Dione Barbosa
"The Witch"Career Averages
Win Methods (3)
Loss Methods (2)
Fight History
Expert Picks (16)
AJ picks Dione Barbosa to outgrapple Anna Melisano, citing Barbosa's grappling specialist background and physical strength. He notes Melisano is a strawweight moving up, with good striking but poor takedown defense, and expects Barbosa to dominate on the mat and likely win by submission.
AJ picks Barbosa, calling it a 'nightmare debut' for Melisano. He highlights Barbosa's physicality, grappling, and experience, while questioning Melisano's grappling after her TUF loss. AJ expects Barbosa to win by submission.
AJ is confident Barbosa wins by submission, citing her high-caliber grappling and Melisano's poor ground game shown on The Ultimate Fighter. He notes Barbosa is a massive favorite (-550) and believes she will dominate with takedowns and positional control. He also likes the under 1.5 rounds prop at +130 but is more confident in the submission.
AJ picks Dione Barbosa due to her superior grappling and physicality at flyweight. He notes that Anna Melisano is moving up from strawweight and was outgrappled on TUF. He expects Barbosa to control position and potentially win by submission or dominant decision, though he acknowledges Melisano's striking ability and a possible upset if she survives early grappling.
Angelo picks Dione Barbosa, citing her high-level judo, aggressive grappling, and finishing ability. He notes that Anna Melisano is stepping up on short notice and has huge holes in grappling, expecting Barbosa to submit her early.
Angelo is very confident in Dione Barbosa, citing her superior grappling and the fact that Anna Melisano is stepping up on short notice. He believes all roads lead to Barbosa getting takedowns and that the minus 350 odds are great value.
Big Brady picks Dione Barbosa confidently, noting the line opened at -280 and has moved to -600, which he still considers value. He criticizes Melisano's poor performance on The Ultimate Fighter, calling her 'a punching bag' with non-existent ground game. He expects Barbosa to win by submission, likely in the first round, and likes the under 2.5 rounds.
Big Brady picks Dione Barbosa to win by first-round submission. He notes Barbosa has UFC experience, a legit BJJ black belt, and physical strength, while Melisano looked awful on The Ultimate Fighter with poor striking and ground game. He expects Barbosa to take Melisano down and finish quickly.
Cody picks Barbosa, citing her BJJ black belt, physical strength, and takedown ability. He notes Melisano's poor grappling from The Ultimate Fighter, where she gave up her back and got choked out. He thinks Barbosa will take her down and submit her, but the minus 650 price is hard to bet.
Daniel Levi picks Dione Barbosa to finish Anna Melisano, citing Barbosa's experience and well-roundedness. He believes Melisano does not belong at the UFC level based on her TUF performance, while Barbosa is on the cusp of the top 15. He cautions about Barbosa's past bonehead mistakes but expects a dominant win.
Barbosa is a heavy favorite at -612, but Melisano is a short-notice debutant with unknown takedown defense and ground game. If Melisano can keep the fight standing, she could be competitive, but her striking defense is poor. Without knowing her ground skills, it's impossible to predict the fight with confidence.
Lucrative James picks Dione Barbosa to win by submission, citing Barbosa's superior ground game and Melisano's short notice and poor grappling defense. He notes that Melisano is hittable on the feet and gave up her back easily in her TUF fight. He expects Barbosa to take her down and submit her.
Barbosa has a significant grappling advantage as a BJJ black belt and should be able to drag the fight to the ground and control Melisano. Melisano is a striker who struggles with takedown defense and may fade late, but Barbosa has shown gas tank issues and Melisano could be competitive if she keeps it standing. Ultimately, Barbosa grinds out a decision win.
The host believes the odds are a bit too wide but still expects Barbosa's grappling to be too much for the UFC newcomer. He predicts Barbosa will grind out a decision victory.
Paul picks Barbosa, noting her strong grappling and physicality. He thinks Melisano's striking is decent but her ground game is a liability, and Barbosa will exploit that. He is wary of the price but believes Barbosa wins.
The MMA Guru picks Dione Barbosa, noting she is a massive favorite (-600) and more tested than the green Anna Melisano. He criticizes the UFC for signing women's fighters too early and expects Barbosa to win by submission.
Expert Picks (15)
AJ picks Barbosa confidently, citing her physical grappling and athleticism against a debuting opponent moving up in weight. He questions the opponent's grappling after a TUF loss and thinks Barbosa's size and strength will be too much. He predicts a submission win.
AJ picks Dione Barbosa due to her strong grappling and physicality at flyweight, believing she can take down and control Anna Melissano who is moving up from strawweight. He notes Barbosa's athleticism and submission threat, but acknowledges Melissano's striking ability and potential if she survives early grappling. He sees a submission or dominant decision for Barbosa.
AJ is very confident in Barbosa by submission, citing her high-caliber grappling against an opponent who was destroyed in grappling on The Ultimate Fighter. He notes Barbosa's physicality and takedown ability, and sees a high probability of a submission win. He also mentions under 1.5 rounds as a live prop.
AJ picks Dione Barbosa to outgrapple Anna Melissano, citing Barbosa's grappling specialist background and physical strength. He notes that Melissano is a strawweight moving up, and Barbosa is a real flyweight who should dominate on the mat. AJ expects a submission finish, as Barbosa is jacked and strong, and Melissano's striking advantage won't last once the fight hits the ground.
Angelo picks Dione Barbosa, citing her good high-level judo, decent striking, and aggressive grappling. He expects her to come forward, take the fight to the ground, and find a submission similar to her win over Diona Belida. He notes that Anna Melisano is stepping up on short notice and has giant holes in grappling, making her unable to defend takedowns or submissions.
