This Saturday, the UFC will bring things back to their Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, to host a 12 bouts Fight Night, which will be showcasing an excellent Heavyweight clash as its main event.
The aforementioned clash will be a heavyweight title eliminator, in which Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes are trying to make a statement to see who gets to challenge the recently crowned Jon Jones for the Strap.
The co-main event is the middleweight clash between Brad Tavares and Bruno Silva, who are making their way through the division trying to make it into the top contender list.
The main card will feature 3 more fights with some talented fighters who are also looking to make their way to a possible title.
With 5 main event bouts and 8 prelims, we are eager to see what goes down in the UFC Apex, which is perfect to keep the action going as the size of the Octagon allows for these fighters to brawl a little more than any other location.
You can check all the UFC/MMA bets, the analysis of each fighter, and the final bet you can make in this fight.
UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes Betting Odds and Fight Card Picks – Info
When:
Saturday, April 22nd, at 4:00 pm ET at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada
Moneyline odds:
Sergei Pavlovich +132 / Curtis Blaydes -169
Brad Tavares -166 / Bruno Silva +130
Bobby Green -270 / Jared Gordon +205
Iasmin Lucindo -344 / Brogan Walker +253
Jeremiah Wells -112 / Matt Semelsberger -112
Ricky Glenn -169 / Christos Giagos +132
Rani Yahya -416 / Montel Jackson -666
Karol Rosa -104 / Norma Dumont -121
Mohammed Usman -108 / Junior Tafa -117
Francis Marshall -212 / William Gomis +163
Priscila Cachoeira +148 / Karine Silva -192
Batgerel Danaa -149 / Brady Hiestand +116
Where can I watch it?
UFC Fight Night: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes
Why Bet on Sergei Pavlovich?
Sergei Pavlovich is the No. 3 ranked heavyweight contender currently on a five-fight winning streak, with all of those victories coming by first-round knockout.
The former Fight Night’s Global heavyweight champion suffered his first career defeat when he was knocked out by Alistair Overeem in his UFC debut back in 2018.
He hasn’t lost since and after a lengthy layoff due to the pandemic, has picked up three wins last year — including stoppage victories against Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis inside the first minute.
Pavlovich has a background in Greco-Roman wrestling and sambo but has relied on his striking in the UFC. He has powerful and accurate boxing along with a gargantuan 84-inch reach.
Why Bet on Curtis Blaydes?
Curtis “Razor” Blaydes is one spot behind Pavlovich in the heavyweight rankings and is coming off a TKO victory against Tom Aspinall.
That fight had an unfortunate ending with Aspinall tearing his MCL in the opening seconds, but Blaydes looked great in his previous bout, knocking out Chris Daukaus to claim the second Performance of the Night bonus of his career.
Blaydes is 12-2 in his last 14 trips to the octagon, with his only defeats coming by way of knockout to the hardest hitters in MMA: Francis Ngannou and Lewis.
The 32-year-old is the best wrestler in the division and averages a whopping 6.05 takedowns per 15 minutes, with 41% of his significant strikes coming on the ground.
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes Final Betting Analysis:
This is an intriguing fight because each fighter profiles as the other’s kryptonite. Blaydes has only lost to incredibly powerful punchers like Ngannou and Lewis, while Pavlovich was taken down and lost by ground-and-pound to Overeem.
However, that defeat to Overeem happened back in 2018 and Pavlovich has surely worked on improving his takedown defense — especially since he started training with American Top Team.
Blaydes has been looking more comfortable with his striking lately, but that might be a bad thing in this matchup.
He doesn’t even need to stand with Pavlovich for 25 minutes to get starched, even engaging with him on the feet for a minute or two is enough for Pavlovich to put him away.
Keep in mind that Blaydes was able to beat a striker like Jairzinho Rozenstruik in 2021 because he could stay on the outside with striking and spam takedowns when the distance was closed.
However, Pavlovich fights with a lot more pressure than Rozenstruik, and his 84-inch reach means that he can land bombs even at distance.
