UFC 320: Ankalaev vs Pereira II Full Card Analysis

UFC 320: Ankalaev vs Pereira II – 10.4.2025 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC 320: Ankalaev vs Pereira II. T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host tonight’s pay-per-view headlined by two epic title fights. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick as our records will not reflect confidence in each selection. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few. 

Current Record

• Anthony: 244-142-1 (Last Year 321-191-0, 63%)
• Nick: 246-140-1 (Last Year 316-196-0, 62%)

*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 10-3-2025 at 10pm EST

Early Prelims- Starts 6:00pm EST

Veronica Hardy -700 vs Brogan Walker +500

• Anthony: The event begins at women’s flyweight with Veronica Hardy set to face Brogan Walker. It has been more than two years since Walker last competed, losing to Iasmin Lucindo by decision. She is 36 years old and never really had any great skills when in her fighting prime. Walker has a size advantage fighting most opponents at flyweight and that is certainly the case here today against Hardy. While Hardy has a huge advantage over Walker in terms of her grappling, it may be difficult for Veronica to hold down the bigger woman for long. Walker allowed opponents to go 8 of 9 on their takedown attempts against her in both previous losses. She is not good at stopping opponents from advancing their position on her. Walker has power in her hands but she doesn’t throw a very consistent offense. Hardy will be able to outstrike her in this matchup and likely have her way with Walker when this fight hits the ground. Hardy will win comfortably as the favorite to start out the early prelims. Veronica Hardy by Decision
• Nick: Veronica Hardy is fairly well-rounded, but she is most credentialed in taekwondo where she carries a blackbelt. She’s a decent grappler offensively, but she seems to get caught at times if she finds herself on bottom of her opponents. She’s coming off a hard fought loss to a tough out in Eduarda Moura, but prior to that fight she had a lot of momentum on a solid three fight win streak. Hardy is the wife of Dan Hardy, one of the sharper minds in the sport. Constantly training under Hardy has certainly boosted her skills, mentality, and general fight IQ. Her striking and general gameplanning have been shown as strengths in each of her most recent wins. She is small for the division, but in terms of technical ability she’s somewhat underrated in general. Brogan Walker is a decent striker at range, but she doesn’t throw much volume and she tends to throw single shots rather than extended combinations. She does decent work grappling against the cage, but most of that success has come against a low level of competition. The line here feels far too wide given the low level nature of this match-up. Still, Hardy is very clearly the rightful favorite. Walker is past her prime and she’s been alarmingly inactive. Hardy is better everywhere, and I expect she can dominate no matter where this one goes. Veronica Hardy by Round Three KO

Austin Vanderford -300 vs Ramiz Brahimaj +240

• Anthony: Next is a fight at welterweight between Ramiz Brahimaj and Austin Vanderford. I do not think Vanderford is easy to trust here as the betting favorite. Both of these athletes are confident in their grappling and while Vanderford may plan to wrestle throughout this fight, it will likely be a battle in terms of jiu jitsu instead. Brahimaj is the more skilled submission artist, threatening to reverse positions in his fights and manipulate opponents on the mat. Brahimaj has poor takedown defense but he is confident in his jiu jitsu and great when it comes to securing chokes from the front headlock. Vanderford will be exposing his neck to Brahimaj if he is taking traditional shots at him early. Brahimaj also figures to have the advantage in terms of striking in this matchup. Vanderford does not look as comfortable on the feet as Brahimaj who has developed some very slick boxing. Vanderford may have the size and strength to hold down Brahimaj but I think this is a dangerous opponent for him to face here, especially in round one. Brahimaj was the betting underdog in each of his last two fights but won both by round one stoppage. He seems to have good equity to win this fight by stoppage and I like his chances again as the dog today. Ramiz Brahimaj by Round One KO
• Nick: Austin Vanderford is a well-rounded fighter with a 13-2 professional record. Vanderford has spent most of his career fighting for the now defunct Bellator, but he’s taken on a quality level of competition even prior to his UFC debut. He did secure a win in his UFC debut, which came over Nikolay Veretennikov his last time out via ground-and-pound KO. Vanderford is 35-years old, and the husband of former UFC fighter Paige Van Zant. Primarily a grappler, Vandeford does have decent power on the feet. His offensive BJJ has led to the majority of his professional success, but he has also shown decent power. Ramiz Brahimaj is primarily a grappler with eleven of his twelve professional wins coming via submission. He usually starts fights aggressive, but if he can’t find the early finish his cardio has been somewhat of a weakness. On the feet, he has sneaky power and he pushes at a good pace. However, he often overexerts while throwing combinations and he seems very willing to take damage in exchanges. Brahimaj will be very dangerous early, but Vanderford should be able to pull away as this fight wears on. He’s the much better grappler in this match-up and Brahimaj has issues getting back to his feet once he’s taken down. Austin Vanderford by Decision

