UFC Fight Night: <\/strong>Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Sergei Pavlovich?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sergei Pavlovich is the No. 3 ranked heavyweight contender currently on a five-fight winning streak, with all of those victories coming by first-round knockout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former Fight Night’s Global heavyweight champion suffered his first career defeat when he was knocked out by Alistair Overeem in his UFC debut back in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He hasn’t lost since and after a lengthy layoff due to the pandemic, has picked up three wins last year \u2014 including stoppage victories against Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis inside the first minute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pavlovich has a background in Greco-Roman wrestling and sambo but has relied on his striking in the UFC. He has powerful and accurate boxing along with a gargantuan 84-inch reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Curtis Blaydes?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Curtis “Razor” Blaydes is one spot behind Pavlovich in the heavyweight rankings and is coming off a TKO victory against Tom Aspinall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That fight had an unfortunate ending with Aspinall tearing his MCL in the opening seconds, but Blaydes looked great in his previous bout, knocking out Chris Daukaus to claim the second Performance of the Night bonus of his career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blaydes is 12-2 in his last 14 trips to the octagon, with his only defeats coming by way of knockout to the hardest hitters in MMA: Francis Ngannou and Lewis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 32-year-old is the best wrestler in the division and averages a whopping 6.05 takedowns per 15 minutes, with 41% of his significant strikes coming on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is an intriguing fight because each fighter profiles as the other’s kryptonite. Blaydes has only lost to incredibly powerful punchers like Ngannou and Lewis, while Pavlovich was taken down and lost by ground-and-pound to Overeem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, that defeat to Overeem happened back in 2018 and Pavlovich has surely worked on improving his takedown defense \u2014 especially since he started training with American Top Team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blaydes has been looking more comfortable with his striking lately, but that might be a bad thing in this matchup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He doesn’t even need to stand with Pavlovich for 25 minutes to get starched, even engaging with him on the feet for a minute or two is enough for Pavlovich to put him away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep in mind that Blaydes was able to beat a striker like Jairzinho Rozenstruik in 2021 because he could stay on the outside with striking and spam takedowns when the distance was closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Pavlovich fights with a lot more pressure than Rozenstruik, and his 84-inch reach means that he can land bombs even at distance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC Fight Night: <\/strong>Brad Tavares vs. Bruno Silva<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Brad Tavares?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The veteran Tavares holds the division record for decision wins, emphasizing his durability, and has faced some of its best active fighters. He\u2019s 2-3 in his last five fights, with two of those losses coming to Israel Adesanya and a recent competitive loss to Dricus Du Plessis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though his role in the division is clear, Tavares is crafty enough to turn away those who aren\u2019t ready for the deep waters at middleweight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Bruno Silva?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Silva\u2019s loss to Alex Pereira was commendable, but the loss to Gerald Meerschaert was troubling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a fighter known for his high knockout power, he couldn\u2019t dent Meerschaert\u2019s glass jaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tavares is better than Meerschaert and more durable, so Silva needs to impress here if he hopes to recapture the momentum he had before his losing streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That momentum saw him use his reach and raw power to score 19 knockouts in 22 wins. Only Pereira has gone the distance with him in a war, but he is susceptible to submissions with six losses coming that way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brad Tavares vs. Bruno Silva Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This fight comes down to if the consistent, but declining, Tavares can avoid the strikes of the stronger, but sloppier, Silva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The short answer is yes, though that wholly depends on Silva\u2019s confidence following his defeats. While he could catch Tavares in a rush, he\u2019ll risk getting caught on to his plan and losing the fight on the scorecards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As resourceful as Tavares remains, he won\u2019t last in a firefight with Silva. In his fight with Du Plessis, he was getting battered at times, though he showed enough resiliency to fight back and avoid a stoppage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brad still has something left, and he is rightfully the favorite, though he\u2019ll need to be disciplined with his defense to avoid calamity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luckily, Silva isn’t at the level of Du Plessis. One-note brawlers like him are the kind of fights Tavares still does well in. We\u2019re picking him to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC Fight Night: <\/strong>Bobby Green vs. Jared Gordon<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Bobby Green?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We saw the best and worst of Green in his last fight against Drew Dober. For the duration of their bout, Green was pummeling Dober and used shoulder rolls along with fancy footwork to avoid his opponent\u2019s return fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Dober finally connected the shot that slumped Green. It was Bobby\u2019s lackadaisical awareness that caused him to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Jared Gordon?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gordon became a household name when the UFC robbed him at gunpoint in a loss to Pimblett at UFC 282.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was seen as a safe opponent for a potential highlight-reel stoppage but still outworked Pimblett at every turn, winning the fight despite what the judges said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like Green, he is another volume striker, though he mixes in takedowns and wrestling in his game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bobby Green vs. Jared Gordon Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKing\u201d Bobby has the faster hands, better striking selection, and natural advantages in height and reach to make this a tough night for Gordon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Neither of them is a hard hitter, though Gordon has durability issues that might cause him to shell up if he can\u2019t get to Green first. Dober had to throw with Green to catch him, and he took a lot of punishment just to land the kill shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gordon doesn\u2019t possess that kind of power or tenacity. Once Green starts up, it\u2019ll be hard to slow down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without the resources to trouble Green, who will likely be more mindful defensively after his last fight, Gordon is going to be on the outside looking in all night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC Fight Night: <\/strong>Iasmin Lucindo vs. Brogan Walker<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Iasmin Lucindo?