Nicolau vs. Perez
Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez are set to headline UFC Fight Night betting this Sunday in the main event. Here's our UFC betting preview for April 28, 2024.
Matheus Nicolau vs Alex Perez
Nicolau's been out of the octagon since last April after getting knocked out by No. 1 contender Brandon Royval in the first round. That loss ended his six-fight winning streak. Overall, Nicolau's MMA record stands at 19 wins and 3 losses, with a pretty decent 7 wins and 2 losses inside the octagon. He's got some solid skills, you know, but nothing that makes him stand out from the crowd. Still, at 31 years old, he's got plenty of fight left in him.
Perez has had a bit of a rough patch lately, with three losses in a row. But hey, no shame there because he was up against some top fighters in the division. First off, he went up against Deiveson Figueiredo for the title back in 2020 and got submitted. Then, in 2022, he faced off against the current champ, Alexandre Pantoja, and got stopped in the first round. After taking a break for 20 months, he made a comeback last month, but unfortunately, he lost to Muhammad Mokaev by decision. Now, Perez has some solid wrestling skills both offensively and defensively, but there are a few gaps in his grappling game. On the feet, he's a pretty slick kickboxer with some speedy hands, but he's not exactly packing a ton of power.
Nicolau's last win was a knockout against Matt Schnell, who's known for being hittable and chinny, whereas Perez boasts superior striking defence and durability, so I anticipate this fight to go the distance and be decided by a decision for Nicolau.
UFC Record
Overall, Nicolau is 19-4-1 and Perez is 24-8 in their UFC careers.
Best Bet
Matheus Nicolau Pereira WIN = $1.53
Ryan Spann vs Bogdan Guskov
Spann has been making some progress, but consistency has been a bit of a struggle for him lately. Since 2020, he's won 4 fights and lost 4, so it's been a bit up and down for him. Recently, he hit a rough patch with a couple of losses, one by submission to Nikita Krylov and the other by a disputed decision against Anthony Smith. But hey, when Spann's on his game, he's a real force to be reckoned with! He's got some serious finishing abilities and can really maul his opponents. Now, it's worth mentioning that those losses came against some tough competition in the division.
Bogdon Guskov is a bit of a raw, unpolished style when he steps into the octagon. So far, he's had a mixed bag in the UFC. He managed to snag a win against Zac Pauga in his last bout, but he took a pretty tough loss against Volkan Oezdemir before that. Guskov's still pretty green in the UFC. He's been doing the regional MMA thing for a while, but he's still finding his groove on the big stage. At this point, it's hard to say if he's ready to take on someone who's been in the ring with some of the division's top UFC fighters.
Spann's got the edge as the more well-rounded fighter, so he shouldn't have much trouble dealing with Guskov. As long as Spann plays it smart and avoids any big shots early on, he's pretty much guaranteed the win.
UFC Record
Spann is 21-9 in his UFC career. Guskov has a 1-1 record thus far.
Best Bet
Ariane Lipski vs Karine Silva
No one's doubting that Lipski's been on a roll lately with her revived career and winning streak. But, there's this feeling in the air that it might not be smooth sailing against Karine Silva, who's making waves herself. Lipski's striking game has been on point lately and she's really tightened up her takedown defence. She's the kind of fighter who's always ready to throw down and won't back down from a scrap. But, if she goes in too hot like she has in the past, she might end up in a tricky spot on the ground. So, while Lipski definitely has the skills to take this one, she's gotta stay cool and avoid getting caught in any sticky situations.
Since joining the UFC in 2021, Silva's been like a wrecking ball, tearing through opponents left and right. Now, she's gearing up for her toughest challenge yet against Lipski, who's currently on a hot streak herself. Silva's grappling game is relentless and she's known for putting on the pressure. Plus, she's no lightweight when it comes to striking – her punches pack a serious punch. While she might not be a knockout artist, her striking sets up her grappling game, which is where she really shines.
Lipski has won her last 3 fights as an underdog and I'm looking for her to continue the trend on Sunday, but this should be a close fight.
UFC Record
Lipski holds a 17-8 overall record in the UFC. Meanwhile, Silva has also won 17 bouts but only has 4 losses.
Best Bet
