UFC Vegas 114: Emmett vs Vallejos - Full Card Analysis

UFC Vegas 114: Emmett vs Vallejos – Full Card Analysis

UFC Vegas 114: Emmett vs Vallejos – 3.14.2026 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Vegas 114: Emmett vs Vallejos. After fights in Las Vegas last weekend at T-Mobile we will stay here at Meta Apex for tonight’s heated action. 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: 55-21-0 (Last Year 331-183-3, 64%)
  • Nick: 52-24-0 (Last Year 326-188-3, 63%)

*Fight odds were last updated from bet365 on 3-13-2026 at 10pm EST

Preliminary Card- Starts 5:00pm EST

Piera Rodriguez -150 vs Sam Hughes +125

  • Anthony: The event today begins at women’s strawweight with Piera Rodriguez and Sam Hughes. This is a rematch of a bout in 2022 that Rodriguez won by unanimous decision. In that fight Rodriguez secured 5 of 11 takedowns but she only accrued two total minutes of control time. Since that matchup I think Rodriguez’ striking has drastically improved. She has become better at pacing herself throughout fights and staying competitive throughout moments on the feet. Rodriguez now averages a whopping 4.53 takedowns per fifteen minutes with fifteen secured in her last two fights. Hughes is always tempting as the underdog. She has cashed five fights as a betting underdog in the UFC. However, this seems like a fight she will struggle to assert herself or establish dominance. I am expecting Rodriguez to win here just like in their first meeting. Hughes is durable and always a threat to take over her fights late, but I do not think there is enough value on her as the small underdog. Rodriguez will likely take the first two rounds here by using her wrestling and pressure. Piera Rodriguez by Decision
  • Nick: Piera Rodriguez is a dangerous and aggressive striker with five of her eleven professional wins coming via KO. Rodriguez is a tough and aggressive fighter who does her best work when she can push forward and pressure her opponents. She throws well timed strikes, she’s defensively sound, and against inferior opponents she can win off her excellent athleticism and speed. In spite of these strengths, she’s been inconsistent since she broke into the UFC and her defensive grappling ability leaves a lot to be desired. Sam Hughes is fairly well rounded, tough and relatively durable. However, offensively she really doesn’t carry any stand out skills. She is 11-6 professionally and while she has shown improvement in all facets of her game, it’s tough to expect she’ll ever climb the ranks of 115 lbs. While she may not pose much of a threat offensively, she is technically sound and a good barometer for the unranked fighters in this division. She trains out of a solid camp via Fortis MMA and she enters this match-up on a three fight win streak. This is a low level and volatile match-up, so I’ll take a small shot on the underdog. Hughes has the better cardio and she’s generally more well-rounded. Sam Hughes by Decision

Hecher Sosa -250 vs Luan Lacerda +200

  • Anthony: This is a matchup between bantamweights Luan Lacerda and Hecher Sosa. It is the promotional debut for Sosa who earned his contract last fall on Dana White’s Contender Series. He is 14-1 as a professional with a wealth of amateur experience prior to that. Sosa is a brown belt in jiu jitsu. Lacerda is a black belt but not likely an opponent that can easily submit Sosa on the mat. I actually rate Sosa’s wrestling and offensive control much higher than that of Lacerda. While Lacerda is dangerous when it comes to securing submissions from bottom position, he will likely struggle to attempt and finish on the mat here facing Sosa. Lacerda is even comfortable fighting off his back and rolling for leg-lock entries as needed. Sosa should be able to stay safe here grappling since he knows the threat of going in. Sosa’s striking is solid and he will attack Lacerda here standing with much more confidence on the feet. I was impressed with his performance against Mackson Lee and throughout Sosa’s career he has faced a rather high quality level of opponent. He is already 30 years old but I expect to see a few wins from Sosa here as he continues to develop inside of the promotion. Lacerda is a good test of his grappling skills but not a significant step up in competition for Sosa. Hecher Sosa by Decision
  • Nick: Hecher Sosa will be making his UFC debut here, coming off a solid Contender Series win over a tough out in Mackson Lee. Fighting out of Spain, Sosa is 30 years old and 14-1 professionally. Sosa is a well-rounded fighter who can finish a fight anywhere. Six of his professional wins have come via KO and three have come via submission. He has taken on a questionable level of competition on the regional scene so it is somewhat difficult to gauge his level. Still, he’s an explosive athlete with a skillset that could allow him to hang on the roster for a while. Luan Lacerda is primarily a grappler as an advanced BJJ black belt, with eleven of his thirteen professional wins having come via submission. He puts out a decent amount of volume on the feet, but can be hittable in exchanges. Additionally most of his strikes are thrown with power so he struggles at times to string together lengthy combinations. Lacerda will be dangerous early here, especially on the mat. That being said, I do expect Sosa can stay safe long enough to either outland Lacerda on the feet or outlast him with his superior cardio and durability. This is a volatile play with the newcomer being a moderate favorite, but the price here is likely justified. Hecher Sosa by Round Two KO