Farid Basharat -550 vs Chris Gutierrez +375

• Anthony: This is a good matchup at bantamweight between Chris Gutierrez and Farid Basharat. These are two consistent offensive strikers than land with a high rate of accuracy. Gutierrez has been doing it now for quite some time and appears to be slowing down a bit at this stage of his career. The young and undefeated Basharat should figure to have the clear advantage against Gutierrez in this fight. He has a four-inch edge in reach. Basharat is quick with his attacks and good at landing from both stances. He does well landing and absorbing low leg kicks which is key in a matchup against someone like Gutierrez. While I think Basharat can compete with Gutierrez here striking, it would be smarter to utilize his grappling in order to win this fight. Basharat lands an average of 3.97 takedowns per fight. He does well choosing when to switch levels and it seems like Basharat can get a takedown anytime he really needs to. Gutierrez has struggled getting put onto his back throughout his fighting career. The talented boxer is not nearly as dangerous when forced to lower his hands and defend persistent takedowns. Basharat should follow a smart gameplan here and earn this victory thanks to his grappling. In the event that Gutierrez does make this a close decision I still expect Basharat to get the nod and improve to 14-0. Farid Basharat by Decision
• Nick: Farid Basharat is the younger brother of Jahvid Basharat, who is a rising contender in his own right. Similarly to his brother, Baharat is highly skilled no matter where the fight goes. He is 13-0 professionally, but he’s been out of action since October of 2024. He does a good job working behind his jab. He throws lengthy combinations and he generally does a good job forcing his opponents to fight at a very high pace. His grappling is solid, especially defensively. He’s dangerous in scrambles and very difficult to take down. Chris Gutierrez’s greatest strength is certainly his ability to throw devastating leg kicks. More than 50% of the strikes he’s thrown in the UFC are leg kicks and he’s shown he can utilize this attack effectively against a wide range of opponents. He is 22-5-2 professionally, most recently securing a narrow decision win over a tough out in John Castanada. The line feels a bit wide here, but these are two fighters whose careers are headed in opposite directions. Additionally, the gap in the grappling ability here is widely in favor of Basharat. Farid Basharat by Decision

Macy Chiasson -200 vs Yana Santos +160

• Anthony: Here is a matchup at women’s bantamweight between Macy Chiasson and Yana Santos. Chiasson missed weight on Friday, unable to get to 137 pounds on two attempts. She has missed weight once previously before when facing Raquel Pennington at featherweight. Chiasson is favored in this matchup because of her size and not because of her skill. Santos has fought well in her most recent performances earning wins against Chelsea Chandler and Miesha Tate. Santos has been able to find her mark against these bigger women, landing high volume and mixing good offensive grappling into her approach. Chiasson will likely dictate most of the wrestling exchanges in this fight being so much bigger and stronger than Santos. However, I still expect this to be a competitive matchup with each athlete having their moments throughout. Santos should score consistently at distance while Chiasson really only lands good strikes in the clinch. I think this fight is likely to go to decision and I would rather bet on the underdog here than trust Chiasson with my money. The judges watching should favor Santos’ output, especially if Chiasson begins to tire in rounds two and three. Yana Santos by Decision
• Nick: Macy Chiasson is most effective striking in the clinch. She carries a powerful muay-thai base from which she mixes in dangerous elbows. She uses her reach well, but she is most effective when she closes distance and pulls her opponents into her strikes. She’s big for the division, and she’s able to outmuscle the majority of her opponents at bantamweight. Yana Santos is generally well-rounded. She has crisp boxing and fights at an effective pace. At her best she strikes well at range and in the clinch. She’s a dangerous offensive grappler if her fights hit the mat, but she does make questionable decisions at times and she recently seems to be more hittable than ever in lengthy exchanges. The line is too wide here, but Chiasson should be able to lean on her size and strength advantages here and win this fight on the mat. She missed weight, but she looked fine on the scale. Macy Chiasson by Decision

