UFC Picks

The first fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 272 will see Jose Delano take on Robert Ruchala. This will be a fight in the UFC Featherweight division. Delano enters this fight with an MMA record of 9.73 significant strikes and has a striking accuracy of 65%. Delano absorbs 2.53 strikes and has a striking defense of 72%. He has not shown any grappling ability, but has a takedown defense of 60%.

Ruchala enters this fight with an MMA record of 11-2 and 0-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.27 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 35%. Ruchala absorbs 3.27 strikes and has a striking defense of 57%. His grappling is also solid, averaging 2.00 takedowns every 15 minutes, and has a takedown accuracy of 33%.

With Delano being the heavy favorite, we are going to look for this fight to go the distance. Both Delano and Ruchala have only fought in the UFC once; however, in each case, their lone UFC fight went the distance. Because of that, backing this fight to go the distance will be our lean.

The second fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 272 will see Tommy McMillen take on Manolo Zecchini. This will be a fight in the UFC Featherweight division. McMillen enters this fight with an MMA record of 9-0 and 1-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 7.53 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 51%. McMillen absorbs 5.67 strikes and has a striking defense of 55%. He has not shown any grappling ability, but has a takedown defense of 83%.

Zecchini enters this fight with an MMA record of 11-4 and 0-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.34 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 21%. Zecchini absorbs 6.75 strikes and has a striking defense of 46%.

McMillen is one of the biggest favorites on this fight card; therefore, we will be looking at a total rounds prop. Zecchini saw his only UFC fight go under 1.5 total rounds, so even though McMillen’s only UFC fight went over 1.5 rounds, this was the only fight in his MMA career that has done this. Because of that, backing under 1.5 total rounds will be our lean.

The third fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 272 will see Ethyn Ewing take on Rafael Estevam. This will be a fight in the UFC Bantamweight division. Ewing enters this fight with an MMA record of 9-2 and 1-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.67 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 52%. Ewing absorbs 5.13 strikes and has a striking defense of 47%. His grappling is also solid, averaging 3.00 takedowns every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 60%, and his takedown defense is 100%.

Estevam enters this fight with an MMA record of 14-0 and 4-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.10 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 54%. Estevam absorbs 2.59 strikes and has a striking defense of 47%. His grappling has been elite in the UFC, averaging 6.01 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 38% and has a takedown defense of 66%.

Ewing is the favorite; however, Estevam looks to be the best betting option. Estevam does not have the greatest striking volume compared to Ewing, but his grappling ability is much more sound. Further, he absorbs fewer strikes and has elite grappling ability. For that reason, backing Estevam to pull off the upset will be our best bet.

The fourth fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 272 will see Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev take on Brendson Ribeiro. This will be a fight in the UFC Light Heavyweight division. Yakhyaev enters this fight with an MMA record of 8-0 and 2-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 20.95 significant strikes every 15 minutes and has a striking accuracy of 78%. Yakhyaev absorbs 0.95 strikes and has a striking defense of 75%. He is also averaging 14.29 takedowns every 15 minutes and 14.3 submission attempts during the same period. Further, Yakhyaev has a takedown accuracy and takedown defense of 100%.

Ribeiro enters this fight with an MMA record of 17-9 and 3-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.06 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 42%. Ribeiro absorbs 4.00 strikes and has a striking defense of 53%. His grappling has been decent at best, averaging 0.90 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 42% and a takedown defense of 18%.

Yakhyaev is easily the biggest favorite on this fight card; therefore, we will be looking at his method of victory. He has won 7 of his 8 career MMA fights by finish, and both of his UFC fights. Ribeiro, on the other hand, has lost 3 times in the UFC, and all 3 of these losses were by KO/TKO. Yakhyaev can win by any method, but with Ribeiro prone to being knocked out, backing Yakhyaev to win by KO/TKO will be our play.

The Co-Main Event at UFC Fight Night 272 will see Virna Jandiroba take on Tabatha Ricci. This will be a fight in the UFC Women’s Strawweight division. Jandiroba enters this fight with an MMA record of 22-4 and 8-4 in the UFC. She is averaging 2.33 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 41%. Jandiroba absorbs 2.90 strikes and has a striking defense of 55%. Her grappling is also solid, averaging 2.85 takedowns every 15 minutes and 1.5 submission attempts during the same period. Her takedown accuracy is 37%, and she has a takedown defense of 74%.

Ricci comes into this fight with an MMA record of 12-3 and 7-3 in the UFC. She is averaging 4.18 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 36%. Ricci is absorbing 5.19 strikes and has a striking defense of 57%. Her grappling has also been elite, averaging 2.69 takedowns every 15 minutes. She has a takedown accuracy of 37%, and her takedown defense is 78%.

This fight is essentially even, with Jandiroba set as the small favorite. That said, Ricci looks to be a solid betting option to pull the upset. Ricci is the more balanced fighter and has the advantage in striking volume. She is also basically equal to Jandiroba in grappling; therefore, backing Ricci to win will be our best bet.

The Main Event at UFC Fight Night 272 will see Renato Moicano take on Chris Duncan. This will be a fight in the UFC Lightweight division. Moicano enters this fight with an MMA record of 20-7-1 and 12-7 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.17 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 48%. Moicano is absorbing 3.57 strikes and has a striking defense of 59%. His grappling is also solid, averaging 1.67 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 41% and a takedown defense of 62%.

Duncan enters this fight with an MMA record of 15-2 and 7-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.02 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 46%. Duncan absorbs 4.82 strikes and has a striking defense of 47%. His grappling has also been elite, averaging 3.27 takedowns every 15 minutes. Duncan has a takedown accuracy of 42% and a takedown of 50%.

Duncan is the clear favorite in this fight; therefore, we will be targeting his method of victory. Moicano has recently struggled in the UFC, losing each of his last 2 fights. Further, he has lost 5 times by finish in his MMA career, while Duncan has won 11 times by finish in his MMA career. Duncan has also won 4 UFC fights in a row, 3 of which were by finish. Because of this, backing Duncan to win by a finish is our best bet.