Bia Mesquita -700 vs Montserrat Rendon +500

  • Anthony: Here is a women’s bantamweight matchup between Bia Mesquita and Montserrat Rendon. Mesquita is the biggest betting favorite on the card here in her second promotional appearance. She is an elite grappler, holding the record for IBJJF World Championships with 10 titles as a blackbelt. She has previously won matches against Jennifer Maia, Miesha Tate and Ffion Davies. Her strong grappling will definitely be too much for Rendon to overcome. The takedown entries for Mesquita are not that great but they will suffice in this matchup. Rendon is known for her boxing and ability to win scraps on the feet. I do not expect her to make improvements to her takedown defense ahead of this matchup. Rendon is 36 years old already, and I do not think her improvements will come this late in her career. Mesquita should easily secure a round one takedown here against the Mexican. It would really surprise me if Rendon has not been submitted here before the end of two rounds. Bia Mesquita by Round Two Submission
  • Nick: Bia Mesquiata is 6-0 professionally and 34 years old. Training out of an excellent camp via America Top Team, Mesquita is a credentialed BJJ practitioner who finds most of her success on the mat where she does a good job advancing position and looking for submissions. Her striking is far from refined, but it has been gradually improving. Four of her six professional wins have come via submission, including the most  recent in her UFC debut where she took out Irina Alekseeva.  Monserrat has a 7-1 professional record at 36-years-old. She’s getting a late start to her career, but she’s been impressive on the regional scene. Rendon was recently awarded her brown belt in BJJ, but it’s rare we see her lean on that part of her game. She’s an aggressive striker who is more than willing to take a shot to land one. Rendon is tough, but she’s going to be outclassed here by a wide margin. Mesquita should be able to beat her anywhere, but the path of least resistance will certainly be on the mat. I’m expecting an early submission for the favorite without much resistance. Bia Mesquita by Round One Submission