Punahele Soriano -300 vs Nikolay Veretennikov +240

• Anthony: This is a fight at welterweight between Nikolay Veretennikov and Punahele Soriano. These are both rather volatile fighters and I am not sure that I trust Soriano at betting odds that are this high. Soriano has been impressive in his two most recent performances but overall he is just 5-4 in the UFC. The southpaw is a threat with his powerful boxing but Soriano also has solid skills when it comes to wrestling and converting takedowns. Veretennikov has just 62 percent takedown defense and he has really struggled when brought down onto the mat. Soriano should be entering this matchup with intentions of grappling for three rounds. Veretennikov is a sound kickboxer that could hurt Soriano or score a knockdown of his own. He will be quicker, landing his jab and putting together more combination punches. He seems to be overlooked by bettors here despite earning a win in his last fight at UFC 318. Soriano should dominate this matchup on paper but I will not be going to the betting window to make the play at these odds. Punahele Soriano by Decision
• Nick: Punahele Soriano’s greatest strength is his powerful left hand. Additionally, for someone lacking significant professional experience he looks fairly polished in exchanges. While Soriano is certainly most dangerous on the feet, he is an underrated grappler with a solid Judo base. He was an all-American wrestler in high school, but he certainly seems more inclined to stand and trade at the UFC level. Nikolav Veretennikov enters this fight with a 13-6 professional record at 35 years old At his best, Veretennikov does a good job fighting at range and he carries surprising power even when he’s backing away from his opponents. He’s dangerous everywhere, but primarily a striker with nine of his thirteen professional wins coming via KO. The line feels wide here, but Soriano has a very clear path to victory here if he chooses to grapple. Additionally, he should have a power advantage if this fight takes place on the feet. Punahele Soriano by Round Two KO

Preliminary Card- Starts 8:00pm EST

Edmen Shahbazyan -350 vs Andre Muniz +270

• Anthony: This is a matchup at middleweight between Andre Muniz and Edmen Shahbazyan. It will be a clash between striker and grappler tonight as these two specialists collide. Muniz is starting to show his age at 35 and I think he will struggle here against an opponent who is eight years younger. Shahbazyan has top tier kickboxing skills. He has struggled to put together consistent wins against high quality competition, but lately Shahbazyan has corrected glaring issues that plagued his early career. Shahbazyan really struggles when put into compromising positions on the mat and forced to grapple. He has proven incapable of digging deep and finding three rounds of cardio in any one of his previous fights. He is very much reliant on early knockouts as his only path to winning most matchups. Muniz is an opponent that can certainly exploit Shahbazyan’s grappling deficiencies, but his cardio may be even worse than his. Muniz is also a very bad striker that lost fights by knockout before. He is slow compared to Shahbazyan and it will be hard for him to compete for long in a striking match. Shahbazyan will have the edge here as long as he can stay upright. The more measured approach that he has been taking could benefit him a great deal in this matchup. Shahbazyan is powerful enough to sit back at range, waiting to land big counters against Muniz. I think eventually Muniz is going to fall down and quit as a result of the punishment he has taken. Shahbazyan is poised to win by early knockout, putting together a combination and stopping Muniz. Edmen Shahbazyan by Round Two KO
• Nick: Edmen Shahbazyan is one of the more intriguing up-and-comers at middleweight. He’s only 27, but he’s already shown flashes of elite level striking and a serious ability to finish fights early. While his striking seems to be his greatest strength, Shabazyan also has a Brown Belt in BJJ under Renzo Gracie. He was once considered a future top contender at 185, but he has been wildly inconsistent since making his debut. He’s always dangerous early, but his cardio and durability seem to deplete rapidly when he can’t find a quick finish. Andre Muniz has extremely advanced BJJ and he’s one of the better grapplers there are in the division. Fifteen of Muniz’ twenty-four professional victories have come by way of submission. His striking continues to show improvements, but he telegraphs his more powerful shots. Additionally, he seems to quickly fade if he’s not finding success early in his fights. Shahbazyan is always dangerous to back as a favorite, but as long as he can keep this fight standing he should dominate Muniz at striking range. Edmen Shahbazyan by Round One KO