Angelo sees Dione Barbosa as a solid grappler with judo trips and throws, while Anna Melisano is a green striker stepping up on short notice. He believes all roads lead to Barbosa getting takedowns and that Melisano is too reckless. He calls the -350 odds 'spectacular odds and great value'.
Big Brady picks Dione Barbosa, noting she opened at -280 and is now -600, which he thinks is still value. He criticizes Melissano's poor performance on The Ultimate Fighter, calling her hittable and weak on the ground. He expects Barbosa to win by submission, likely in the first round, and likes the under 2.5 rounds.
Big Brady picks Dione Barbosa to win by first-round submission. He notes that Barbosa is a legit BJJ black belt with good cardio and physical strength, while opponent Anna Melissano (stepping in for Hardy) looked awful on the Ultimate Fighter, with poor striking and submission defense. He expects Barbosa to take Melissano down and finish quickly.
Cody picks Barbosa, noting her strength and BJJ. He expects her to take Hardy down and submit her, as Hardy showed poor takedown defense on The Ultimate Fighter. He acknowledges the price is steep but thinks Barbosa's path is clear.
Daniel Levi picks Dione Barbosa to finish Anna Milisano, citing Barbosa's experience and well-roundedness. He is not high on Milisano, believing she doesn't belong at the UFC level after her TUF performance. Levi cautions about Barbosa's past bonehead mistakes but expects a dominant win.
James picks Dione Barbosa to win via submission, citing Barbosa's superior ground game and the fact that her opponent Melissano is taking the fight on short notice. He notes that Melissano is hittable on the feet and has poor grappling defense, while Barbosa is skilled everywhere. He expects Barbosa to take her down and submit her.
The host believes Barbosa's grappling will be too much for the UFC newcomer, expecting her to grind out a decision win. He notes the odds are a bit too wide but still picks Barbosa.
Barbosa has a significant grappling advantage and should be able to take the fight to the ground and grind out a decision. However, the host notes that Barbosa has gas tank issues and that Melissano is the better striker, so if Barbosa can't get takedowns, it could be competitive. The host picks Barbosa but thinks the line is too wide.
Paul agrees with Cody, but is wary of the price. He notes that Barbosa is physically strong and has good grappling, while Hardy is a striker with poor ground game. He thinks Barbosa will take her down and win, but the -650 is hard to bet.
The MMA Guru picks Dione Barbosa, noting she is a massive favorite at -600. He believes Barbosa is more tested and has fought decent opponents, while Melissanou is green and untested. He predicts a submission win for Barbosa.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 30 of 67 | 44% | 108 of 154 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 1 | 1 | 6:06 |
| Melissa Gatto | 0 | 33 of 67 | 49% | 64 of 109 | 3 of 12 | 25% | 0 | 1 | 4:48 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dione Barbosa | 0 | 16 of 37 | 43% | 35 of 58 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:15 |
| Melissa Gatto | 0 | 21 of 48 | 43% | 27 of 59 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1:11 | |
| 2 | Dione Barbosa | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 34 of 51 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:20 |
| Melissa Gatto | 0 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 23 of 30 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 | |
| 3 | Dione Barbosa | 0 | 5 of 10 | 50% | 39 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 1 | 2:31 |
| Melissa Gatto | 0 | 7 of 12 | 58% | 14 of 20 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1:42 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dione Barbosa | 30 of 67 | 44% | 19 of 53 | 9 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 49 | 5 of 7 | 9 of 11 |
| Melissa Gatto | 33 of 67 | 49% | 14 of 40 | 9 of 15 | 10 of 12 | 30 of 62 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dione Barbosa | 16 of 37 | 43% | 12 of 31 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 30 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 2 |
| Melissa Gatto | 21 of 48 | 43% | 7 of 26 | 7 of 13 | 7 of 9 | 20 of 45 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Dione Barbosa | 9 of 20 | 45% | 6 of 17 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 |
| Melissa Gatto | 5 of 7 | 71% | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Dione Barbosa | 5 of 10 | 50% | 1 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 5 |
| Melissa Gatto | 7 of 12 | 58% | 5 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barbosa (-145); Gatto (+125)
Round 1
The night presses on as a pair of women’s flyweights meet in hopes of keeping or lifting their respective promotional record above .500. Barbosa (8-4, 2-2 UFC) would like a victory to elevate it over that midpoint mark, while bantamweight part-timer Gatto (9-2-2, 3-2 UFC) is looking for success back in her natural weight class. Referee Chris Tognoni draws the charge for this preliminary contest, one that does not open with a glove touch.
The ladies measure one another in the early going, testing out their jabs while not committing to much else. Gatto opens up a bit more with her overhand right, and when she finally scores one, she has to back off when a one-two pinpoints her nose. Gatto slings her right hand down the pipe, faking a takedown shot and ultimately walk into a spinning back kick counter. Barbosa gets her attention with a left hand after the kick connects, and she is greeted with a stern right hand. Barbosa shakes it off and offers a low kick followed by two punches, and the two start trading hands in a brief exchange with Barbosa landing at the beginning and ending. Gatto works her way behind her right hand, and she shoots in for takedown that is shut down before it can come close to materializing.