Eryk Anders -110 vs Brad Tavares -110

  • Anthony: Next is a fight between veteran middleweights Eryk Anders and Brad Tavares. Please temper expectations for this matchup of two 38 year olds who are well past their prime. Taveres has the UFC record for most fights ever at middleweight. His experience allows him to survive late into bouts and often stay competitive throughout. However, Tavares does not hit very hard and rarely throws his strikes in combination. Anders is more explosive with his striking but also less willing to engage overall. A lot of the best performances from Anders include moments in the clinch where he forced opponents to feel his strength. Anders should have the grappling advantage here facing Tavares, but I do not think he will be shooting for traditional takedown attempts. Tavares averages 81 percent takedown defense and he can stuff shots from Anders if he does elect to shoot. This matchup will involve a lot of kickboxing with minimal volume thrown. I do not think this will be an exciting fight. Anders is my pick but I am not going to wager on this matchup. If you are betting on either one of these athletes in 2026, I recommend calling that gambling helpline. Eryk Anders by Decision
  • Nick: Brad Tavares is a talented vet who has been ranked at middleweight for years. With a win in this match-up, he would pass Michael Bisping for the UFC record in wins at middleweight. At his best, Tavares does a good job mixing in leg kicks to keep his opponents at range. He works well behind his jab, he throws meaningful shots and we’ve seen his chin tested on multiple occasions. Tavares is a competent wrestler, especially defensively. Still, there is no denying his speed and general athleticism have been declining over his past few fights. As a former Alabama University linebacker, Eryk Anders is a gifted athlete. That being said, he lacks the power you’d expect to see coming from his massive frame. He’s a quality striker in terms of technical ability, but he doesn’t always put out enough volume to win over judges on the scorecards. He has decent wrestling ability, but it’s rare we see him lean on that part of his game. These are two aging and volatile fighters, but Anders has announced that this will be his last fight before he retires. Historically, retirement fights almost always go poorly. Off that fact alone, I see considerable value on Tavares here. Brad Tavares by Decision

Manoel Sousa -300 vs Bolaji Oki +240

  • Anthony: This is a fight between Bolaji Oki and Manoel Sousa at lightweight. It is the promotional debut for Sousa who earned his contract last fall on Dana White’s Contender Series. That victory allowed Sousa to display his full skillset, mixing in his grappling and ultimately winning by knockout in the third round. I really like what we have seen so far from the Brazilian. The only blemish on Sousa’s record is a decision loss to Archie Colgan in Bellator. 11 of his 13 professional victories have come by way of finish. Both men are good strikers but Sousa has the better grappling and wrestling. Oki is being overlooked in this fight after falling apart in his last bout against Mason Jones. Bettors are worried to support Oki given the perception that his cardio is not very good. Oki is always the most dangerous in round one, but I do not expect him to fall off a cliff in this fight like he did in that brawl against Jones. However, the takedowns will start to become very easy for Sousa to secure in rounds two and three. Oki is a bit stationary and not great at defending the initial shot. I think this will be another losing effort for Oki unless he is able to win by knockout right away. Sousa seems to be a very solid athlete and likely the better side of this matchup tonight. Manoel Sousa by Round Two KO
  • Nick: Manoel Sosa will be making his UFC debut here, coming off an impressive Contender Series via KO over Cristian Perez. Sousa is an explosive athlete fighting out of Brazil, with a 13-1 professional record at 28 years old. Sousa has a better resume than most UFC debutants, having primarily fought for Bellator, LFA, and the PFL. Primarily a striker, eight of his thirteen professional wins have come via KO. Sosa fights at a ridiculous pace for his size. He epitomizes the kill-or-be-killed style of the fight and his grappling has come a long way over the past few years. Bolaji Oki is 10-3 professionally with five of those wins coming via KO. He is 2-2 in the UFC, coming off an ugly loss via KO to Mason Jones. Oki is extremely athletic, with explosive power and strength. He prefers to stand and strike and he’s shown a high-level understanding of mixing body shots into his combinations. His cardio and durability seemed to have improved considerably since he made his professional debut, but he’s still very raw in his abilities. This should be a violent and fun fight for however long it lasts. The line is too wide here and there is value on Oki as an underdog, but I do expect Sousa is more likely to land the power shot it takes to end this one, especially if he can keep things standing. Manoel Sousa by Round Two KO