Patchy Mix -310 vs Jakub Wiklacz +250

• Anthony: This should be a fun fight at bantamweight between Patchy Mix and Jakub Wiklacz. It is the promotional debut for Wiklacz who departs as the reigning KSW bantamweight champion. He is a strong grappler in this weight class and very efficient at ending his fights on the mat. The Polish fighter may have a bright future ahead of him, continuing to become more comfortable striking and now riding a streak of six straight wins. However, Mix already made his UFC debut earlier this year and it seems like this event will provide him a chance to right the ship from last time. Mix looked terrible in the cage against Mario Bautista fighting at UFC 316. Wiklacz is a lower level opponent that Mix should have the advantage striking against. Both men prefer to compete on the mat with their jiu jitsu but Mix will be in very advantageous positions if Wiklacz is the one shooting in on him. Mix is a black belt in jiu jitsu and never before has he been submitted. Wiklacz will struggle to sustain any success in this fight. I expect Mix to keep control of grappling situations and threaten Wiklacz with a few of his own submission attempts. I am confidently betting on Mix and using him when building parlays. Patchy Mix by Round Two Submission
• Nick: Coming off a disappointing loss in his UFC debut to Mario Bautista, Patchy Mix came into the UFC as the most recent Bellator Bantamweight Champion. He is 20-2 professionally and 32 years-old. Mix is relatively well-rounded, but most of his success has come on the mat. His BJJ could be amongst the best in the division, and thirteen of his twenty professional wins have come via submission. Mix’s takedown entries and general wrestling ability aren’t anything special, but his BJJ is outstanding. He’s an opportunistic finisher, and his striking seems to continue to improve as he is still in his athletic prime. He can be slow and plodding on the feet and he’s shown to be somewhat hittable in lengthy exchanges, but by no means is a fighter that can only win fights on the ground. Jakub Wiklacz will be making his UFC debut here, with a 16-3-2 professional record at 29 years old. Wiklacz found most of his success in the respectable Polish regional promotion KSW, where he reigned as their bantamweight champion since capturing the title in 2022. Wiklacz is decent on the feet, but most of his success has come on the mat as ten of his sixteen professional wins have come via submission. He has excellent cardio and he fights at a torrid pace, but he relies on volume more than power on the feet and it seems he can have issues closing the distance against longer strikers. His durability is also somewhat of a concern, as he’s been finished in all three of his professional losses. While he certainly looked terrible his last time out, Mix is taking a major step down in level of competition here. Wiklacz finds most of his success on the mat, but he’s going to be outclassed by a wide margin here if and when this fight hits the ground. Patchy Mix by Round Two Submission

