The UFC returns to the Apex Center this weekend for a Fight Night card headlined by rising contender Sodiq Yusuff and one of the UFC’s most deadly strikers Edson Barboza. In the co-main Jennifer Maia takes on Viviane Araujo and Jonathan Martinez meets Adrian Yanez in what should be an entertaining Bantamweight clash. We take a look at the best bets on this weekend’s card below.
UFC Fight Night Prediction & Tips
Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza
This main event is sure to be fireworks as two of the most devastating strikers go toe-to-toe. Edson Barboza has called the UFC home since 2010 and has an array of highlight reel finishes, he has just always fallen short to the best of the best. His opponent Sodiq Yussuf is an exciting prospect who hasn’t been properly tested in the Octagon to gauge just how good he is and this weekend’s fight will go a long way into showing us if he is a serious contender at 145lbs.
Barboza’s struggles have come to relentless wrestlers who he has folded to in the past as well as strikers who back him up to the cage which is perfectly seen in his knockout loss to Justin Gaethje.
Yusuff is 6-1 in the UFC with his sole loss coming to Arnold Allen which is far from a bad one. It did, however, show that he is susceptible to counters and technical striking, something he will have to deal with here.
Until it is seen that he has made the strides in dealing with range and superior strikers I will have to side with Barboza. Although now 37-years-old Barboza’s kickboxing is still some of the best in the world and I don’t believe Yusuff’s boxing heavy attack will cause him too many issues. Back the Brazilian to get his hand raised.
Edson Barboza to win
$2.37 (2 Units)
Jennifer Maia vs. Viviane Araujo
Jennifer Maia fell in her bid to claim the Women’s Flyweight title back in 2020 to then champion Valentina Shevchenko. Since that defeat she has registered wins over Maryna Moroz and impressively neutralised top prospect Casey O’Neill. While she isn’t a finisher she is a strong wrestler with slick, sharp boxing.
Her opponent Viviane Araujo has yet to make a splash in the UFC, failing to secure a finish to date with Roxanne Modafferi and Andrea Lee her most notable wins, neither of which are of Maia’s level. She doesn’t have glaring holes in her game but she in my opinion is a fringe UFC athlete.
I have a gut feeling that Maia stops Araujo with strikes but I feel the safer option is to back the Brazilian to get her hand raised. She is just better than Araujo everywhere and should have no problems getting the win this weekend.
Jennifer Maia to win
$1.66 (4 Units)
Edgar Chairez battles Daniel da Silva
Edgar Chairez and Daniel da Silva meet this weekend in a rematch of their fight in September which saw referee Chris Tognoni bizarrely step in when he believed da Silva had been choked out by Chairez in the first round. The fight was declared a no contest and rebooked.
However, I believe it didn’t need to be seen again as Chairez was in control of that fight and while he didn’t submit him it appeared to be a matter of time until he did. Da Silva is also 0-4 in the Octagon, has shown very little and this should be a straight forward win for Chairez without any question marks.
Edgar Chairez to win
$1.40 (4 Units)