Elijah Smith -250 vs Su Young You +200

  • Anthony: Here is a great matchup at featherweight between Elija Smith and Su Young You. This will be a competitive matchup throughout and I am a bit surprised to see You closing at odds that are this wide. He is a very tempting underdog selection on a card with a lot of heavy favorites. Smith is a 23 year old and very, very green. He is a tremendous athlete with great wrestling and power for 135 pounds, but Smith is overconfident and a bit too reckless as he attacks his opponents. I like the explosive movements out of Smith but he does need to mature a bit before he should be trusted at odds of -250. You is a very similar fighter in terms of his striking style. Both men have good length for this division and a reach that can give opponents trouble. You will be more comfortable grappling against Smith and testing his ability to scramble. You averages 3.80 takedowns landed per fight and 66 percent takedown defense. It would not surprise me to see him negate Smith’s wrestling or at least win a few scrambles throughout this fight. This will likely be a bout that goes the distance and judges will be tasked with scoring rounds with multiple takedowns and reversals. The value side here is You as such a wide underdog but ultimately I am still picking Smith to get his hand raised. Elijah Smith by Decision
  • Nick: Elijah Smith is 9-1 professionally, coming off back to back wins under the UFC banner. Primarily a striker, Smith can be explosive out of breaks; he generally does a good job landing power at the end of his combinations. At 23-years old he’s quick and athletic, but he’s still sharpening his skills. Five of his nine professional wins have come via KO. Su Young You captured the 2024 Road to UFC Tournament Championship at bantamweight, securing a win via decision over Baergeng Jieleyisi back in November of 2024.  He has since recorded back-to-back wins under the UFC banner.  You is 30 years old and 16-3 professionally. Primarily a grappler, he generally looks to pressure his opponents with a chain wrestling style that allows him to control position for the majority of fifteen minutes. He’s not terrible on the feet, but he really doesn’t throw much volume. Five of his sixteen professional wins have come by submission. Smith has shown flaws in his game, but he’s been taking on a much better level of competition compared to You. I’ll side with the favorite here to continue to show improvement. Elijah Smith by Decision

Vitor Petrino -220 vs Steven Asplund +180

  • Anthony: Next is a matchup at heavyweight between Vitor Petrino and Steven Asplund. This should be a competitive fight between a striker and a grappler. Asplund really impressed me in his debut performance stopping Sean Saharaf by round two knockout. Asplund landed 170 significant strikes in just nine minutes of action at heavyweight. The ability to throw with such volume in this weight class makes Asplund a major threat. Carrying this weight is nothing for him as Asplund once was as heavy as 500 pounds before he started to fight. Petrino moved up to heavyweight from light heavyweight and now fills out this frame. He does seem to have better cardio now than when making the cut down to 205. Petrino is talented but he has also lost twice before as a large betting favorite. His Fight IQ is not all that good and while Petrino could likely slice through Asplund with little resistance on the ground I am not expecting him to follow such a strict gameplan. Petrino also appeared in his last fight against Asplund’s teammate Thomas Petersen. He secured only one of six takedowns attempts. I am going to roll the dice here taking the underdog. In my eyes, Asplund has a bigger advantage striking than Petrino’s advantage on the ground. He is one of my more confident picks for this event. Steven Asplund by Round Three KO
  • Nick: Vitor Petrino is somewhat untested against elite level competition, but there’s no denying his overall athleticism or his power in striking exchanges. Eight of Petrino’s thirteen professional wins have come via KO. He’s almost always aggressive early in fights. His cardio was a weakness for him earlier in his career, but he has shown major improvements in that facet of his game. He is 6-2 in the UFC, most recently securing a KO win over Thomas Peterson. Steven Asplund is 7-1 professionally and 27 years old, coming off an impressive win in his UFC debut via KO of Sean Sharf. He had taken on a decent level of regional opponent prior to making it to the UFC, having primarily fought for LFA. Asplund once weighed 500 lbs, and he lost close to 300 lbs to begin fighting professionally. Primarily a striker he’s dangerous offensively and he does a good job pressuring his opponents. His grappling is mostly a question mark, both offensively and defensively, but he has a massive frame and a decent understanding of footwork. Petrino is going to be in trouble if he doesn’t lean on his grappling here, but I expect he will. This is a volatile fight, but I see the favorite securing a win on the mat. Vitor Petrino by Round One Submission