Daniel Santos -160 vs Joo Sang Yoo +135

• Anthony: Next is a fight between Daniel Santos and Joo Sang Yoo. This matchup was set to take place at featherweight but yesterday it was announced that both fighters weighed-in at under 153 pounds. Santos has had numerous issues making weight before and it appears he once again failed to do his job and make the contracted limit. Willycat Santos is a bit of a wildcard, always fighting with high aggression and a very reckless approach. Santos is normally most dangerous in round one where he moves forward and throws very hard. His muay thai attacks cause damage when they land but Santos is also very irresponsible in terms of his striking defense. Yoo is an undefeated Korean fighter who trains under Chan Sung Jung. He has heavy hands and great boxing that should give him the edge in this fight. While Santos will be confident striking against Yoo early I think he will get hurt as this fight wears on. Santos will rely on scoring takedowns outside of the fight’s first flurry and I think he needs to convert those takedowns in order to win. He should not be trusted as the betting favorite, especially after another bad weight miss. Yoo seems like a live underdog who will definitely stand his ground and throw as Santos moves forward. I am expecting to see a stoppage here one way or another. Joo Sang Yoo by Round Two KO
• Nick: Daniel Santos is extremely aggressive on the feet. He throws a wide range of spinning attacks and he’s not afraid to rush in to pressure his opponents. He is 12-2 professionally, with five wins coming via KO and two via submission. He can be inconsistent at times, but he enters this fight on an impressive three fight win streak. He continues to show considerable improvements in his grappling ability, but it certainly seems he’s most content to stand and trade on the feet. Joo Sang Yoo is coming off a solid win in his UFC debut, which came via KO of Jeka Saragih back at UFC 316. Prior to his impressive debut, Yoo found success against a decent level of regional opponents having primarily fought for ZFN and AFC. Fighting out of Tiger gym in South Korea, Yoo is a protege of The Korean Zombie. He’s a flashy striker who works well at range. He’s also an effective wrestler with underrated BJJ ability. This is a volatile match-up as Yoo is still somewhat untested as a prospect. Regardless, there seems to be value on him here as the better athlete and the more effective striker in this matchup. Joo Sang Yoo by Decision

Ateba Gautier -1800 vs Tre’ston Vines +900

• Anthony: The featured prelim is a fight at middleweight between Ateba Gautier and Tre’ston Vines. I am expecting Gautier to win this fight very quickly via knockout. This is a short notice appearance for Vines who makes his UFC debut on just a week notice. Vines is stepping in to replace Ozzy Diaz who was injured and unable to compete. Not many fighters are raising their hand to matchup against Gautier but credit to Vines for having the courage to take this bout. Vines is a skilled regional fighter with success grappling in some fights previously. He could make some noise here on short notice but he is more likely going to be put to sleep. Gautier is a physical specimen with thunderous knockout power. Seven of his eight professional wins came by knockout as it only took a few shots from Gautier to end the night. In both of his prior UFC appearances, Gautier has won Performance of the Night for victories by round one knockout. Opponents cannot withstand his power when these big shots do connect. Vines does not really have adequate boxing fundamentals and thus I expect him to get lit up here tonight. Vines will desperately attempt to take Gautier down to the mat but I think he will eat huge shots there on his way in. Ateba Gautier by Round One KO
• Nick: Ateba Gautier is just 23 years old, and 8-1 professionally. Primarily a striker, all but one of his professional wins has come by KO. He carries a lot of momentum into this fight and he’s now 2-0 in the UFC, but he’s still far from developed in terms of his overall technical ability. He’s an explosive athlete and he’s dangerous no matter where his fights go, but he can be hittable in exchanges and he can be tentative at times as he waits for fights to come to him. Additionally, there is a chance his hyper-aggressive style could eventually cost him if his fights are extended as he starts to take on better opponents. Lucky for him, he’s in another extremely favorable match-up here against promotional debutant Tres’ton Vines. Tres’ton Vines will be making his UFC debut here, taking this fight on just a few days notice as the replacement for the injured Ozzy Diaz. Vines is 29 years-old and 10-3 professionally, coming into this fight on a four fight win streak. Vines is a decent striker who carries some power on the feet, but his durability is a major weakness as he has been finished in all of his professional losses. The line here is comically wide, but Gautier should run through this short notice and undersized opponent. Ateba Gautier by Round One KO