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lucindo is moving up to 125 pounds after her debut loss at strawweight in a very close fight against Yazmin Jauregui, who has looked impressive in the UFC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Brazilian is only 21 years old and is a great striker, and even though she didn\u2019t win, she was impressed in her debut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a relative unknown, she stood toe-to-toe with the highly regarded Jauregui, showcasing a really strong stand-up game and solid conditioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She already has nearly 20 professional fights on her record, which isn\u2019t bad for being just 21 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Brogan Walker?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Walker-Sanchez made her name known first in Invicta FC then on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), coming up short in the final fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She\u2019s a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who excels at controlling her opponents from the top position, but she hasn\u2019t often been able to force the finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brogan Walker is coming off TUF and was finished by Julianna Miller in the finals, which isn’t a good loss to have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iasmin Lucindo vs. Brogan Walker Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Even if Walker-Sanchez can win the early goings of this fight, she\u2019s not much of a finishing threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result, Lucindo\u2019s pace and athleticism are likely going to become more and more of a factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As her strikes start to land more and the takedowns grow more exhausting, Lucindo should be able to pull the momentum into her favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once on the feet, Lucindo will be able to pick her apart and get either a late TKO or a one-sided decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC Fight Night: <\/strong>Jeremiah Wells vs. Matt Semelsberger<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Jeremiah Wells?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wells is 3-0 in the UFC with all three fights ending by finish in under 6 minutes, winning two by knockout and one by submission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He’s a well-rounded fighter with a clear finishing ability and began his career primarily as an explosive wrestler who used athleticism, sound technique, and raw strength to aggressively drive opponents to the mat and inflict damage on top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As he\u2019s developed as a mixed martial artist, Wells has shown significant improvements with his striking and his wrestling, with both being a steep above in explosive movements and raw power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His striking technique lacks some refinement but he marries it well with his wrestling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Matt Semelsberger?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Semelsberger is a fighter with a ranked-level ceiling but hasn\u2019t put his game all the way together yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early in his career, Semelsberger relied solely on his natural gifts as he got into brawls and won them on the back of his edge in power, speed, and toughness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More recently, Semelsberger has refined his technique and started incorporating more straight shots in his combinations rather than wild hooks. He has shown a good chin, quicker hands, and an ability to throw combinations with more accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he can get caught watching for the perfect shot and lose important rounds because of a lack of volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeremiah Wells vs. Matt Semelsberger Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Semelsberger has the potential to walk through Wells with stout defensive wrestling, powerful striking, and an ability to eat heavy shots with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he has the potential to let Wells dictate pace and space, land more volume as he watches for the perfect shot, and lose valuable minutes or even rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This fight comes down to whether or not Semelsberger has reached his potential. We don\u2019t think he\u2019s there yet and believe Wells has shown remarkable consistency in his short UFC tenure. So, we are backing the more reliable fighter in this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC Fight Night: <\/strong>Ricky Glenn vs. Christos Giagos<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Ricky Glenn?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rick Glenn (22-6-2) announced his arrival in the Lightweight division by thrashing Joaquim Silva in 37 seconds, erasing the memory of a loss to Kevin Aguilar and a previous mediocre 3-3 UFC Featherweight run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two rough rounds against Grant Dawson looked poised to put him back in the loss column, but \u201cThe Gladiator\u201d battled back to force a majority draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Christos Giagos?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Though he fell to Charles Oliveira in his Octagon return, Christos Giagos (19-10) reignited his UFC career with wins in four of his next five appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then came Arman Tsarukyan and Thiago Moises, who put away Giagos with first-round submissions to drop his Octagon record to 5-6 in the last 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ricky Glenn vs. Christos Giagos. Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On paper, Giagos\u2019 high-volume takedown attack is the right approach to take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He may not be a top control artist on the level of Grant Dawson, but we\u2019ve seen Glenn struggle underneath the likes of Myles Jury and Dennis Bermudez in the past, so it might not take truly elite grappling to neutralize \u201cThe Gladiator.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The jury\u2019s out on whether he can hold down Glenn; if he can\u2019t, Glenn\u2019s pressure and output figure to win the day on the feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ll hedge our bets and say Giagos does hit a handful of takedowns, but can\u2019t keep Glenn on the mat or rack up enough damage to offset Glenn\u2019s striking volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC Fight Night: <\/strong>Rani Yahya vs. Montel Jackson<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Rani Yahya?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now more than one decade into his UFC career, Rani Yahya (28-10-1) sits at 13-4-1 in the world\u2019s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His current 5-1-1 run includes consecutive wins over Ray Rodriguez and Kyung Ho Kang, the former of which earned him his 21st career submission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This marks his first appearance in 17 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Montel Jackson?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Undaunted by his UFC debut loss to Ricky Simon, Montel Jackson (12-2) bounced back with six wins in his next seven appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He last saw action in Nov. 2022, overpowering Julio Arce to extend his win streak to three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rani Yahya vs. Montel Jackson Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is so much respect for Rani Yahya because rather than attempting to \u201cround out his game\u201d and veer away from what made him successful in the first place, he built a style designed to maximize his strengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, Jackson may be a bit much for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond \u201cQuik\u2019s\u201d massive physical advantages, he\u2019s got ridiculously heavy hands and fairly stout wrestling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, he\u2019s been out-grappled before, but Simon and Brett Johns are stronger takedown artists than Yahya and neither managed to put him in any submission danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019s got what it takes to weather the early Yahya blitz and demolish him down the stretch, though he\u2019s struggled to find the finish of late and may have to settle for a decision after dropping the first half of the fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n