Myktybek Orolbai -340 vs Chris Curtis +265

  • Anthony: The featured prelim is this fight at welterweight between Chris Curtis and Myktybek Orolbai. In his previous fight at welterweight, Curtis won a split decision against Max Griffin. The move down to 170 pounds suits Curtis well but honestly he poses little threat to ever finish anybody. His last stoppage victory came in 2022 when facing Joaquin Buckley. Curtis was outmatched competing at middleweight but now he is at least on a level-playing field. The issue is that Curtis is very one dimensional, never grappling, just throwing punches in combination and looking to brawl despite a lack of power. Orolbai has proven to have the ability to finish fights in this weight class. He is much more dynamic than Curtis with a wider arsenal of weapons and also solid grappling he can depend on. The two wins secured by Orolbai in 2025 both came by stoppage in the very first round. It seems that Orolbai is entering his prime while Curtis is ten years older and certainly closer to the end of his career. Orolbai may struggle to find a stoppage against Curtis but I expect him to control this fight and win convincingly if it does go to the scorecards. Both men have the durability to last a full three rounds. Curtis may land a higher volume of strikes than Orolbai but he will not land comparable damage. Myktybek Orolbai by Decision
  • Nick: Myktybek Oralbai is 14-2-1 professionally, coming off an impressive KO win over a tough out in Jack Hermansson.  Orolbai is relatively well-rounded with seven wins coming via KO and five coming via submission. He’s made considerable improvements over his last few fights, primarily in his striking ability. While well-rounded, he is primarily a grappler. He pursues takedowns with relentless pressure and once he grounds his opponents he is very heavy on top for a fighter with his frame. He recently moved up a weight class to 170 lbs after struggling to cut weight at lightweight. Still, he has a decent frame for the division where his cardio and durability should continue to be strengths for him as well. Chris Curtis is primarily a counter-striker with a tight guard defensively and power in both hands. He has an excellent chin, but it does seem like his durability is starting to regress a bit as he gets up there in age. He’s a talented boxer, but he can be tentative at times which means he fights at narrow margins when he’s not securing KOs. He has decent takedown defense, but once he is taken down he doesn’t really have the skills to consistently work back to his feet. Curtis is always a dangerous underdog, but Orolbai should be able to justify his price as a favorite once he gets his grappling going. Myktybek Orolbai by Decision

Main Card- Starts 8:00pm EST

Charles Johnson -180 vs Bruno Silva +145

  • Anthony: The main card begins with this flyweight fight between Charles Johnson and Bruno Silva. Johnson is a fighter that normally fights to the level of his opponents. He lost an appearance just two months ago getting KOd by Alex Perez. I do like his chances here facing Silva but this will likely be a close striking battle all throughout. Johnson averages 4.68 significant strikes per minute while Silva connects at a rate of 3.82. Johnson is the much better technical boxer but he does leave himself a bit overexposed on defense. Silva is a threat to win by knockout if he can connect with Johnson flush. Johnson also defends 66 percent of opponent takedowns. Silva is known to mix in his grappling, but I do not think he will find any success attempting to wrestle here today. Johnson has the size to frame well and keep balance against the fence versus the shorter fighter. He will likely appear much faster than Silva does early, switching stances and landing the more frequent attacks at range. This is a tough matchup to handicap at flyweight but I do think Johnson is the rightful favorite. I do not advise betting on him at any odds worse than -185 available now. Charles Johnson by Decision
  • Nick: Charles Johnson is a former LFA flyweight champion, but he’s produced mixed results since he was promoted to the UFC. He’s a technically skilled boxer, but his defensive wrestling and grappling has proven to be a massive hole in his overall game. He is 7-6 in the UFC, coming off an ugly KO loss to Alex Perez at UFC 324. He holds a notable KO win over the current flyweight champion, Joshua Van. Still, there is no denying the fact that most of his fights play out closely. Bruno Silva is fairly well-rounded with powerful boxing technique and decent offensive grappling ability. He has impressive power in exchanges and he’s excellent out of breaks from close range. He is 15-7-2 professionally, and one of the older fighters in the division at 35-years old. While he is certainly dangerous offensively, he’s hittable in exchanges and his cardio often wanes if his fights are extended into the third round. Johnson’s durability is of major concern here, but his size advantage should allow him to start to land at range. Either way I expect this fight to finish inside the distance. I slightly prefer the favorite. Charles Johnson by Round Two KO