Barbosa bullies the taller woman to the wall, pressing her shoulder tightly before kneeing her a couple times to the stomach. Barbosa trips Gatto up to drag her to the floor, and Gatto springs back up with the fencing behind her. Barbosa stomps Gatto’s toes, and Gatto breaks off with a knee. Gatto takes a punch and times the spin she sees coming to grab Barbosa from behind and wrangle her to the mat. Gatto advances to an awkward position that places her in leglock danger, but she is close to securing the mount position. Barbosa hacks with elbows off her back, and she uses butterfly hooks to stave Gatto from claiming a dominant posture. Gatto lowers herself down maintain control, and Barbosa’s leg slides up an around to snatch up an armbar. Gatto leans to her side to free the pressure on her limb, and she drills Barbosa with a number of hammerfists as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gatto
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gatto
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gatto
Round 2
Gatto assumes control of the center of the cage to get going first, pushing out her jab a few times before snatching up a Barbosa low kick to trip her up and take her to the mat. Barbosa flips her all the way over to wind up on top, and Gatto is stuck flat on her back. Gatto keeps a high guard when Barbosa postures up, but Barbosa does not fall into a trap and stands back up. Gatto turns to her knees to stand back up, and Barbosa blasts her with an illegal soccer kick to the neck and chin that knocks Gatto completely out. Barbosa walks off celebrating, as if she thinks that she has won the fight, while Gatto is splayed out lifelessly in an eerie scene reminiscent of Maycee Barber getting knocked out last week. As a medical professional or two rush in to tend to Gatto, she comes to and has to be told what happened. The replay official flips the light to signal that they are going to use instant replay to review the footage, but it appeared that Gatto’s knee was down right before she took the soccer kick that rendered her unconscious. Tognoni discusses his options with the officiating team, and he deducts one point from Barbosa for the foul. Shockingly, the fight somehow continues, even though Gatto was knocked unconscious from the strike. This is complete nonsense. This fight should be over, period. What happened to fighter safety being the primary concern of officials? Gatto, who apparently is back with her wits again, runs forward at the restart to take the fight down. Barbosa is grounded for a time before fighting her way back up, and she turns the tables to take Gatto down.
Gatto works her way up after absorbing some hammerfists, and she breaks out of the clinch to take a spinning back fist on the chin. Gatto shakes it out and tackles Barbosa to the floor. Thankfully, with Gatto on top, it means she is not currently absorbing much brain trauma after being knocked out from the illegal soccer kick that only resulted in a single point being deducted. Barbosa fights off her back with a high guard in hopes of catching Gatto in something, and she grips hold of a triangle armbar but is punched out of it. The round somehow ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 9-9
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 9-9
Tyler Treese scores the round: 9-9
Round 3
Between rounds, it is explained that the officials and medical staff determined Gatto was able to continue a fistfight despite already getting knocked all the way out. What are rules anymore? It does not take long for the ladies to go for grappling, and Barbosa succeeds in taking Gatto to the mat. Gatto keeps her left leg wrapped on the side in hopes of setting something up, and Barbosa ignores it and starts elbowing her in the side. Gatto turns to her side with a two-on-one wrist control of Barbosa, who counters her by rolling all the way over to snatch up an armbar.
Gatto turns over to stack Barboza up, squeezing her elbow and forearm on the throat while exerting as much pressure down as she can to stifle the submission. Barbosa cannot hold the submission much longer as she is getting squished, and Gatto breaks out of it and busts her in the chops with a strong right hand. Barbosa sits up and flips her opponent over to her back, and she starts hunting for a leglock. Gatto sits up to stop it, and she tries to muscle Barbosa over and use a kimura grip to reverse position. She succeeds in turning Barbosa over and keeps control of the limb, and she steps over the body with her rear leg to establish herself in top control. As the ladies roll around on the mat looking for positional advantages, Gatto snags hold of the left arm of her opponent to hunt for her own armbar. Barbosa elbows Gatto on the back of the calf, and this fight somehow makes it 15 minutes. This is not a good day for the Nevada State Athletic Commission. A draw may be in play, but that depends on the scoring of the first round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)
The Official Result
Dione Barbosa def. Melissa Gatto via Majority Decision (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Dione Barbosa, citing her superior takedown ability as a judoka. He notes that Melissa Gatto has poor takedowns and that Barbosa can close the distance, take her down, and control on top. He worries about potential judging bias similar to Barbosa's last loss but believes Barbosa will win a close decision.
Big Brady picks Melissa Gatto as a slight underdog. He notes Barbosa has power and can get takedowns early, but fades as the fight goes on. He likes Gatto's cardio, volume, and kicks, and expects her to take over in later rounds. He predicts a close decision win for Gatto.
Cody picks Gatto, citing her youth, improved skills, and ability to scramble and strike. He expects her to win a decision, as Barbosa's grappling-heavy style may not score well.
Connor leans toward Barbosa, agreeing that she is more disciplined. He notes that Gatto's footwork is worse and she tends to collapse when pressured, leading her to wrestle. Barbosa is as big as Gatto and a better grappler, which should neutralize Gatto's advantages.
James leans toward Melissa Gatto as the underdog, citing her striking kicks and cardio advantage, while noting Barbosa's tendency to tire. He admits he hasn't done tape study and is unsure about the grappling dynamics. He predicts a decision win for Gatto but emphasizes low confidence and the need for further analysis.
The host picks Gatto as a dog, citing her damage-based striking and grappling advantage. He notes Barbosa's recent loss where control wasn't enough, and trusts Gatto's volume and damage to win on the scorecards despite a two-year layoff. He sees a good stylistic matchup for Gatto.
Paul leans towards Gatto, noting her two-year layoff may have helped her improve. He expects her to win a close decision due to her striking and scrambling.
The MMA Guru picks Dione Barbosa but seems hesitant, acknowledging that her win over Diana Belbita isn't impressive. He notes that Melissa Gatto has a body kick KO win but lost to Tracy Cortez. He thinks Barbosa is slightly more well-rounded but doesn't sound fully convinced.
