The UFC’s middleweight department takes heart degree for the fourth time this 12 months, as Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze sq. off in the principle tournament at UFC Combat Evening on Saturday on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with prelim at 4 p.m. on ESPN+).
Vettori, unranked by means of ESPN, is competing for the primary time since June 2023. He has misplaced 3 of his remaining 5 fights. Dolidze, ESPN’s No. 10 ranked middleweight, enters the battle driving a two battle successful streak, following wins over Anthony Smith and Kevin Holland in 2024.
Brett Okamoto spoke to Fortis MMA trainer Sayif Saud to get his standpoint at the primary tournament. ESPN having a bet skilled Ian Parker provides perception and research at the primary tournament and different intriguing bets he likes at the card.
Editor’s word: Responses had been edited for brevity and readability.
Middleweight: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze
Sayif Saud, Fortis MMA trainer
How Vettori wins: Vettori has been within the Octagon with one of the most easiest within the game. He hasn’t at all times pop out on best, however he by no means will get completed and he is already crushed Dolidze as soon as (a unanimous determination win in 2023). So, you work his self belief is prime going into this battle. Vetori, 31, goes to appear to stay Dolidze, 36, at vary together with his standup, and if he can do this for 5 rounds and no longer permit Dolidze to take him down and regulate him for stretches of time, he will win.
Editor’s Alternatives
1 Similar
How Dolidze wins: Dolidze is entering his personal at the moment. I do not know if it is simply because he is getting old, or if he had to string in combination a couple of wins, however he is not the similar fighter he was once once they fought two years in the past. He nonetheless is dependent upon his grappling, regardless that, and whilst he is were given a protracted achieve, he prefers to make use of his palms to get with reference to other people and get them down. He is a large, robust man for the department, however so is Vettori. Dolidze must understand that judges are scoring utterly on injury. He would possibly regulate Vettori within the clinch or take him to the bottom, but when Vettori lands a couple of mixtures at the toes, he would possibly scouse borrow some rounds. And since Vettori is so sturdy, you need to imagine the battle going to the scorecards. So, it’s important that Dolidze feels comfy sufficient to attain just a little and glance comfy at the toes within the judges’ eyes.
X issue: Which Vettori presentations up? He is been out for some time, and he is switched up his coaching. Perhaps he turns up with a wholly new ability set. And for Dolidze, can he rating issues and create injury together with his taste, and no longer depend an excessive amount of on regulate.
Prediction: This can be a fight of wills, as with reference to a coin-flip battle as you’ll get.
Making a bet research
Odds correct as of e-newsletter. For probably the most up-to-date odds, discuss with ESPN BET.
Parker: Vettori to win (-150). Of their first battle, Vettori were given the win by means of determination and I see the similar end result taking place once more. At the floor, Dolidze is the more potent jiu-jitsu practitioner however no longer the more potent wrestler, so do not be expecting him to get Vettori at the canvas. At the toes, Vettori is the simpler striker and has proven incredible sturdiness all through his profession. Even if Dolidze does raise knockout energy, his moves are predictable and Vettori must have the rate benefit to keep away from the facility and earn some other determination win.
Parker’s easiest bets on the remainder of the cardboard
play
1:00
Kurt Holobaugh wins TUF ultimate after tapping out Austin Hubbard
Kurt Holobaugh wins The Final Fighter’s light-weight department with a victory over Austin Hubbard.
Light-weight: Alexander Hernandez vs. Kurt Holobaugh
Hernandez to win (-200). Holobaugh is a seasoned vet and he’s as tricky as they arrive, on the other hand Hernandez is healthier all over this battle may just cross. So long as Hernandez does not permit Holobaugh to dictate the tempo early on, Hernandez must be capable of make the most of his placing to arrange his wrestling and get the win.
Featherweight: SeungWoo Choi vs. Kevin Vallejos
Vallejos to win within the distance. Vallejos takes at the at all times thrilling Choi who might be searching for a KO. Vallejos is a close to 5-to-1 favourite and I perceive why. He is a blue chip prospect whilst Choi has been KO’d in two of his remaining 3 fights.
Be expecting Vallejos to get a knockout win right here and upload to his 71% knockout price. Choi may have some moments, as he loves to swing for the fence to land a large shot. Then again, when he does that, he helps to keep his palms low and chin prime which is a recipe to get knocked out.
Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Ryan Spann
Over 1.5 rounds (-175). Cortes-Acosta is getting his hardest opponent up to now in Spann. Cortes-Acosta has a powerful proper hand and just right aerobic, however in case you put him on his again, he has no solutions within the jiu-itsu division. The query is: Which Spann are we getting on this battle? He has the entire equipment to be a best 10 fighter within the department, but if it is time to display up, Spann does not. Coming off his remaining win the place he submitted Ovince Saint Preux, I want to assume Spann realizes that his wrestling and submission recreation is what can win him this battle towards a striker. Because of the sturdiness of Cortes-Acosta and the most likely takedown makes an attempt by means of Spann early on, I consider this battle will cross over the 1.5 spherical mark earlier than we see a winner.