Oumar Sy -250 vs Ion Cutelaba +200

  • Anthony: This is a matchup at light heavyweight between Ion Cutelaba and Oumar Sy. It is always very hard to predict what will happen when Cutelaba enters the octagon. The Moldovan is a bit of a brute, reckless early in his fights and always pursuing the finish. We could be in for some great action here but it also would not surprise me to see this devolve into a slower paced, grappling match. Sy is very big for light heavyweight and at a decisive size advantage against Cutelaba. He is taller while also having the reach advantage by eight inches. Cutelaba is a dangerous fighter at this weight but also not very sound in terms of his technical striking. Sy can utilize the jab to consistently land strikes on Cutelaba while standing. Cutelaba also struggles to maintain his cardio over the course of three rounds. He is often aggressive when it comes to taking down opponents and looking to hurt them on the mat. Sy does very well dragging opponents to the ground as well and establishing position on top of them. He can land heavy shots, even from the back thanks to his very long arms. It will be very interesting to see how scrambles play out between these athletes. Cutelaba will appear to be live in round one, but I think Sy will eventually pull away and win this bout. Sy was a good bet when offered at -180 but now these odds are too wide for me to get invested at all. Oumar Sy by Decision
  • Nick: Oumar Sy is 12-1 professionally, and 29 years-old. He’s relatively well-rounded with four of his professional wins coming via KO and four coming via submission. He’s 3-1 in the UFC, coming off a solid win via KO of Brendson Ribeiro. Sy has been wildly impressive at times, but he really has yet to secure any wins over a high level of opponent. He has primarily fought for a regional promotion in France called King of Fighting, and as athletically gifted as he is there is no denying he’s still raw in his abilities.  Ion Cutelaba is going to come out firing here, he always does. He’s hyper aggressive with serious power and explosiveness on the feet. He’s an underrated grappler as a lifelong Greco Roman Wrestler, but he doesn’t seem to lean on that part of his game much in the majority of his fights. The likely reason for this is that his cardio is mediocre at best. He almost always seems to fade as his fights wear on and if he can’t find a KO win early he can find himself in serious trouble. Cutelaba has been a bit more conservative lately, but he’s always a wild card in terms of which version of him shows up on fight night. Sy has been inconsistent, but is still improving with a lot of potential. I see him securing the win here, especially if he can take this fight to the mat. Oumar Sy by Round One Submission

