Main Card: Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena
Welterweight Championship
Featured Prediction: Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision. Likely to go the distance.
Detailed Analysis: Muhammad enters on a strong unbeaten streak, notably defeating Leon Edwards for the Welterweight title. His wrestling-based style, impressive cardio, and durability give him a significant edge, particularly in championship rounds. Della Maddalena is an explosive striker with knockout power but may struggle to defend Muhammad’s takedowns consistently. Early rounds favor Maddalena’s striking, but Muhammad’s experience and resilience should secure victory in later rounds.
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot
Women’s Flyweight Championship
Featured Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision. Likely to go the distance.
Detailed Analysis: Shevchenko, a seasoned champion, has elite counter-striking, grappling, and unmatched championship experience. Fiorot, undefeated in the UFC, boasts excellent striking volume and strong takedown defense. While Fiorot may challenge Shevchenko early, Valentina’s adaptability, combined with her superior clinch and ground game, likely earns her a tactical decision win.
José Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi
Bantamweight
Featured Prediction: José Aldo by unanimous decision (29-28). Likely to go the distance.
Detailed Analysis: Returning legend Aldo retains elite striking skills, particularly his devastating body punches and defensive grappling. Zahabi, rising with recent impressive wins, is well-rounded but faces his toughest opponent yet. Aldo’s striking accuracy and defensive expertise should control the pace, though Zahabi may capitalize if Aldo fatigues late.
Alexa Grasso vs. Natália Silva
Women’s Flyweight
Featured Prediction: Alexa Grasso by majority decision. Likely to go the distance.
Detailed Analysis: Former champion Grasso has exceptional boxing and improved wrestling skills, facing Silva’s dynamic kicking game and potent submissions. Silva’s agility and diverse finishes are threats, but Grasso’s crisp boxing, experience against elite opponents, and ability to adapt mid-fight provide a slight edge in a closely contested battle.
Benoît Saint-Denis vs. Kyle Prepolec
Lightweight
Featured Prediction: Benoît Saint-Denis by first-round submission. High probability of early finish.
Detailed Analysis: Saint-Denis, aggressive with relentless grappling and finishing instincts, faces Prepolec on short notice. Prepolec, returning to UFC, brings solid striking but likely struggles against Saint-Denis’ overwhelming grappling pressure. Expect an early takedown leading swiftly to submission.
Mike Malott vs. Charles Radtke
Welterweight
Featured Prediction: Mike Malott by second-round submission. High probability of early finish.
Detailed Analysis: Malott, skilled in striking and submissions, faces Radtke’s grinding clinch style. Malott’s sharper technique and lethal guillotine choke could exploit Radtke’s attempts to clinch or takedown. Home crowd advantage further boosts Malott, predicting a decisive submission finish.
Jéssica Andrade vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Women’s Flyweight
Featured Prediction: Jasmine Jasudavicius by unanimous decision (29-28). Likely to go the distance.
Detailed Analysis: Former champ Andrade, aggressive but recently vulnerable, faces Jasudavicius’s disciplined grappling and reach advantage. Andrade’s early power poses a threat, but Jasudavicius’s smart grappling and volume striking are key. If Jasudavicius survives Andrade’s early onslaught, expect her to control the pace en route to a grinding decision.
Prelims
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Ion Cuțelaba
Light Heavyweight
Featured Prediction: Ion Cuțelaba by second-round TKO. High probability of early finish.
Detailed Analysis: Cuțelaba’s aggressive striking and wrestling are likely to overwhelm Bukauskas early. Bukauskas, though resilient, has shown vulnerabilities against powerful strikers. Cuțelaba should find openings for heavy strikes, potentially leading to a decisive finish.
Marc-André Barriault vs. Bruno Silva
Middleweight
Featured Prediction: Marc-André Barriault by unanimous decision. Likely to go the distance.
Detailed Analysis: Barriault’s cardio, durability, and volume striking will likely wear down Silva. Silva’s knockout power poses an early threat, but Barriault’s relentless pace should dominate later rounds, securing a decision.
Early Prelims
Brad Katona vs. Bekzat Almakhan
Bantamweight
Featured Prediction: Brad Katona by unanimous decision. Likely to go the distance.
Detailed Analysis: Katona’s experience and high fight IQ give him an advantage over Almakhan, who excels in explosive early rounds. Katona’s methodical pace and solid defensive grappling likely neutralize Almakhan’s early aggression, leading to a controlled decision win.
Navajo Stirling vs. Ivan Erslan
Light Heavyweight
Featured Prediction: Navajo Stirling by second-round TKO. High probability of early finish.
Detailed Analysis: Stirling, younger and faster, is expected to find his timing early against Erslan, whose best chance lies in landing a significant strike early. Stirling’s technical striking and athleticism likely lead to a decisive finish within two rounds.
