UFC Fight Night is set to take fans back to the UFC APEX for the final time this year, with some highly anticipated matchups scheduled for this coming Saturday.
In this article, we take a look at the six of the most interesting fights on the card, as well as the odds attached to them ahead of one of the last events of 2023.
Michael Morales vs. Jake Matthews
Michael Morales is -305 for a victory over Jake Matthews, who’s +245 to win this bout.
The fighters are very similar as they move at the same speed and register just about the same accuracy and distance defense, though Matthews’ defense from distance is lower. On another note, he has way more experience than his upcoming opponent as this will be his 19th fight in UFC while Morales only has four under his belt.
It does read as if Matthews is an aged veteran, but he’s only 29. He’s our favorite for this one given the huge difference in experience.
Chase Hooper vs. Jordan Leavitt
Chase Hooper will square off with Jordan Leavitt in another attractive matchup, with the former -218 and the latter +180. Both fighters are solid on the ground but neither appears to have an advantage over the other, whereas, Leavitt has the edge on distance given that Hooper has a distance defense of 43 percent while he goes at a high pace.
Leavitt is favored here as he will have lots of opportunities for counterstrikes based on the pace at which Hooper fights.
Nikolas Motta vs. Trey Ogden
Although this is a lightweight fight, it will be slower than what fans are used to because both Nikolas Motta and Trey Ogden because both combatants average around 10 strikes per minute. Both Motta and Ogden prefer fighting at a distance and don’t bother with control all that much. Ogden has the accuracy advantage and that could be what makes the difference.
Meanwhile, Motta is coming off a KO victory over Manuel Torres from a few months ago, but Ogden could have the advantage here if the fight is a close one due to his striking accuracy.
He is +110 while Motta is -130.
Ailin Perez (-185) vs. Lucie Pudilova (+154)
Ailin Perez appears to have the advantage here given Lucie Pudilova’s poor accuracy from distance. The latter will look to take the fight to the ground, which should play right into Perez’s hands as she boasts an offensive control percentage of 52.8. She’s favored at -185 while her upcoming opponent is +154 on one of the fights likely to draw the most attention from bettors.
The event does take place in the home of gambling, Las Vegas, but that hardly restricts it to one group of fans, especially given that sports betting in Kentucky is taking off after recent changes in legislation.
Uros Medic
It’s rumored that Uros Medic vs. Johnny Parsons is off and that the Serbian will fight a late replacement from Legacy Fighting Alliance. It’s hard not to favor Medic here given his remarkable strength and incredible accuracy.
Many counted him out against the more athletic Matthew Semelsberger in his last fight, but he managed to score a win in the third round.
Brendan Allen vs. Paul Craig
This main event will be one of the more intriguing fights set to close out the year.
This is especially so as both Brendan Allen and Paul Craig are highly skilled at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and are great at getting opponents to submit.
Allen, who is -425 to win, has three straight wins from rear neck chokeholds while Craig has a 100 percent finishing rate in UFC competition, having registered three KOs, three TKOs, and six submissions. He’s +330 to beat Allen, who ranks fifth on the all-time RNC ladder in UFC with a 22-5 MMA record.
They were both considered to be underdogs against Andre Muniz, with Allen +175 and Craig +185. The fight is unlikely to go the distance, which suggests Craig could come out on top via submission. Still, Allen remains the favorite in a bout that’s extremely difficult to call based on the insane skill both fighters boast.