Zane leans toward Barbosa, noting she is more disciplined and has better footwork. He thinks Gatto has good tools but doesn't stick to them, and tends to win when opponents make catastrophic mistakes. Barbosa's boxing footwork and grappling should allow her to keep the fight in her favor.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karine Silva | 0 | 26 of 70 | 37% | 90 of 154 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 2 | 1 | 2:23 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 31 of 87 | 35% | 67 of 132 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 | 1 | 5:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karine Silva | 0 | 10 of 30 | 33% | 11 of 31 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 15 of 41 | 36% | 19 of 47 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:44 | |
| 2 | Karine Silva | 0 | 9 of 18 | 50% | 49 of 68 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:24 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 7 of 16 | 43% | 23 of 34 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:29 | |
| 3 | Karine Silva | 0 | 7 of 22 | 31% | 30 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 1 | 0:59 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 9 of 30 | 30% | 25 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 2:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karine Silva | 26 of 70 | 37% | 11 of 50 | 9 of 14 | 6 of 6 | 22 of 66 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Dione Barbosa | 31 of 87 | 35% | 11 of 62 | 15 of 19 | 5 of 6 | 26 of 80 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karine Silva | 10 of 30 | 33% | 6 of 24 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dione Barbosa | 15 of 41 | 36% | 4 of 27 | 7 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 15 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Karine Silva | 9 of 18 | 50% | 1 of 9 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Dione Barbosa | 7 of 16 | 43% | 4 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Karine Silva | 7 of 22 | 31% | 4 of 17 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Dione Barbosa | 9 of 30 | 30% | 3 of 23 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 27 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Silva (-218), Barbosa (+180)
Round 1
Moving to the standard fights with no extra stipulations beyond win and move up/lose and move down, Silva (18-5, 4-1 UFC) learned last November about the latter when she lost her nine-fight win streak. Barbosa (8-3, 2-1 UFC) too had a good stretch halted last year, although she turned things around by throttling Diana Belbita. The flyweights will be joined in the cage by referee Rob Madrigal, who observes the countrywomen meeting in the middle without sharing a fist bump.
Silva takes to the center of the cage, and within 15 seconds of inactivity, the crowd is already fussing at the two athletes. Barbosa tosses out a half-hearted low kick to quell the woo birds, and Silva comes back with one-two out of range. Barbosa flicks out a few jabs and parries a front kick, and she comes back to aim a straight shot to the torso. They do not do much other than potshot one another for a good minute until Barbosa steels herself and fires off two heavy punches.
The inactivity generally continues for both ladies, other than the occasional shot from either side as if they are taking turns. Barbosa scores well with body shots, staying just busy enough while Silva is stuck in first gear whiffing. Silva does reach one or two of her strikes, and she fails on a takedown shot and stands back up to get caught with a right hand. Barbosa sneaks in an elbow, and she digs kicks to the body. Silva responds with her own jab to knock her back, and she backpedals but is in a bad spot almost immediately. Barbosa hits a beautiful trip to hurl her countrywoman to the floor, and she zips down to secure the back, get both hooks in and fish for a rear-naked choke. The forearm gets beneath the chin for a moment, but Barbosa bails on it to transition into an armbar. She rolls with the armbar at the last second, and Silva is saved by the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa
Round 2
The Brazilians rush out to meet one another to start the second round, and Silva wants to keep Barbosa away from her early by throwing high kicks in bunches. Silva mixes in a body shot, and she swats down a one-two aimed at her. Barbosa pecks and pokes with her jab, beating Silva to the punch most of the time and keeping her guard up to block the worst of a punch combo. Barbosa uses a knee shield to block body kicks, and she wraps her foot up and around Silva’s head. Silva catches the kick and tackles Barbosa to the floor, with Barbosa not too upset about this decision. Barbosa decides that she does not want to be on her back, so she explodes back up but is still grabbed by Silva. Barbosa turns her foe around and starts kneeing her to the body, grinding out “Killer” on the cage wall.
Barbosa gets off a knee to the body or two before Silva spins her around, and when she gives a knee back, Barbosa spins her about once more. Silva tries to hit a takedown, and Barbosa falls on top of her. Silva lifts her legs up to set up a high guard, and Barbosa stays tightly pressed to her opponent to not give up anything. Silva hunts for a triangle choke and grabs hold of both arms as well, and she starts hacking with elbows while Barbosa is trapped with her arms in. Barbosa stacks Silva up and keeps taking elbows on the top of her head, and she lands a few punches to end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 3
Silva walks her adversary down to open the last round, and Barbosa backs off and probes her with jabs. The jabs continue to score as one of the few effective weapons on either side, and when Silva considers bending over for a takedown, Barbosa knees her in the gut a few times. Silva lets go with a big right hand, and she hurls a left after it to get Barbosa’s attention. Another two punches land for Silva, only to take a right hand on the chin in a counter. They tie up, and Barbosa shoulder-throws her foe flat to her back. Silva hits her back and employs rubber guard to wrap her right leg around the back of the neck, and Barbosa lifts her up to slam her out of it. With Silva attempting a surprise Gogoplata as she was slipping her shin around to get under the neck, Barbosa has to scramble suddenly, and she turns to her knees.
“Killer” attacks with a killer power guillotine choke, using it to push Barbosa over in an attempt to get to mount. Barbosa fights out of the submission but is still stuck on her knees, and she elects to roll to her back so she can spin around and find top position. All the while, Silva slashes with elbows until she is placed on her back again. Of the two, Silva is the more active member striking, with Barbosa getting off little more than a couple hammerfists. Barbosa is warned for putting her fingers in the eyes while she smothers Silva’s mouth, and she drops 12-to-6 elbows to the body and chest. Fans are not amused as Barbosa smothers out the rest of the fight, but it is in the books and the lingering question may be how the judges score the second stanza. It could be a close one.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (29-28 Barbosa)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (29-28 Barbosa)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (29-28 Barbosa)
The Official Result
Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo acknowledges Karine Silva is a strong grappler and a favorite, but notes her takedown defense is lacking and she hasn't finished at the UFC level. He trusts Dione Barbosa's strength, pressure, and ability to stay safe, though he has concerns about her cardio on short notice. He leans toward the dog, calling it an easy plus money bet but says he won't touch it if it becomes -250.
