-
Brett Okamoto
Shut
Brett Okamoto
ESPN Employees Author
- Brett Okamoto has reported on blended martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has coated all the largest occasions in fight sports activities throughout that point, together with in-depth interviews and options with names reminiscent of Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was additionally a producer on the 30 for 30 movie: “Chuck and Tito,” which appeared again on the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
-
Ian Parker
ESPN’s No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter, Merab Dvalishvili (21-4), will defend his bantamweight title for the fourth time this yr at UFC 323 in Las Vegas on Saturday (10 p.m. ET on ESPN PPV; prelims starting at 6 p.m. on ESPN+). The nine-year UFC veteran from the nation of Georgia is taking up former champion Petr Yan (19-5) in a rematch of their 2023 struggle that Dvalishvili gained by unanimous choice. If Dvalishvili will get his hand raised for the fifteenth consecutive time on Saturday, he’ll develop into the primary UFC fighter to win 4 title fights in a calendar yr.
One other longtime titleholder and top-10 pound-for-pound competitor, Alexandre Pantoja (30-5), places his males’s flyweight belt on the road within the co-main occasion in opposition to upstart 24-year-old Joshua Van (15-2). Like Dvalishvili, Van is making his fourth look this yr. If Van can determine methods to decelerate Pantoja — one thing 5 challengers earlier than him haven’t performed throughout the Brazilian’s two-and-a-half-year reign — he would develop into the second-youngest UFC champion ever and first born after 2000.
In all, the ultimate UFC pay-per-view card of the yr performs host to seven fighters ranked by ESPN and three ranked-vs.-ranked matchups.
ESPN MMA analysts and commentators present their title struggle predictions, and ESPN betting knowledgeable Ian Parker provides perception on the worth bets out there on the cardboard.
Males’s bantamweight title struggle
How do you go in opposition to Merab proper now? I believe he rinses and repeats what he is been doing to everyone. His capacity to maintain fighters confused and guessing on the toes will win him this struggle. Yan can be guessing all night time. It will not look as simple because it did within the first struggle, however Dvalishvili will win 4 out of 5 rounds. — Din Thomas
Merab is scorching, and I believe he beats Yan once more. He’ll put on Yan out. I believe again to Yan’s struggle with Tune Yadong in March 2024, and Yan appeared very drained in that one. Tune fights at a excessive tempo, however Dvalishvili’s tempo is even quicker. Dvalishvili makes a residing out of beating people who find themselves in numerous methods higher than him, and he does it by making them drained. He’ll try this right here. — Anthony Smith
Betting evaluation
Odds correct as of Dec. 4. For essentially the most up-to-date odds, go to DraftKings.
Parker: Dvalishvili to win by choice (-250). Dvalishvili will but once more defend his title in an effort to be generally known as essentially the most energetic champion in UFC historical past. Of their first struggle, Dvalishvili defeated Yan by doing what he often does — shoot numerous takedowns and management the tempo. However Dvalishvili has developed his recreation since that struggle. He has develop into a extra well-rounded blended martial artist and is regularly bettering his placing. Nearly as good as Yan is, I do not see Dvalishvili dropping his belt any time quickly, particularly in a five-round struggle that makes his cardio a weapon in itself. Yan has by no means been completed, so take that into consideration when betting this struggle.
Males’s flyweight title struggle
I like Joshua Van. He is one in every of my favorites proper now, however he isn’t going to win this struggle. Pantoja is simply too constant — and too hungry — to let a one-dimensional fighter like Van beat him. Pantoja goes to get takedowns early, and Van goes to begin worrying about that. As soon as that occurs, Pantoja will begin beating him on the toes after which take him down and choke him out. — Din Thomas
The sensible cash says Pantoja, due to his expertise and familiarity with five-round title fights. I believe Van may be very, superb, however I think this can look quite a bit like Pantoja’s final struggle in opposition to Kai Kara-France, one other harmful striker. Pantoja wore him out a lot you nearly began to really feel unhealthy for Kai on the finish. And Pantoja did not even appear like he was making an attempt all that arduous. — Anthony Smith
Betting evaluation
Parker: Pantoja to win by submission (+150). In what might be struggle of the night time, Pantoja can be seeking to efficiently defend his title in opposition to a rising fan favourite. Van is an effective striker with stable energy and sturdiness who appeared unbelievable in his final struggle in opposition to Brandon Royval. Nevertheless, Pantoja is a completely totally different fighter, and I do not see Van getting the win in opposition to him. Search for Pantoja to make use of his placing and ahead stress to ultimately take Van down. As soon as on the canvas, it is a matter of time earlier than the submission ace will get one other end.
Parker’s greatest bets on the remainder of the cardboard
Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira vs. Marvin Vettori
Ferreira to win (-102). It’s kind of stunning that Vettori is the slight favourite right here as a result of he’s on the decline of his profession and he’s taking on a well-rounded and highly effective striker. Ferreira has the wrestling and the jiu-jitsu edge over Vettori, and on the toes and his energy might be the difference-maker. Vettori’s solely path to victory is a choice, however with all of the harm he has taken in his previous few fights, take the underdog with the talents to match him on the toes and upside on the bottom.
Males’s flyweight: Brandon Moreno vs Tatsuro Taira
Moreno to win (+110). That is one other fascinating and enjoyable struggle. Until Taira can take Moreno down and maintain him there for all three rounds, Moreno is greater than able to getting the win. On the toes, Moreno is the higher striker and has the cardio to maintain the quantity up over three rounds. Moreno is a brilliant fighter and is conscious of the hazard of letting Taira take his again early, so I’ve to imagine he has performed the work to arrange If you wish to take your wager a step additional, Moreno by choice will get you nice odds as properly.
Leave a Reply