Marwan Rahiki -280 vs Harry Hardwick +220

  • Anthony: Next is a fight at featherweight between Marwan Rahiki and Harry Hardwick. Rahiki is making his debut here today and he is certainly a prospect worth keeping an eye on. He is undefeated 7-0 and training with a great team in Sydney, Australia. Rahiki is known for his handspeed and high-level striking skills. He got his start in amateur kickboxing before shifting his focus to martial arts. Regional opponents were hardly a match for Rahiki as he earned two belts fighting for HEX Fight Series. At just 23 years old I believe Rahiki has an extremely high ceiling. Bettors may be reluctant to take Rahiki here after what was a war in his last appearance. Rahiki won a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series but only after a back-and-forth scrap where both men were knocked down twice. Rahiki is rightfully confident in his striking skills but he needs to be a bit more careful with regard to his defensive awareness. Harwick appears to be in good shape here and ready for a battle standing. He lost his promotional debut against Kaue Fernandes after being finished via leg kicks in round one. Rahiki will utilize his kickboxing skills to win here, landing consistent offense and meaningful damage. I expect that he will be abusing Hardwick with leg kicks every chance that he gets. Marwan Rahiki by Round Two KO
  • Nick: Marwan Rahiki will be making his UFC debut here, coming off a Contender Series win via KO of Ananias Mulumba. Rahiki is 7-0 professionally, with all of those wins coming via finish and six of them coming via KO. Rahiki is very much a kill-or-be-killed style fighter. He’s extremely dangerous offensively, but his pace and willingness to exchange leave him susceptible to counter shots as he begins to take on a higher level of competition. Hardwick is coming off an ugly leg kick KO loss in his UFC debut, but he broke into the promotion on a five-fight win streak as the Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion. He took his last fight up a weight class and on short notice, so there is a good chance we see a better version of him this time around. Hardwick is a tough and gritty fighter who can be dangerous everywhere offensively. He generally uses his length well and does a good job pushing a pace on his opponents. That being said, he is far from physical. He’s awkward in his approach and generally he is hittable in exchanges. These are two awkward but powerful strikers and I expect they’ll meet in the middle and swing here. Rahiki seems a bit more powerful, so I’m siding with him. However, proceed with caution on this one. Marwan Rahiki by Round Two KO

Jose Delgado -420 vs Andre Fili +310

  • Anthony: This should be a good featherweight matchup between Jose Delgado and Andre Fili. The veteran Fili is making his 26th appearance in the UFC today. He is a gatekeeper in this division known for giving very tough scraps to rising talent. Delgado is rightfully favored against Fili tonight. This is a big and powerful striker for featherweight. He trains at The MMA Lab and has developed really great kickboxing skills, attacking from both stances and committing to his power shots very early on. In Delgado’s last fight, he lost a decision against Nathaniel Wood. He did score a knockdown in that bout early but ultimately fell behind in rounds two and three. I consider Fili a step down in competition in comparison to Wood. Delgado should be able to make adjustments off that loss, especially facing a less dynamic opponent. Fili is now 35 years old. He has alternated wins and losses throughout his previous eight fights. The veteran is not as quick as he once was and nowhere near as strong as he used to be when wrestling. Fili averages 2.22 takedowns per fifteen minutes but he is not very good at maintaining top control. Delgado should be able to keep this fight standing where he is the more technically skilled. It will be a challenge for Delago to score another win by stoppage here, but I think he has the firepower to at least hurt Fili very early. Jose Delgado by Round Two KO
  • Nick: Jose Delgado is 27 years-old and 10-2 professionally, coming off a narrow decision loss to a tough out in Nathaniel Wood. He’s well rounded, fighting out of an excellent camp via MMA Lab in Arizona. Delgado is an explosive striker who fights at a torrid pace. He’s extremely aggressive, which can make him vulnerable to counters. Additionally, his kill-or-be-killed style makes him a risky fighter to back as a favorite if he can’t finish his opponent quickly. He has a dangerous BJJ game if he finds himself on the mat, but it’s rare we see him aggressively chase takedowns.  Andre Fili is a well-rounded fighter. He throws powerful punches, he has solid wrestling and his athleticism allows him to stay competitive against a wide range of top-level opponents.  He’s an effective striker that uses his length well, but he’s relied on his grappling and wrestling in most of his professional victories. His durability is somewhat questionable as he’s been taking damage in the UFC since 2013. Still, he’s a difficult out for anyone outside of the rankings at featherweight. This should be a competitive fight, but these are two fighters who careers are headed in opposite directions. I expect Fili will be competitive early here, but Delgado should pull away as this fight wears on. Jose Delgado by Decision

