Christian Rodriguez (+155) vs. Isaac Dulgarian (-185)
Two fighters that could very well end up being the future of the featherweight division will open up the main card on Saturday night, as Christian Rodriguez takes on Isaac Dulgarian. Making his UFC debut in 2022 with a loss to Jonathan Perce, the first of his career, Rodriguez stopped the red-hot Raul Rosas Jr. in his tracks two fights later, his second of three straight wins.
Going 4-0 as an amateur before coming into this one 6-0 as a professional, none of Dulgarian’s 10 MMA fights have left the first round, as he most recently made a formidable opponent in Francis Marshall look pedestrian in a first-round win in August. Making his main card debut in just his second UFC fight, the promotion also sees the future in this guy.
Pick: Isaac Dulgarian (-185 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Ovince Saint Preux (+425) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (-600)
Having first fought in the UFC more than 10 years ago, OSP comes into this fight on the wrong side of 40 and many (including oddsmakers) think his days are numbered in professional MMA. We last saw him more than a year ago, thanks to a suspension from USADA following his second failed drug test, which was reduced when it was discovered the substance he tested positive for was not listed in a supplement’s labeling.
We last saw Nzechuku in August, his toughest test to date, which he failed miserably losing to Dustin Jacoby in the very first round. Also now a veteran of the UFC, Nzechuku joined the promotion in 2017 via DWCS, since going 6-4 with the promotion.
Though OSP’s days likely are numbered, I think we see one final display of his skill in this one, as he comes in the more well-rounded fighter with 2x the takedowns and submissions, and a relatively even clip on the feet. In what will be his 30th ring walk, I have this fight much closer to even and will gladly take the more than 4 to 1 on OSP.
Pick: Ovince Saint Preux (+425 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Tai Tuivasa (-120) vs. Marcin Tybura (+100)
It was not long ago that Tuivasa was considered the future of the heavyweight division, but three straight losses coming into Saturday have left little hope of that. Absorbing 4.98 significant strikes per minute, Tuivasa has been finished by Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexander Volkov all inside the distance since September 2022.
He now draws a veteran in Marcin Tybura, who comes into this fight off of a first-round defeat of his own via Tom Aspinall. In what was his first inside-the-distance loss since 2019, Tybura has won six of his past eight and is quietly one of the more well-rounded fighters in the division with 1.39 takedowns per 15 minutes.
We’ve seen the line move in Tybura’s direction since opening at +120, and I’m part of that cash flow.
Pick: Marcin Tybura (+100 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
