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USA Today
an hour ago
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- USA Today
Zachary Reese vs. Dusko Todorovic prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Zachary Reese vs. Dusko Todorovic prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 Middleweights Zachary Reese and Dusko Todorovic kick of the UFC on ESPN 68 main card in Las Vegas. How long will it last? Zachary Reese and Dusko Todorovic meet Saturday in the main card opener of UFC on ESPN 68 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 3-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 46-39-1 Zachary Reese vs. Dusko Todorovic UFC on ESPN 68 preview Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) will look to rebound from a first-round loss to Azamat Bekoev in January. Prior to the setback, Reese recorded his first and second victories under the UFC banner by stopping Julian Marquez and then winning a decision over Jose Medina. ... Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC) will aim to stop his current skid at two, both of which were fights he was finished in the first round. Todorovic's last victory came by second round stoppage of Jordan Wright in October 2022. Zachary Reese vs. Dusko Todorovic UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction In keeping with the UFC matchmakers' favorite fetish of force-feeding us middleweight fights on Apex main cards, Reese and Todorovic are prominently featured to kick off the main slate of action this Saturday. In the matchmakers' defense, this fight should be action-packed for as long as it lasts. Reese and Todorovic are capable finishers in most phases, but both men could also be classified as 'glass cannons' given their suspect staying power. Each fighter has also shifted training camps ahead of this contest, with Reese settling into my backyard of Xtreme Couture MMA. That potential bias aside, I believe that working with former Todorovic opponents like Punahele Soriano and Mansur Abdul-Malik will benefit a young fighter like Reese. Regardless of the result, I'd like to see more from Reese given his opportunistic, quick-finishing sensibilities. That said, I'm not sure we will get an extended fight here. I'll semi-reluctantly pick Reese to come out on top of this car crash via a knockout in Round 1. Zachary Reese vs. Dusko Todorovic UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public favor the American fighter, listing Reese -250 and Todorovic +198 via FanDuel. Zachary Reese vs. Dusko Todorovic UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch As the main card opener, Reese and Todorovic are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 9:10 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 After last minute issues on the scale, Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira will now meet at featherweight. Will it go the distance? Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 68 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 3-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 46-39-1 Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 preview Chiasson (10-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) enters this one on back-to-back wins at 135 pounds: a first-round stoppage of Pannie Kianzad last March, followed by a second-round TKO of Mayra Bueno Silva last June. Chiasson has fought at featherweight when the division still had a pulse, and recorded a split decision victory over Norma Dumont in her last fight at that weight. ... Vieira (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) came in heavy for the second time in her UFC tenure. The career bantamweight has not fought at 145 pounds during her UFC run. Vieira will look to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to Kayla Harrison at UFC 307 in October. Prior to that setback, she beat Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision in July 2023. Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction With the relentless UFC schedule making it extra difficult to keep cards together (much less hold up to any sort of standard), this bout between two top-ranked bantamweights, Chiasson and Vieira, will now take place at the defunct weight class of featherweight. Although I was already picking Chiasson to win, it worries me for Vieira's sake that the Brazilian was the one who requested the weight change. Both women are large for the division and have difficulty making the weight, but this move from Vieira could bode badly for her already suspect output in fights. Chiasson, on the other hand, has looked to be trending upward as she finally seems to be putting all her skills together. It's probably a bolder prediction than I'm making it out to be, but I have a sneaky suspicion that Chiasson will turn up the heat and get Vieira out of there via a second-round submission. Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public slightly favor the American, listing Chiasson -120 and Vieira -102 via FanDuel. Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch Chiasson and Vieira are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 9:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 Dustin Jacoby has significanly more experience under the UFC lights than Bruno Lopes. Will that come into play in their UFC on ESPN 68 main card bout? Dustin Jacoby and Bruno Lopes meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 68 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 3-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 46-39-1 Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 preview Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC) will look to keep the momentum rolling after a Performance of the Night knockout of Vitor Petrino in December. The result snapped a two-fight skid. Although he's gone 3-4 over his last seven, each victory was a bonus-earning finish. ... Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) enters his second UFC bout against an octagon veteran. In his debut in January, Lopes won a unanimous decision over Magomed Gadzhiyasulov. The Dana White's Contender Series veteran is currently on a three-fight winning streak. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction Filling out the main card is a light heavyweight bout between Jacoby and Lopes. Although Lopes has a solid record on paper, the opponent and the setting are an undeniable (and undeserved) step down for Jacoby. However, if Jacoby can avoid the trap-fight sensibilities at hand, I think he should roll in this spot. The smaller octagon of the Apex will likely assist Lopes' cage-clinching efforts, but I'm not sure he has the speed, skill, or power to stop a guy like Jacoby. Aside from shoring up his takedown defense and getup abilities, Jacoby has the gas tank and composure to rally on tiring, lesser-experienced foes. I'll take Jacoby to pick up the proverbial pack once Lopes drops it, forcing a stoppage via strikes in Round 2. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public favor the American fighter, listing Jacoby -210 and Lopes +168 via FanDuel. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch Jacoby and Lopes are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 10:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 Welterweight finishers Ramiz Brahimaj and Billy Ray Goff clash on the UFC on ESPN 68 main card. Can the judges put their pencils down for this one? Ramiz Brahimaj and Billy Ray Goff meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 68 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 3-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 46-39-1 Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff UFC on ESPN 68 preview Brahimaj (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC) picked up his first career Performance of the Bonus award in his last outing against Mickey Gall at UFC 309. Brahimaj finished the fight by knockout in the first round to rebound from a unanimous decision loss against Themba Gorimbo last May. Brahimaj has traded wins and losses since starting his pro career 6-0. ... Goff (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) aims to retrun to the win column in just his third UFC appearance. After impressing in his debut with a first-round knockout of Yusaku Kinoshita, his six-fight winning streak came to an end in his sophomore appearance against Trey Waters last May – although the bout won the Fight of the Night bonus. Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction Serving as a solid action fight at 170 pounds is a battle between Brahimaj and Goff. Brahimaj, who works with the well-respected Sayif Saud, showed some of his striking progression last time out with a knockout win over Mickey Gall. That said, Brahimaj is primarily a grappler who loves to get things done early. Goff is a wildman who will give Brahimaj opportunities early, but he's also a dangerous offensive dynamo in his own right. It's also worth noting that Goff has been preparing for multiple dates ahead of this Saturday's booking and looks to be in career-best shape. I hate picking against fighters affiliated with coach Saud, but I suspect that Goff can survive the early storms en route to a knockout win in Round 2. Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the younger fighter, listing Goff -340 and Brahimaj +260 via FanDuel. Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch Brahimaj and Goff are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 11:10 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 Mateusz Gamrot and Ludovit Klein meet Saturday in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 68 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 3-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 46-39-1 Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein UFC on ESPN 68 preview Gamrot (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) aims to rebound from a Fight of the Night war against Dan Hooker, which he narrowly lost by split deciison. Prior to the setback, Gamrot was on a three-fight winning streak, in which he took out Jalin Turner, Rafael Fiziev and Rafael dos Anjos. Currently ranked No. 10 in the latest USA TODAY/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, Gamrot faces an unranked opponent. ... Klein (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) gets a big step up in competition. Having not experienced defeat in seven fights, Klein has picked up six wins and one draw on his current run, including three victories last year. Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction The co-main event in Las Vegas features a lightweight showdown between Gamrot and Klein. Despite Klein deserving a solid step up in competition, this feels like a big step down for Gamrot, given his arguable relevance in the division. Sure, the Polish fighter is coming off of an upset loss to Dan Hooker last year, but it was an incredibly close and competitive contest that saw an upper-class journeyman combine all his veteran skills and doggedness to have his day. Perhaps Klein could have his day here, but he's never faced a wrestling or pace threat at the level of Gamrot before. And though Klein looks to have incredibly strong hips to fuel his solid first layer of takedown defense, he's also an athlete who hates extended exchanges considering his need for pockets to recoup. So, unless Klein can catch Gamrot with a nasty front teep or check hook early, then I suspect that the Polish fighter will use the smaller octagon to create the cartoonish scramble-fests he's accustomed to. Add in the fact that Gamrot is officially 5-0 when fighting inside the Apex and stands 4-1-1 against UFC-level southpaws, and I can't help but side with Gamrot to remind the masses with a submission win in Round 2. Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public favor the Polish fighter, listing Gamrot -168 and Klein +136 via FanDuel. Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch As the co-main event, Gamrot and Klein are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 11:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
