I'm backing this fighter in an ugly spot...

The odds have shifted drastically in this flyweight title rematch...

I’m riding with this fighter’s momentum here…

This is essentially a bet on David Martinez to win by knockout. Martinez looked impressive in his wins over ranked bantamweight veterans Rob Font and Marlon Vera. Although those fights went the distance, I think Martinez has a better shot at finishing Dan Ige. At 35 years old, Ige is moving down to 135 pounds. He's also coming off the first KO loss of his career, so I question his ability to hang at an even faster and more explosive weight class. Martinez is dangerous with his speed and his kicks, and Ige still has dynamite in his hands so I like the Under. Many seem to be predicting Martinez wins by decision, but I'm foreseeing a highlight KO.

Tommy McMillen has quickly become a fan favorite for his aggressive pressure style. He's huge for the featherweight division, and uses his pace and ranginess to stalk his opponents and break them down. McMillen has tremendous durability, but he's very hittable. Marwan Rahiki is a swift striker with great speed and counterpunching. Although he'll be shorter, Rahiki won't be at significant reach disadvantage like most of McMillen’s opponents. If Rahiki can find his range early, he will rack up damage on McMilen. McMillen has more grappling experience, so he may look to take Rahiki down if he’s getting tagged in their striking exchanges. Rahiki could struggle if forced to defend submissions, but as the betting underdog I'll side with Rahiki’s striking vision and explosiveness.

Curtis Blaydes might be headed towards the tail end of his career, but I believe he has another competitive fight left in him. Waldo Cortes-Acosta’s tricky boxing style makes him the rightful favorite, but he can get into close fights when pushed deep. Blaydes has an improved boxing game, elite cardio, and the wrestling threat to put Cortes-Acosta under pressure. Cortes-Acosta has gone an impressive 10-3 with the UFC, but he’s coming off a loss against Alexander Volkov, and will now be matched up against another savvy veteran. After Blaydes’ epic war with heavyweight phenom Josh Hokit, his durability coming into this bout is my biggest concern. Still, at these odds I’ll side with the high-level experience and grappling upside of Blaydes.

Rafa Garcia has clearly improved on the job. Now 7-4 in the UFC, Garcia looks like the best version of himself training out of Bloodline Combat Sports gym with head coach Cub Swanson. He is a pressure boxer with a physical wrestling game, and a gritty tenacity in his fighting style. Garcia has landed multiple takedowns in 3 straight fights, and his grappling threat could be the key difference here. Rongzhu is a skilled striker with good speed and smooth movement, but Garcia’s pressure might not allow him to fight clean. The uglier it gets, the more likely the fight favors Garcia. I see Garcia taking over the momentum in rounds 2 & 3 and winning this fight.

Daniil Donchenko is a dangerous welterweight prospect on the rise. He's a powerful kickboxer who lands thudding shots to every level, and mixes in cracking elbows and knees. With a 14-2 pro record at 25 years old, Donchenko is already a physically intimidating striker who can fight for a hard fifteen minutes. Punahele Soriano enters this bout on a four-fight win streak, and should be looking to wrestle here. He’s landed 3+ takedowns in consecutive fights, and throws clubbing overhand punches that set up his grappling game. Although he has more experience, Soriano has had mixed results going 7-4 in the UFC. Soriano's power and ground game could give Donchenko a tough test, but I favor Donchenko’s striking skillset a good deal in this matchup. 



Fares Ziam is a rangy kickboxer who has gone an impressive 8-3 with the UFC. Although Ziam is the more technical and experienced fighter, he's coming off a loss that may have revealed a weakness in his game. Tom Nolan’s heavy pressure style won him a decision over Ziam, and Axel Sola is also fighter that likes to march forward. Sola won't be at a size disadvantage like most of Ziam’s opponents. Ziam can intelligently mix his MMA game up, but on the inside Sola could make him pay with dirty boxing and clinch strikes. Sola also showed off a nasty d’arce choke squeeze in his latest win, along with improved takedown defense. He's too dangerous and durable to be the underdog in this matchup.

Nora Cornolle is a Muay-Thai striker who is 3-3 with the UFC, and coming off consecutive losses. She's a scrappy fighter who does strong work in the clinch with her knees and elbows. Although she's fought higher level competition, Cornolle is now 36 years old. Klaudia Sygulla is nine years younger and improving each fight training out of American Top Team. Sygulla landed 100+ significant strikes in each of her last two fights. She can use her reach advantage to land straight punches from the outside, or look to wrestle and mix up her game. Cornolle broke her collarbone in her last fight, so I worry about her durability. If Cornolle can’t win in clinch exchanges, I see Sygulla’s activity and output winning out. 


Delphine Benouaich showed potential in her two fights on the UFC’s reality series ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ Despite losing the strawweight finale in that tournament, I’m still high on Benouaich. She is an aggressive kickboxer that has grit and solid fight I.Q. Although she may be at a power and physique disadvantage against Montenegro, I like Benouaich’s striking volume, pace, and pressure style to win out on the judge’s scorecards.

This is a rebooking after their first fight ended in a ‘No Contest’ following an accidental low blow. Although Sumudaerji was starting to take over before the foul occurred, the fight was more competitive than most remember. Public perception seems to be that Alex Perez was getting dominated, but two of the three judges actually awarded him the first round. Perez is a flyweight veteran with high level experience who can come back with adjustments. Sumudaerji’s rangy striking is tough to close the distance on, but Perez’s pressure striking and grappling game could get to him this time around. Perez closed as the betting favorite in their first fight, so I don’t feel that 1.5 solid rounds from Sumudaerji warrant this line move.

Rei Tsuruya’s grappling advantage makes him the rightful favorite in this matchup, but -800 is ridiculous. Kevin Borjas is coming off an upset win in which he was a +450 underdog, and sports books are still underrating his boxing. Tsuruya’s takedowns and Ju-Jitsu game are super tricky, so if he laces up a body triangle Borjas could be in deep trouble. Still, I feel obligated to take a small shot on Borjas. If he is able to keep the fight standing and force Tsuruya to strike with him, these odds will look foolish.

Vitor Petrino is an explosive athlete that has looked solid since moving up to heavyweight division, but I think Serghei Spivac's grappling game could give him problems. Petrino has the power advantage and may find the knockout, but if he doesn't I favor Spivac's experience and wrestling. Spivac has also improved his striking game, and was highly competitive on the feet against primary boxers in his last two fights. Petrino has been in close fights with lesser competition, so I'll side with the veteran Spivac.

In Jackson McVey's 7-2 pro career he has never been past the 1.5 rounds mark. He will be the taller and rangier striker, with a big advantage on the feet. Wes Schultz is a tricky grappler who can threaten with chokes and leg locks, but he is pretty much submission or bust. Schultz has poor striking defense and is likely to get finished if he can't force McVey to tap out. McVey is still fairly unrefined as well, so I see someone getting stopped inside 7.5 minutes in this matchup.