Randy Brown represents Jacobe Smith's first real step-up in UFC competition, and I think he may give Smith some problems. Brown is a smooth striker who uses his slick boxing style to stick and move from the outside. Brown will have a 5-inch height and 6-inch reach advantage over Smith, and can use his jab and front kicks to control the range. The 13-0 Smith is an intriguing welterweight prospect. He's a physical specimen with devastating punching power, and strong finishing instincts with 11 of his 13 wins coming by stoppage. Smith’s explosiveness early on makes him more dangerous, but Brown is more skilled and experienced. If Smith doesn't win in the first round, I see Brown taking over in 2 & 3.

Renato Moicano has fought at the highest level in his 13-7 UFC tenure. Moicano has seven wins by submission and two by ground and pound knockout. His Ju-Jitsu game and control from top position are lethal. Although Moicano is now 37 years old, he proved that he’s still motivated in his last win over dangerous finisher Chris Duncan. Tom Nolan is a rising lightweight prospect who is now 5-1 in the UFC. Nolan utilizes his length with rangy kicks and straight punches, and fights behind an aggressive pressure style. Nolan is the more explosive athlete, but I can’t ignore the experience and grappling skill differential. Nolan has been taken down and reversed by lesser grapplers. I see Moicano serving up a veteran’s lesson here.

Alexander Volkov has been on a fantastic 6-1 run since 2023, with his only loss during that stretch coming by controversial split-decision (robbery) to the champion Cyril Gane. His long rang kickboxing, distance control, experience, and improved grappling skills have made him an elite heavyweight. Rizvan Kuniev is a skilled striker and a physical grappler whose heavy physique can make him tough to deal with. However, Kuniev is 4-3 in his career when fights go the distance. In Volkov's last three wins, he neutralized the power of knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich, got past the tricky Ju-Jitsu of grappling ace Jailton Almeida, and handled the awkward boxing of Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Volkov is defeating varying styles and aging like a fine wine, so I'll back him again.

The featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is now 38 years old, and I still trust his durability after he handled dangerous finisher Diego Lopes in consecutive title defenses. Volkanovski is the greatest fighter in the division's history. In his first fight with two-division champion Islam Makhachev, Volkanovksi showed elite grappling defense in a narrow loss to one of the best grapplers ever. The 20-0 Movsar Evloev has been a matchup nightmare, averaging nearly five takedowns per fight with his chain wrestling attack. He's also a technical striker who throws heavy kicks. Evloev is an excellent fighter, but he has zero wins by stoppage in the UFC. If he can't win rounds with his wrestling, Volkanovski will show that his boxing and footwork is on another level.

Merab Dvalishvili’s relentless pressure grappling overwhelmed Petr Yan in their first fight, but Yan responded with immaculate defense and tactical striking to pick Dvalishvili apart in the rematch. I believe Yan’s adjustments now give him a significant edge. Yan has elite striking, game planning, and fight I.Q. Dvalishvili’s non-stop pace makes him a nightmare to deal with, but he's been in many wars in his UFC career. Dvalishvili is still dealing with a nose injury, and has been posting photos on social media in which he has cuts during sparring sessions. His style requires him to fight behind his renowned durability, which may finally be on the decline. After Yan's masterful performance in their last fight, I think the champion has Dvalishvili solved.

This is essentially a bet on Nick Galanti to finish the fight early. Galanti has a clear grappling advantage, and can put Julian Leblanc in deep trouble if he drags him to the mat. In my humble opinion, Leblanc is not a UFC caliber fighter. His subpar grappling defense got him submitted in half a round in his UFC debut. Galanti has four RD 1 finishes in his 8-1 pro career. As a -700 favorite with a clear stylistic advantage, I expect him to get Leblanc out of there quick.

Cody Chovancek looks to be an interesting bantamweight prospect training out of Niagara Top Team. He has shown off strong grappling skills, cardio, and tenacity in his young 9-0 pro career. Although Su Young You has more experience, Chovancek may have the skills to neutralize You’s Ju-Jitsu game. I’ll side with the pace and toughness of Chovancek.

Jai Herbert’s durability at 38 years old is a concern, but after winning a thrilling back-and-forth fight by first round knockout in his last bout, I feel confident in his fighting shape. He'll have a massive eight-inch reach advantage, and can use it effectively with his rangy kickboxing game on the outside. Herbert will need to stay defensively sharp against Matheus Camilo, who has dynamite in his punches. He's a powerful striker and a physical fighter, who may look to slow Herbert down with grappling. However, Camilo's cardio is a bit suspect and Herbert has been in close fights with some tough opponents. Herbert has the experience and fight I.Q to defeat Camilo if he can avoid the big shot. 