Main Card- Starts 10:00pm EST

Joe Pyfer -250 vs Abus Magomedov +200

• Anthony: The main card opens at middleweight with Joe Pyfer taking on Abus Magomedov. These are two skilled fighters fighting to stay in the top fifteen in this division. Pyfer has the brighter future ahead of him overall, just 29 years old and already very experienced. He is a dynamic striker with good boxing combinations and great power in both hands. Pyfer has twelve wins by stoppage and seems capable of finishing Magomedov here. Both men are comfortable in any area where this fight takes place but Pyfer should have the advantage striking. Magomedov does very well, landing strikes in round one and hurting opponents with his kicks. It seems that he does struggle in terms of managing his cardio and responding to big shots. Pyfer is easier to trust if this fight gets ugly and turns into a bit of a grind. Each of these two are strong grapplers but Pyfer seems unlikely to be shooting in for takedowns here tonight. Magomedov is the more likely fighter to pursue shots in this matchup although I feel he could get reversed or at least tired wrestling Bodybagz. Magomedov is a submission threat if he does get to wrap up Pyfer but I do not expect him to fight a clean fifteen minutes. Pyfer seems like the right side in this matchup although it is a tough one to call. Joe Pyfer by Round Two KO
• Nick: Joe Pyfer fights out of an excellent camp in Renzo Gracie Philadelphia and he seems to be a personality the UFC hopes to feature and build moving forward. Pyfer is well-rounded, but his power certainly seems to be his greatest attribute. He is 5-1 in the UFC, with a solid 14-3 professional record overall. Pyfer is going to be the much bigger fighter and the more potent striker in this match-up, but his lack of experience and questionable fight IQ make him a dangerous fighter to back as a favorite. Abus Magomedov is a rangy striker with a decent wrestling base and dangerous BJJ. He throws extremely powerful strikes, but he struggles if opponents can close distance on him and force him to fight off his back foot. He enters this match-up on a three fight win streak, but he’s been inconsistent for most of his professional career. Pyfer has flaws in his game, especially defensively. That being said, his physical advantages here should allow him to eventually find a finish. Joe Pyfer by Round Two KO

Youssef Zalal -500 vs Josh Emmett +360

• Anthony: Next is a fight at featherweight between Josh Emmett and Youssef Zalal. Since returning to the promotion Zalal has looked very solid. He is now on a seven-fight winning streak with a win over Calvin Kattar in his last fight. Certainly this is an athlete coming into his fighting prime and getting better with each performance. The same cannot be said for Josh Emmett. While Emmett is still in fantastic physical shape, he is fighting more defensively at this stage of his career. Emmett is really just looking to connect with one big shot to beat his opponents. Zalal is a higher volume striker that mixes things up very well. It is worth noting that Zalal failed on eight takedown attempts in that bout with Kattar. He figures to have the edge here grappling against a boxer like Emmett but I actually think he will struggle to convert takedowns given Emmett’s size. He is also going to be in harm’s way anytime these two are striking. The only way I would bet Zalal in this fight is by taking a submission prop. I’d rather bet my money on Emmett as the huge underdog. It does not really make sense that Zalal is favored by -500 against both Emmett and Kattar. These odds will close with Emmett a higher underdog than he has ever been priced before. Josh Emmett by Round Two KO
• Nick: Youseff Zalal was cut from the UFC back in 2022, but he has since returned to the promotion and strung together a solid four fight win streak. He’s coming off a career best win over a tough out in Calvin Kattar, a fight in which he dominated early and coasted to a convincing decision. He’s made dramatic improvements since his first stint with the promotion as he’s far more aggressive in pursuing a finish. Whether striking or on the mat, he’s been putting out plenty of volume as he generally forces his opponents to fight moving backwards. Josh Emmett is mostly known for his tremendous KO power on the feet, but he’s also a decent grappler with a powerful wrestling base and technically sound takedown entries. He likes to switch stances when he’s striking. He can be fairly plodding and he telegraphs many of his shots, but he has true one-shot power in both of his hands. As dangerous as he is, he’s one of the older fighters in the division at 40 years old. The line is far too wide here, but Emmett is past his prime. He’s always live for a KO upset, but Zalal’s superior speed, grappling, and footwork should allow him to secure the win. Youssef Zalal by Decision