Big Brady picks Karine Silva to win by decision. He notes Silva has more power on the feet and is a dangerous grappler, while Barbosa is also a dangerous grappler but Silva is a higher level. He mentions Silva's experience advantage with 23 fights compared to Barbosa's 11, and that Silva has fought tougher competition in the UFC. He acknowledges Silva's last fight against Vivian Araujo wasn't great but thinks Araujo is underrated. He expects Silva to mix in takedowns and land better shots, but doesn't think she'll finish Barbosa due to Barbosa's black belt and decent chin.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Barbosa. He notes that Silva's complete lack of positional thinking is a major flaw, and that Barbosa is a solid, functional grappler. He thinks the rematch will play out similarly to the first fight, with Barbosa controlling position and avoiding Silva's opportunistic submissions.
The host notes this is a rematch from six years ago where Barbosa won. He believes Barbosa will nullify Silva's aggressive BJJ approach, grind her out from top position, and win by decision on short notice.
The Guru picks Karine Silva to win, noting that Dione Barbosa is coming off a win but on a quick turnaround without a training camp. He believes Silva will have the advantage due to Barbosa's lack of preparation.
Zane picks Barbosa, noting that Silva's game is disjointed and opportunistic. He thinks Silva will give up top control willingly to attempt submissions, but Barbosa is a strong positional grappler who has never been submitted. He references their previous fight in 2019, which Barbosa won. He acknowledges Silva's success in the UFC but notes her opponents were notably bad grapplers.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Belbiţă | 0 | 20 of 69 | 28% | 23 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 27 of 50 | 54% | 35 of 58 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:58 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana Belbiţă | 0 | 20 of 69 | 28% | 23 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 27 of 50 | 54% | 35 of 58 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:58 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Belbiţă | 20 of 69 | 28% | 6 of 43 | 6 of 17 | 8 of 9 | 20 of 69 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dione Barbosa | 27 of 50 | 54% | 23 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 25 of 48 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana Belbiţă | 20 of 69 | 28% | 6 of 43 | 6 of 17 | 8 of 9 | 20 of 69 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dione Barbosa | 27 of 50 | 54% | 23 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 25 of 48 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barbosa (-500), Belbita (+340)
Round 1
Of all the fights tonight, this one will see the widest betting line between favorite and underdog. Having won just twice in seven UFC offerings, it makes some sense that Belbita (15-9, 2-5 UFC) should serve with plus money, but +625 is where she stands. About to close as one of the most heavily favored UFC fighters this year, Barbosa (7-3, 1-1 UFC) is expected to power through while accompanied by -1000 odds. Never tell “Warrior Princess” the odds. Referee Keith Peterson will be the overseer for this flyweight contest, one that opens up with a respectful clap of hands and no nonsense in sight. They both lob low kicks at one another and pull them back. Barbosa strikes first with a jab, and she skirts away from the counter. The Brazilian scores an overhand right, and Belbita is there to pay her back this time with a long left and a ripping left to the body. She goes for the body shot a few more times, ignoring what Barbosa puts on her to connect cleanly. The face of “Warrior Princess” ducks into punches and throws back in hopes of clipping Barbosa with a counter. Barbosa parries a head kick, and she races back to avoid several punches chained into a head kick. Barbosa flashes her jab, and she stays in the pocket too long and gets popped with an overhand right. Belbita attacks the body again, making sure to fighting in flurries, and she times another big right hand up top. Belbita ends a combo with a low kick, and she absorbs anything the Brazilian hurls at her without batting an eye. Belbita goes to the body, opening up an overhand right to the head. She jams the ball of her foot on Barbosa’s stomach, and dings her with a few right hands. Barbosa pressures her against the fencing and spins with an elbow that clips her. When Belbita leans over to try to shake it off, Barbosa hits the level change she suddenly wants and lands practically in full mount.
Barbosa leans her weight down, and she locks up an arm-triangle choke before long. Belbita pumps her hips back and forth, but she cannot buck the Brazilian off of her. As Barbosa presses down with all she has, Belbita has no choice but to surrender.
Just like that, Barbosa lifts her submission rate as a pro to 50%, while landing the first arm-triangle of her career.
The Official Result
Dione Barbosa def. Diana Belbita R1 4:13 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo is very confident that Dione Barbosa will dominate Diana Belbiţă. He highlights Dione's Judo background and grappling, while noting Diana has zero power, low fight IQ, and has been vocal about not caring about her career. He believes Diana is just showing up for a paycheck and will get bullied in all exchanges. Angelo calls it a 'mly whopping' and says Dione runs through her.
Big Brady is very confident in Dione Barbosa, citing her judo and BJJ black belts against Diana Belbiţă, who has been submitted five times. He believes Barbosa will take the fight to the ground and submit Belbiţă, likely via rear-naked choke or armbar in the first round.
Connor agrees with Zane, calling Belbita a fighter who shouldn't be in the UFC. He notes that Barbosa is strong and has a solid grappling game, and that Belbita tends to panic and make bad decisions. He expects Barbosa to win easily.
Barbosa's BJJ prowess and Belbiţă's poor takedown defense will lead to Barbosa finding a submission. The pick is a lean based on grappling advantage.
The Guru picks Dione Barbosa based on physicality, strength, and power, contrasting her muscular build with Diana Belbiţă's lack of snap or pop. He believes Belbiţă cannot impose damage on anyone and that Barbosa will be too strong and powerful, likely getting takedowns and finishing inside the distance.
