but Lapilus will weather the storm and piece him apart. The only concern is if Morales has improved like Youssef Zalal did after being cut, but Angelo doesn't think so.

Big Brady picks Taylor Lapilus by decision, noting Lapilus has superior striking and takedown defense. He mentions Morales has been on a good run since being cut but is being brought back against a tough opponent in Paris. He expects Lapilus to win a clear decision with home-cage advantage.

Cody picks Lapilus, citing his superior striking and takedown defense. He notes that Morales' wrestling hasn't translated to the UFC and that Lapilus should outpoint him with volume and movement. He expects a unanimous decision win for Lapilus.

Connor agrees, noting that Morales is a good regional fighter but not a good UFC fighter. He points out that Morales has a slow pace, can get kicked to hell, and is easy to put on his heels. Lapilus should be able to out-slick him.

Daniel Vreeland picks Taylor Lapilus to win by decision. He thinks Lapilus is a solid striker with good defense and takedown defense, and that Morales is a step below. He notes that Lapilus has been taken down in every UFC fight but has good get-up game. He expects Lapilus to use leg kicks and movement to win a clear decision.

JP picks Taylor Lapilus because he thinks Lapilus is better everywhere and has power. He notes Morales was released from the UFC in 2022 and came back, which he views negatively. He predicts Lapilus will starch him by KO.

Paul agrees, noting Lapilus' excellent get-up game and striking. He believes Morales' wrestling won't be effective and that Lapilus will out-strike him clearly. He expects a unanimous decision.

The MMA Guru picks Taylor Lapilus over Vince Morales, describing Lapilus as awkward and tricky to fight. He notes Morales' past UFC struggles and Lapilus' reach advantage despite being shorter. He predicts a split decision win for Lapilus.

Angelo picks Taylor Lapilus, citing his superior kickboxing and outstanding takedown defense. He notes that Cody Stamann is well-rounded but lacks power, and Taylor's ability to work in and out of range should be key. However, he worries that Taylor might be too tentative like in his last fight, where he was afraid of takedowns and didn't throw enough. He thinks Taylor is the better overall fighter but the fight could be close.

Big Brady picks Taylor Lapilus to win by decision. He highlights Lapilus's elite takedown defense and get-up game, as well as a 9-inch reach advantage. He notes that Cody Stamann hasn't wrestled since 2020 and has only completed five takedowns, so the fight will likely stay standing where Lapilus has the edge.

Cody picks Lapilus, noting that Stamann has been inactive and has not looked interested in wrestling recently. Lapilus is a smooth striker with good takedown defense. Cody expects Lapilus to outpoint Stamann on the feet and win a decision. He trusts Lapilus' activity and technical striking.

Daniel confidently picks Stamann as a plus-money underdog, arguing that Lapilus fights close decisions and doesn't run through opponents. He notes Stamann is experienced and competitive with everyone, and that the line is too wide. He expects a controversial split decision for Stamann.

Jacob picks Taylor Lapilus, agreeing with the odds. He notes that Taylor is probably twice the fighter Cody is, with great striking and takedown defense. Cody is tough and has boxing and wrestling, but Jacob thinks Taylor's skills should win the fight, likely by decision. He warns that the -250 odds might make people sweat because Cody is no pushover and could win rounds. He also mentions that Taylor's -3.5 round line might be risky because Taylor is not high volume.

Lapilus has speed and striking advantage from distance, but his takedown defense is a concern. Stamann has a wrestling background but doesn't use it enough. Lapilus should land better strikes and stuff takedowns to win a decision, but the line at -265 is too wide for comfort.

Paul picks Lapilus, noting that Stamann has not used his wrestling in recent fights and seems to have lost interest. Lapilus is the better striker and should win a competitive decision. Paul thinks Stamann's inactivity and lack of urgency will cost him.

Angelo picks Farid Basharat confidently, citing his superior wrestling and solid striking. He notes that Taylor Lapilus is a good kickboxer with decent takedown defense but was taken down twice by C.J. LaRue, and Farid is a much better wrestler. He believes Farid will win on the feet and in grappling exchanges with forward pressure. He likes the over 2.5 rounds and has it in a parlay.

Big Brady thinks the line is too wide and that Taylor Lapilus is underrated. He believes Lapilus has good takedown defense and fast hands, and if he keeps the fight standing, he can out-strike Basharat. He sees a close fight possibly going to a split decision, and picks Lapilus as a live underdog.

Cody picks Lapilus as a sizable underdog, citing his striking advantage, speed, footwork, and solid takedown defense. He believes Lapilus can stuff takedowns and outpoint Basharat on the feet. He notes that Basharat's wrestling may be overrated and that Lapilus has the experience to win a decision.

Daniel Vreeland leans with Farid Basharat, praising his pace, stance switching, and relentless takedown attempts. He acknowledges Lapilus's technical striking and improved takedown defense, but thinks Basharat's pressure and ground game will be the difference. Vreeland notes that if Lapilus can keep it standing, he might have success, but Basharat's relentless style could make him hesitant.

James does not discuss this fight in the transcript. He discusses a fight between Fared Basherat and Chris Gutierrez, which is not on the card.

Farid Basharat is a talented 26-year-old with crisp striking and a strong grappling game, training at Extreme Couture under Jake Shields. He mixes takedowns well and has a smothering top game. Taylor Lapilus is an experienced striker with decent power but has shown vulnerability to grappling, as seen in the Colin Anglin fight. Basharat's wrestling and control should be the difference, allowing him to grind out a decision. The line at -245 is a bit wide, but Basharat's grappling advantage should secure the win.

Paul picks Lapilus, echoing Cody's sentiments. He notes that Lapilus has a massive advantage on the feet and that Basharat's grappling may not be as effective against a good takedown defender. He believes Lapilus will be making his card at +235.

Angelo has a slight lean towards Caolán Loughran, trusting his forward pressure and wrestling. He compares Loughran's grit to Erin Blanchfield's. He notes Taylor Lapilus has clean striking but Loughran can march forward and stay in his face. Angelo is waiting for prop bets before betting.

Big Brady picks Lapilus, impressed by his striking, takedown defense, and toughness. He notes Lapilus' previous UFC experience and superior competition compared to Loughran. He expects Lapilus to be the better striker and not be taken down, winning a decision. He questions Loughran's decision to take this tougher fight.

Cody picks Lapilus, highlighting his experience (3-1 in UFC previously), excellent kicks, defensive skills, high ring IQ, and cardio. He notes Loughran is undefeated but his competition has been weak, including opponents with losing records. Lapilus has wins over Nate Maness and Wilson Reis, while Loughran's best wins are against unproven fighters. Cody believes Lapilus's defensive grappling and takedown ability will be key.

Daniel Levi picks Taylor Lapilus, stating that Lapilus is a dynamic kickboxer who should light up Loughran on the feet. He notes that Loughran is a stationary target with poor defense and that Lapilus has the experience and skill advantage. Levi warns that Lapilus sometimes has low output and lets opponents back into fights, but he believes Lapilus will pick Loughran apart as long as he doesn't play with his food. He also mentions that Loughran's path to victory is via takedowns and back takes, which have troubled Lapilus in the past.

I'm going with Lapilus here. He has a speed and distance striking advantage, and his kicking game should keep Loughran at bay. Loughran is a promising prospect but this might be too much too soon. Lapilus has good takedown defense and works well back to his feet. I think Lapilus stops Loughran by KO due to the speed advantage.

Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Loughran's undefeated record is built on weak opposition, including two opponents with a combined 1-82 record. He says Lapilus is a proven veteran fighting in front of his home crowd, making him a justifiable favorite.