Ismael Bonfim is 1-4 in his last five fights and continues to show poor durability. Despite being an explosive athlete with pop in his hands and submission skills, Bonfim doesn’t seem to be able to hang against tougher fighters. He's been stopped in three consecutive fights, and I think Francisco Prado can put him away too. Prado will come back down to lightweight where he belongs. He's also on an ugly four-fight losing streak, but three of those losses came at welterweight where he was outsized. If Prado is in shape at 155 pounds, his granite chin and forward pressure could give Bonfim major problems. Prado has power in his hands and improved grappling. I see him finishing Bonfim in the second or third round.

Cong Wang is getting an unlikely opportunity to fight for the interim title, while the champion Valentina Shevchenko remains sidelined with an injury. Wang is a skilled striker who came into the UFC with some hype, and is now 5-1 with the promotion. Wang has a highly technical skillset, but I still feel she will be outmatched by the kicking game and footwork of Natalia Silva. Silva’s bouncy movement, sidekicks, and constant feints allow her to control striking exchanges. This will be a five round fight in the Utah altitude, and I favor Silva’s ability to maintain the pace if it goes deep. Silva’s last two wins over former champions Rose Namajunas and Alexa Grasso make me believe she is a level above Wang.

Alden Coria is a slick striker and skilled grappler training out of 4 Oz. Fight Club gym alongside the division’s champion Joshua Van. He can stick a clean jab, land accurate low kicks, and look to threaten with submissions on the ground. Coria is probably the more skilled fighter, but Imanol Rodriguez is durable and relentless. Rodriguez was knocked down multiple times in his last fight, but stormed back and won by stoppage the following round. He can wear his opponents down with his pace, power, and physicality. Rodriguez should have the wrestling advantage, and can inflict heavy ground and pound from top position. I expect this to be a competitive fight until Rodriguez’s heavy pressure attack starts to take over. 


UFC bettors will be down on Marvin Vettori who is now on a four-fight losing streak, but I think this is his most winnable matchup in years. Vettori’s best days are behind him, but I can't discount his high level UFC experience. Vettori has always been incredibly durable and well-conditioned, which are assets that could give him the edge in this fight. Ismael Naurdiev is an explosive puncher and wrestler early on, but he often fatigues in the final round. Vettori has been a primary boxer in recent fights, but could always go back to his wrestling game and land takedowns of his own. I see this being a close fight that Vettori edges out on the judge’s scorecards with his pace and activity.

Aside from the fact that the veteran Court McGee is 41 years old, I'm not sure why the odds are so wide in this matchup. Eric Nolan is 0-2 in the UFC, and McGee is a seasoned wrestler-boxer style fighter. McGee averages 1.75 takedowns per fight, and can use his physicality and positional awareness to secure control time. Nolan has a much smoother striking style and will be the more dangerous fighter on the feet, but he was taken down 17 times in his last fight by a pure wrestler. McGee has the experience to exploit Nolan's weak takedown defense, steal rounds, and pull off the upset.

Johnny Walker will be moving up to the heavyweight division, and could have a speed advantage over heavier foes in the weight class. Walker’s issue has been his durability, having sustained six career knockout losses and some in brutal fashion. However, Walker’s UFC losses all came against high level light heavyweights. Mick Parkin is a solid boxer with a well-rounded MMA game, but at 10-1 he doesn’t have much experience. Parkin may look to wrestle, but I believe Walker’s grappling defense will hold up. Walker has looked more technical and poised in recent fights, and can use his kicking game, long range weapons, and explosive moves to get ahead on points. I see this being a low-volume fight that Walker wins on the judge's scorecards.

Mehemmedeli Osmanli is a confident young southpaw striker who hunts for the finish. In his 12-1 pro career, Osmanli owns ten wins by either knockout or submission. He throws a heavy straight left cross, explosive kicks, and has a slick Ju-Jitsu game. Ilimbek Akylbek is a talented wrestler who can wear his opponents down with repeated takedowns and clinch work, but I don’t see his style working against Osmanli. The 10-3 Akylbek was knocked out in all three of his pro losses. Osmanli’s submission skills will thwart Akylbek’s grappling attack, and his raw aggression will lead him to a win inside the distance.