Zane picks Barbosa confidently, stating that Belbita is not physically capable of competing at this level. He notes that Barbosa is a good athlete with fundamental striking and takedown ability, and that she should easily handle Belbita, who has been crushed by even marginally good fighters.
Jul 20, 2024
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miranda Maverick | 0 | 30 of 88 | 34% | 102 of 188 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 8:07 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 21 of 52 | 40% | 47 of 85 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:49 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miranda Maverick | 0 | 16 of 45 | 35% | 31 of 67 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:02 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 7 of 21 | 33% | 14 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Miranda Maverick | 0 | 7 of 28 | 25% | 30 of 60 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:26 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 7 of 16 | 43% | 11 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:43 | |
| 3 | Miranda Maverick | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 41 of 61 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:39 |
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 22 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miranda Maverick | 30 of 88 | 34% | 9 of 55 | 7 of 15 | 14 of 18 | 23 of 77 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 9 |
| Dione Barbosa | 21 of 52 | 40% | 19 of 47 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 19 of 50 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miranda Maverick | 16 of 45 | 35% | 3 of 27 | 4 of 7 | 9 of 11 | 14 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 |
| Dione Barbosa | 7 of 21 | 33% | 6 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Miranda Maverick | 7 of 28 | 25% | 1 of 16 | 3 of 8 | 3 of 4 | 6 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Dione Barbosa | 7 of 16 | 43% | 6 of 14 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Miranda Maverick | 7 of 15 | 46% | 5 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 6 |
| Dione Barbosa | 7 of 15 | 46% | 7 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Maverick (-218), Barbosa (+180)
Round 1
Shifting gears back to the flyweight category, the U.S. battles Brazil as Maverick (13-5, 6-3 UFC) looks to bewitch “The Witch” Barbosa (7-2, 1-0 UFC) across their three-round endeavor. With exactly twice as much experience as her opponent, and as many fights in the UFC as Barbosa holds as a pro, Maverick will come into the match five years the younger. Referee Chris Tognoni takes charge of this pairing, and he claps the two in as they clap hands. Both women flirt with the middle of the cage, tossing a single strike at one another to test the waters. Maverick kicks the lead leg, and Barbosa replies with a front kick up the middle. Barbosa chops at the front leg, and Maverick replies. The two trade leg kicks, and Maverick grins after an exchange. Both women reach at one another with rangy punches and miss the mark, and then try head kicks that rebound off one another’s guards. They go tit-for-tat after one another, seemingly mirroring one another with attempted strikes. Barbosa picks up her leg after eating a particularly effective low kick, and Maverick targets it once more and ducks away from a sudden wheel kick. Maverick chops at the thigh with a kick, and when the Brazilian closes the distance, she plants two punches on the jaw and slips away. Maverick strikes the lead leg, turning it red less than halfway through Round 1, and she rushes out with jabs outstretched. They both swing and miss on distance strikes, their corners celebrating whether they land or not. Maverick continues to work the calf at the end of combinations, and Barbosa preemptively lifts her leg until crashing forward to take the fight down. Maverick reverses her and tosses the Brazilian to her back, and she fights through a leglock to lower herself down in half guard. Barbosa keeps a high guard to threaten from her back, but Maverick pushes through it to stay out of danger. Barbosa closes the high guard briefly, trying to control Maverick while Maverick controls her. Maverick’s offense dwindles to a few strikes and a knee to the posterior as seconds peel off the clock with little to show for them. Maverick raps her left hand over the top a few times to stay busy, working the head and body before hammering Barbosa with a few elbows. Barbosa looks for a submission setup, and Maverick shrugs it off to continue her ground-and-pound until the bell intervenes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maverick
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Maverick
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Maverick
Round 2
The women try to clap hands to begin the second round and miss, and say heck with it and start swinging at one another. Maverick picks and pokes with low kicks before mixing it up with a head kick, and when that nearly gets through, she tries another seconds later. Barbosa defends a low single and tosses Maverick aside to kick her in the cheek, and she rushes forward to press the Missouri native against the fencing. Barbosa succeeds in hitting a throw to chuck Maverick to the floor, and Maverick is quick to climb back to her feet despite the head lock toss. Maverick breaks away from the clinch and eats a sudden spinning elbow, and she reaches out with a kick and is countered with one from the Brazilian. Maverick jabs to the head and body, keeping her hands up to block a head kick and crashing forward at the same time as her opponent to hit a takedown. Barbosa defends with a takedown, and Maverick pushes her against the wall, unconcerned by the choke, to trip “The Witch” to the canvas. Barbosa is stuck on her back absorbing sporadic punches, and Maverick stays tightly pressed to not let Barbosa sneak anything up on her. Barbosa turns to set up an armbar, and Maverick tosses Barbosa to the side and gets back on top. Barbosa uses the butterfly hooks from allowing Maverick to get her flat, but Maverick keeps to this position while kneeing Barbosa in the backside once. Maverick drops down short right hands as she assumes half guard, and she elbows Barbosa and smacks her with her shoulder before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maverick
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Maverick
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Maverick
Round 3
They do touch gloves to open up the last stanza, and fists are soon to fly. Maverick sits down on three punches, and she leans back as a head kick buzzes her hair. Barbosa works her way forward and reaches out with a right hand after taking a low kick, and she connects with two more before Maverick’s back hits the wall. Barbosa tries to change levels, but Maverick’s takedown defends keeps her upright. As Maverick breaks off, she lands another calf kick and a right hand behind it, and Barbosa walks her down ready to throw leather. Maverick shoots in for a single, and Barbosa scrambles effectively to flip Maverick over and even set up a kneebar. Maverick fights through it and winds up on top, moving into the butterfly guard of her opponent. Maverick keeps tight and composed from above to put Barbosa flat on her back, and she grinds with an elbow to irritate the Brazilian. Maverick gets bucked off briefly, and she remains on top while getting in elbows until Barbosa turns for an armbar. Maverick no-sells it and pulls out of it, and she relocates herself in Barbosa’s guard. Maverick lands a shoulder strike, and it appears she may have headbutted Barbosa in the chest as well, but nothing comes of it. Maverick’s 125-pound-plus frame feels like 500 pounds as Barbosa cannot get enough space, try as she might. Maverick retains control and fully embraces the grind, sliding over to half guard and using her elbow to frame up and land shots. Maverick remains active from this position, doing so until time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maverick (30-27 Maverick)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Maverick (30-27 Maverick)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Maverick (30-27 Maverick)
The Official Result
Miranda Maverick def. Dione Barbosa via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Miranda Maverick because she is a pressure fighter with solid takedowns and strength, and Dione Barbosa has poor takedown defense. He notes that Barbosa is a judoka who wants to clinch, but Maverick will shoot takedowns instead of tying up. He is waiting for prop bets to place a wager, as he doesn't love the moneyline.