Gillian Robertson -200 vs Amanda Lemos +160

  • Anthony: The co-main event is a fight at women’s strawweight between Gillian Robertson and Amanda Lemos. This matchup was scheduled for a fight night back in December but Lemos was forced to withdraw due to medical issues. Lemos will continue to struggle making this limit now at 38 years old. She will have a hard time here limiting Robertson’s moments on the ground. Robertson is a black belt in BJJ with seven wins by submission in the UFC. Her best showings have come recently with wins in eight of her previous nine showings. Robertson has excellent timing when it comes to attempting and executing her takedowns. Lemos also defends just 64 percent of her opponent’s takedown attempts. She does have a slight lead on Robertson when this fight is standing but Lemos lacks fight-ending power. She has been tested by strong wrestlers before with mixed results. Suarez handled Lemos on the mat in her last fight which was a one-sided showing. Robertson has also continued to improve as a striker herself over the past few years. Her kicks are much better and now Robertson feels comfortable throwing punches in combination. She should be able to hold her own while standing and eventually drive Lemos down to the mat. Robertson is the much stronger athlete and better overall mixed martial artist. I am very confident predicting that she will win today. At these odds I am confidently betting on Robertson. Gillian Robertson by Round Two Submission
  • Nick: Gillian Robertson is outstanding on the mat, with nine of her sixteen professional wins coming via submission. Her striking continues to improve, and having recently moved down to strawweight she’s no longer outsized by the majority of her opponents. She seems to be entering her athletic prime, and she enters this match-up having won six of her last seven fights.  Amanda Lemos is an effective striker at range with underrated power for the division. She’s 14-5-1 professionally with eight wins coming via KO and three coming via submission. She’s a technically sound striker and competent on the mat, but she’s risen through the ranks off her brute strength and power on the feet. It is notable she has just a 64% takedown defense in the UFC, as it will be vital for her to keep this fight standing. Robertson is the much better grappler in this match-up, but Lemos’ superior striking and footwork could make it tough for her to close the distance it takes to take her down. I expect Lemos can keep this fight standing just long enough to edge out an upset. Amanda Lemos by Decision

Kevin Vallejos -550 vs Josh Emmett +400

  • Anthony: The main event is a fight at featherweight between Kevin Vallejos and Josh Emmett. This is the first main event for Vallejos while Emmet has headlined four prior fight cards. It will be interesting to see how this 24 year old prospect fairs here facing the 41 year old veteran, the largest age gap ever for a main event. Vallejos is on a six-fight winning streak with a 3-0 record to start his UFC career. His last appearance was a knockout win over Giga Chikadze that earned Vallejos a bonus for Performance of the Night. He is a compact, powerful boxer with great skills for this weight class. He does well catching opponents out of position and then bullying them with strikes. Compared to Emmett, Vallejos is much quicker and more durable. I expect him to set an early pace against Emmett that could result in wild striking exchanges. Vallejos is great at switching stances and maintaining his footwork even while southpaw. Emmett needs to be respected because of his power but he is currently on a 1-4 losing skid. I think that it will be difficult for Emmett to track down Vallejos and land the knockdown that he needs. There is some value in Emmett as such a large underdog but I do not think he will be able to chin Vallejos. Over the course of these five rounds Vallejos will be landing consistent offense and hurting Emmett with his strikes. It is a huge opportunity for the Argentinian to make his name in the rankings off the back of an Emmett win. This is fortunate matchmaking for Vallejos and I think we will see him secure another impressive victory. Kevin Vallejos by Decision
  • Nick: At just 24 years old, Kevin Vallejos is already one of the more highly regarded prospects in the world at featherweight. He’s 17-1, with his only professional loss coming by decision to one of the division’s fastest rising contenders in Jean Silva. Vallejos is well-rounded, but most of his success has come on the feet. He’s an explosive striker capable of putting out effective volume as he throws lengthy combinations. He has KO power, and he does a good job finding devastating body shots against almost anyone he squares up against. 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 41 years old. The line is far too wide here, but Emmett is past his prime. He’s always live for a KO upset, but Vallejos’ superior speed and footwork should allow him to secure the win. Kevin Vallejos by Decision

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

Photo: UFC.com

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