Jiri Prochazka -200 vs Khalil Rountree +160

• Anthony: The featured bout is a fight at light heavyweight between Khalil Rountree and Jiri Prochazka. I am very excited for this matchup between elite strikers. One way or another I am expecting a highlight reel knockout to materialize in this fight. Prochazka last competed in January of this year beating Jamahal Hill by round three knockout. Jiri did well managing the distance in that match and scored a total of two knockdowns. I consider Rountree the more steady and durable fighter when comparing him to Prochazka. He is not as skilled offensively, but Rountree is a consistent performer with very heavy hands. Prochazka is also more agile and quick at maneuvering in and out of striking range. He is a step faster than Rountree and it will be interesting to see how these two manage distance against one another. Prochazka will have more opportunities to land that seminal blow given his aggression, but he could also eat some big counters from Rountree as he tries to move in. Often Prochazka is fighting with his hands at his sides to counter and draw out attacks. He can normally find a second gear and drown opponents after taking their best shots in round one. I think Prochazka will be able to stay safe against this muay thai attack, but Rountree does swing very hard and pose a threat of finishing. While Prochazka seems much more skilled on paper, he is always a sweaty fighter to bet money on as a favorite. This is a volatile matchup with both men eager to fight for the division’s title next. Jiri Prochazka by Round Two KO
• Nick: Jiri Prochazka, a former division champion, tends to come out aggressive in his fights, making big movements around the cage and swinging wildly. He has shown stellar power and an ability to close the distance on his opponents both quickly and violently. He sometimes over-exerts on punches in exchanges and leaves himself open to counter shots, but he’s as dangerous of a fighter as there is in the world at 205 pounds. Khalil Rountree is a talented Muay-Thai striker with extremely powerful kicks. He works excellent in the clinch, but he’s sometimes overly conservative as he waits for fights to come to him. Rountree is a frustrating fighter to back as he’s usually very volatile. He can look like a complete world beater on any given night, but on occasion he seems like he has zero interest in fighting. Rountree will be dangerous if he can time his counters here, but Prochazka’s style makes him a difficult puzzle to solve. The line feels a bit wide, but I do see Jiri as the rightful favorite. I expect his aggressive style will once again lead him to victory after taking some damage early. Jiri Prochaza by Round Two KO

Merab Dvalishvili -400 vs Cory Sandhagen +300

• Anthony: The co-main event decides the bantamweight championship with Merab Dvalishvili defending against Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili has cemented himself as one of the best pound-for-pound champions currently competing in the sport. The Machine has now won thirteen straight fights after his most recent title defense against Sean O’Malley four months ago. He is a relentless fighter with unyielding pressure and cardio that seems to be infinite. While it appears that there is no solution to this impossible puzzle, Sandhagen will attempt to slow down Dvalishvili in their contest today. Merab will work throughout these five rounds, attacking Sandhagen whenever he takes a break and keeping momentum on his side. Sandhagen is an elite striker but he will struggle hunting for a knockout here. Dvalishvili does leave himself exposed to get hit on occasion, but he can normally absorb the shots that opponents land while still moving forward and effectively closing the distance. It will also be interesting to see how the wrestling scrambles result in this bout. Sandhagen is an underrated offensive grappler with great wrestling and solid jiu jitsu. Dvalishvili may not want to fight Sandhagen for many takedowns here but he will not have any fear dropping Cory to the mat anytime that he needs to. Merab’s good friend Aljamain Sterling made quick work of Sandhagen when they met at bantamweight years ago. Dvalishvili has a chance to even submit the challenger as this fight gets into the later rounds. Sandhagen has always had exceptional cardio but he is in for a real test here facing one of the best to ever do it. And still. Merab Dvalishvili by Decision
• Nick: Merab might be the best pure wrestler on the roster at bantamweight, and he’s in the process of establishing himself as one of the greatest bantamweights of all time. He has shown an ability to score takedowns from a wide range of positions, as he’s set multiple UFC records for most takedowns in a fight. Dvalishvili averages nearly 6 takedowns per 15 minutes. He almost always leans on his grappling to control position so most of his wins come via decision. He has strung together twelve consecutive victories under the UFC banner, most recently defeating Sean O’Malley for the second time in two years. His cardio is on a level never before seen in the sport, and it seems he’s still improving as a fighter at 34 years old. Cory Sandhagen has outstanding cardio, which comes as no surprise as he trains in the thin Colorado air at Elevation Fight Team. Sandhagen generally does a good job keeping distance and using his length to pepper his opponents while staying out of danger. Sandhagen is an extremely diverse striker that uses not only his hands well, but also his elbows, knees, and feet. Sandhagen’s constant stance switching, endless movement on the feet, and ability to land from varying angles have made him a difficult puzzle to solve. The line here is inflated, but Dvalishvili’s momentum makes him a dangerous fighter to fade. Sandhagen could be live for the upset here if he can land a timely KO, but the window of opportunity to place it will be very small if it exists at all. I expect Merab to once again lean on his grappling as he weaponizes his cardio as this fight wears on. And still. Merab Dvalishvili by Decision