Cody picks Maverick, emphasizing her youth (27), cardio, and full camp. He notes Barbosa is on short notice and gassed in her last fight. He expects Maverick to lose the first round but take over in the second and third with takedowns and volume. He suggests live betting Maverick after round one.
Daniel Vreeland picks Dione Barbosa as an upset, citing her superior Jiu-Jitsu and improving striking. He notes that Maverick struggles when she cannot be the bully, and Barbosa's size and grappling advantage will be key. Vreeland believes Barbosa can submit Maverick or win a decision, and considers the odds off.
Maverick is a heavy favorite at -220. She has improved striking and strong grappling, and her physicality should be too much for Barbosa. Barbosa relies on takedowns and BJJ, but Maverick has good submission defense and has never been finished. Maverick will make Barbosa work early and then pull away with her striking and top control. Even at -220, Maverick is worth a shot.
Paul agrees with Cody, noting Maverick's submission win over Priscila Cachoeira and her ability to go three rounds. He thinks Barbosa's cardio is a major issue and that Maverick will cruise to a decision or late stoppage. He also mentions the altitude training with Rose Namajunas as a plus.
The MMA Guru picks Miranda Maverick, citing her longer training and recent win over Andrea Lee. He notes Dione Barbosa's win over Nesta Carter is not impressive, and believes Maverick's grappling defense will give her an advantage on the feet. He also mentions Maverick's close fight with Maycee Barber, which he thought she won, as a positive sign.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dione Barbosa | 0 | 39 of 71 | 54% | 87 of 124 | 2 of 11 | 18% | 1 | 1 | 3:51 |
| Ernesta Kareckaitė | 0 | 53 of 156 | 33% | 100 of 220 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 3 | 3:25 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dione Barbosa | 0 | 11 of 17 | 64% | 34 of 43 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 2:47 |
| Ernesta Kareckaitė | 0 | 5 of 23 | 21% | 7 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:17 | |
| 2 | Dione Barbosa | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 26 of 37 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 1 | 0:57 |
| Ernesta Kareckaitė | 0 | 14 of 44 | 31% | 49 of 93 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 2 | 2:02 | |
| 3 | Dione Barbosa | 0 | 20 of 37 | 54% | 27 of 44 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Ernesta Kareckaitė | 0 | 34 of 89 | 38% | 44 of 102 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dione Barbosa | 39 of 71 | 54% | 21 of 49 | 14 of 17 | 4 of 5 | 33 of 65 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 |
| Ernesta Kareckaitė | 53 of 156 | 33% | 39 of 127 | 8 of 15 | 6 of 14 | 44 of 132 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 23 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dione Barbosa | 11 of 17 | 64% | 6 of 9 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
| Ernesta Kareckaitė | 5 of 23 | 21% | 4 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Dione Barbosa | 8 of 17 | 47% | 5 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Ernesta Kareckaitė | 14 of 44 | 31% | 8 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 12 | 8 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 19 | |
| 3 | Dione Barbosa | 20 of 37 | 54% | 10 of 27 | 10 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Ernesta Kareckaitė | 34 of 89 | 38% | 27 of 76 | 6 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 32 of 85 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barbosa (-205), Kareckaite (+170)
Round 1
In the next matchup on the early prelims, a classic battle of Brazil vs. Lithuania plays out in the women’s flyweight category. Two women signed on the 2023 season of Dana White’s Contender Series will test their mettle against one another, as “The Witch” Barbosa (6-2, 0-0 UFC) looks to bewitch the heavy-handed Kareckaite (5-0-1, 0-0 UFC). Striker faces grappler, while referee Fernando Portella watches on. The ladies share a cordial tap of the gloves before getting after it. They both try to find their range with jabs early, and Barbosa strikes first with a sweeping low kick. Kareckaite reaches out with a right hand, and she comes up short and hops away from another leg kick. The two whiff on their strikes until Barbosa connects with a loud body kick, and she slides out of the way of the long punches of the Lithuanian. Barbosa jabs the body and sticks Kareckaite with a straight right hand, and Kareckaite is surprised and needs a moment to blink it out. Kareckaite gets off a right hand around the guard, and they both land sing leg kicks. Barbosa tosses out a one-two and shoots in for takedown, and she rushes Kareckaite to the fence and looks for a trip and throw. The Brazilian easily slings her to the mat despite Kareckaite grabbing the cage, and she slips around to take Kareckaite’s back in a hurry. Before Kareckaite knows what is going on, Barbosa sneaks an arm under the chin, and Kareckaite has to fight it off while a body triangle cinches around her waist. Kareckaite sits up to break up the body lock, and Barbosa floats along and lands a number of short right hands before hunting for another choke. When Kareckaite defends, she leans over and tries to slide Barbosa out the back door. Barbosa hunts for a rear-naked choke and softens Kareckaite up with punches, and she keeps hooks in to thwart the turning Kareckaite from bucking her off. The Brazilian keeps smacking Kareckaite with short but effective right hands, and she turns over willingly to snatch up an armbar. Kareckaite keeps her stacked up and rides out the round in the position.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa
Round 2
The ladies quickly bump fists before getting back to it, and Kareckaite lunges forward almost immediately with long punches. Barbosa strings together a short combination to wobble the long legs of her opponent, and she spins with a back elbow that hurts Kareckaite and drops her down to both hands. Kareckaite pushes off the mat, and Barbosa pushes forward to take her down. Kareckaite grabs the fence to stay upright, and Portella warns her for the foul. Kareckaite manages to break out of the position, and Barbosa rushes forward to strike the body and fake a spinning strike. Barbosa does a delayed step forward and surprises Kareckaite with a takedown effort, successfully grounding the Lithuanian. Kareckaite turns the corner and reverses the position, and she stands back up and starts smacking Barbosa’s legs with kicks. This exchange continues for quite some time, as Portella stands there instead of forcing Barbosa to stand up. Kareckaite keeps kicking until Portella finally gets between them. Barbosa stands up, and Kareckaite catches her with a clean one-two. Kareckaite looks for a right hand over the top, and she gets popped with another spinning back elbow. Kareckaite uses the momentum of her opponent to bowl her over to the ground, and Barbosa hits her back and snags hold of a heel hook. Kareckaite lowers herself down and turns the right way to get away from the leglock, but Barbosa speedily takes her back. Kareckaite attempts to turn through it, and Barbosa lines up an armbar setup. Kareckaite maintains heavy top pressure to disallow Barbosa from locking the armbar down, and she shucks the arms and legs out of the way to move into the guard. The horn sounds with them in this place.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa
Round 3
The women go strike-for-strike when the round begins, with one landing and the other responding. As Kareckaite gets off a solid right hand, Barbosa shoots for a telegraphed takedown. Kareckaite is able to sprawl effectively to shut it down, and she stands up and allows Barbosa to do so and flicks a head kick at her. Barbosa gets her guard up in time, but she gets backed up by the striking of her opponent. Kareckaite stings the Brazilian with a one-two, and Barbosa shoots in again. The takedown shot fails, and Kareckaite backs away and lands a few more times. A failed level change from Barbosa makes her just stumble, but she regains her footing and spins with a back kick that lands square on the ribcage. Kareckaite ignores it and slings a head kick at her and a series of long, rangy punches. Kareckaite shuts down another takedown, lets Barbosa up and rings her up with a hard one-two. Four quick punches land flush from the Lithuanian, and Barbosa is showing serious signs of fatigue. Kareckaite marches her down, tagging her with crisp punches and stopping Barbosa in her tracks from attempting takedowns. Kareckaite pushes Barbosa away after another takedown try, and she puts fists to face as Barbosa swings back. Barbosa comes up short on another takedown, but a second effort puts them down on the mat. Kareckaite turns through and winds up on top, where Barbosa hunts for a leglock almost immediately. Kareckaite holds onto the fence while turning herself through it, and she stands up and steps around to lower down two heavy punches on the jaw. Barbosa goes for another submission, but Kareckaite backs off and motions for her to stand up. Kareckaite walks face-first into a right hand, and she wings a right hand back that grazes the cheek. Kareckaite loads up on a right hand and forces Barbosa to dip down into a head kick. The Brazilian shoots desperately for a takedown at the 10-second slapper, and Kareckaite stifles her until the final horn blares. This could be a close one.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite (29-28 Kareckaite)
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite (29-28 Barbosa)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite (29-28 Barbosa)
The Official Result
Dione Barbosa def. Ernesta Kareckaite via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Barbosa as the grappler, noting she can control where the fight goes. He acknowledges her struggles closing distance and that Kareckaitė is the better striker, but believes Barbosa's grappling will prevail. He strongly advises against betting on this fight due to its low level.
Big Brady sees this as a striker vs grappler matchup. He likes Kareckaitė's high volume striking and cardio, and thinks her takedown defense is good enough to survive and win a volume-based decision. He notes Barbosa's BJJ but is not confident in her ability to get takedowns.
Cody picks Barbosa but is not super confident. He notes Barbosa's grappling advantage and Kareckaitė's lack of ground game. He expects Barbosa to mix takedowns and win a decision, but acknowledges it could be close.
Daniel Vreeland picks Barbosa, citing her judo background and superior grappling. He notes that Kareckaitė has good conditioning and volume on the feet, but Barbosa is nearly as good a striker and has a massive ground advantage. He expects Barbosa to get takedowns and control the fight, potentially by submission or decision.
This is a grappler versus striker matchup. Barbosa, a judo and BJJ black belt, should be able to get the fight to the ground and put Kareckaitė in bad positions, potentially leading to a submission. However, the ultimate prediction is Barbosa by decision.
Paul picks Barbosa, citing her grappling and takedown ability. He notes Kareckaitė has a reach advantage but poor ground game. Paul expects Barbosa to neutralize the striking and win on the ground.
The MMA Guru initially leans toward Ernesta Kareckaitė due to her kickboxing background and undefeated record, but after reviewing footage of Dione Barbosa taking down Josiane Nunes, he switches to Barbosa. He notes Barbosa's strength and win over Karine Silva as key factors, though he remains hesitant due to limited information.
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