Magomed Ankalaev -250 vs Alex Pereira +200

• Anthony: The main event is a rematch at light heavyweight between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. This is a chance at redemption for Pereira who lost his title this March against Ankalaev at UFC 313. This appears to be a very dominant champion who still has a bright future ahead fighting at just 33 years old. He has a very wide arsenal of attacks and elite defense when engaging his opponents. Ankalaev also represents Dagestan and dominates opponents with his wrestling. Although the first meeting between these two was competitive, we saw Ankalaev separate himself from Pereira by landing consistent attacks and fighting with great pressure. The champion did not pursue takedowns very urgently in the first meeting but instead beat Pereira by mixing in the occasional shot with his great stikes. Ankalaev has never been knocked out and enters this fight on an unbeaten streak through his last fourteen bouts. His striking has been underrated and against Pereira his elite kickboxing was on display. Pereira seemed unwilling to commit to his attacks for fear of getting taken down and held on the mat. I am expecting both men to approach this rematch with several adjustments in mind. Pereira cannot abandon the leg kicks and aggressive boxing that got him to a championship in the first place. I expect him to force more exchanges with Ankalaev early that could see either man getting stopped. Ankalaev will hopefully make adjustments as well and hunt for more sustained control time in this meeting. Ankalaev would make this fight closer than it needs to be by fighting Pereira at kickboxing range for too long. There is less value betting Ankalaev this time around but I do expect to see the same outcome with him retaining his championship. And still. Magomed Ankalaev by Round Four KO
• Nick: This fight represents a rematch between the two best Light heavyweights in the World. Ankalev captured the title from Pereira when these two were last in action, outstriking Pereira to a convincing decision. Alex Pereira is known for his vicious left-hook. That being said, there is no denying he carries KO power in all of his limbs. He moves fluidly on the feet, he has outstanding footwork and head movement, and in terms of overall technical ability there’s no denying he’s one of the best strikers on the roster. There is a noted hole in his game as he has very little grappling ability, but he’s been training under Glover Teixiera for the past several years, so there’s a good chance he’ll continue to show improvements on the mat. While he managed to stay standing the last time these two faced, there is a good chance his grappling will be tested this time around. Magomed Ankalaev is 21-1-1 professionally. He has ridiculously powerful head kicks as an extremely diverse striker with intelligent footwork. That being said, his wrestling is likely his greatest advantage in this match-up. Ankalaev is a Master of Sport in Combat Sambo. Born and raised in Dagestan, Ankalaev trained in Greco-Roman Wrestling whilst he was a student at the Dagestan State University. We’ve seen him take down a high-range of quality opponents at the UFC level, and while he prefers to stand and strike, in this particular match-up he would be wise to look to grapple. Pereira sometimes over-exerts on punches in exchanges and leaves himself open to be taken down. It would not at all surprise me to see him land a signature KO here, but Ankalaev has the skills to stay a step ahead here. Additionally, Pereira’s cardio could be compromised if he’s constantly forced to grapple. Ankalev’s fight IQ is questionable at best, but he has to know he has a clear path to victory here. I expect he can lean on his wrestling to secure a convincing decision. And still. Magomed Ankalaev by Decision

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

Photo: UFC