UFC Fight Night: Brad Tavares vs. Bruno Silva
Why Bet on Brad Tavares?
The veteran Tavares holds the division record for decision wins, emphasizing his durability, and has faced some of its best active fighters. He’s 2-3 in his last five fights, with two of those losses coming to Israel Adesanya and a recent competitive loss to Dricus Du Plessis.
Though his role in the division is clear, Tavares is crafty enough to turn away those who aren’t ready for the deep waters at middleweight.
Why Bet on Bruno Silva?
Silva’s loss to Alex Pereira was commendable, but the loss to Gerald Meerschaert was troubling.
For a fighter known for his high knockout power, he couldn’t dent Meerschaert’s glass jaw.
Tavares is better than Meerschaert and more durable, so Silva needs to impress here if he hopes to recapture the momentum he had before his losing streak.
That momentum saw him use his reach and raw power to score 19 knockouts in 22 wins. Only Pereira has gone the distance with him in a war, but he is susceptible to submissions with six losses coming that way.
Brad Tavares vs. Bruno Silva Final Betting Analysis:
This fight comes down to if the consistent, but declining, Tavares can avoid the strikes of the stronger, but sloppier, Silva.
The short answer is yes, though that wholly depends on Silva’s confidence following his defeats. While he could catch Tavares in a rush, he’ll risk getting caught on to his plan and losing the fight on the scorecards.
As resourceful as Tavares remains, he won’t last in a firefight with Silva. In his fight with Du Plessis, he was getting battered at times, though he showed enough resiliency to fight back and avoid a stoppage.
Brad still has something left, and he is rightfully the favorite, though he’ll need to be disciplined with his defense to avoid calamity.
Luckily, Silva isn’t at the level of Du Plessis. One-note brawlers like him are the kind of fights Tavares still does well in. We’re picking him to win.
UFC Fight Night: Bobby Green vs. Jared Gordon
Why Bet on Bobby Green?
We saw the best and worst of Green in his last fight against Drew Dober. For the duration of their bout, Green was pummeling Dober and used shoulder rolls along with fancy footwork to avoid his opponent’s return fire.
However, Dober finally connected the shot that slumped Green. It was Bobby’s lackadaisical awareness that caused him to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Why Bet on Jared Gordon?
Gordon became a household name when the UFC robbed him at gunpoint in a loss to Pimblett at UFC 282.
He was seen as a safe opponent for a potential highlight-reel stoppage but still outworked Pimblett at every turn, winning the fight despite what the judges said.
Like Green, he is another volume striker, though he mixes in takedowns and wrestling in his game.
Bobby Green vs. Jared Gordon Final Betting Analysis:
“King” Bobby has the faster hands, better striking selection, and natural advantages in height and reach to make this a tough night for Gordon.
Neither of them is a hard hitter, though Gordon has durability issues that might cause him to shell up if he can’t get to Green first. Dober had to throw with Green to catch him, and he took a lot of punishment just to land the kill shot.
Gordon doesn’t possess that kind of power or tenacity. Once Green starts up, it’ll be hard to slow down.
Without the resources to trouble Green, who will likely be more mindful defensively after his last fight, Gordon is going to be on the outside looking in all night.
UFC Fight Night: Iasmin Lucindo vs. Brogan Walker
Why Bet on Iasmin Lucindo?
Lucindo is moving up to 125 pounds after her debut loss at strawweight in a very close fight against Yazmin Jauregui, who has looked impressive in the UFC.
The Brazilian is only 21 years old and is a great striker, and even though she didn’t win, she was impressed in her debut.
As a relative unknown, she stood toe-to-toe with the highly regarded Jauregui, showcasing a really strong stand-up game and solid conditioning.
She already has nearly 20 professional fights on her record, which isn’t bad for being just 21 years old.
Why Bet on Brogan Walker?
Walker-Sanchez made her name known first in Invicta FC then on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), coming up short in the final fight.
She’s a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who excels at controlling her opponents from the top position, but she hasn’t often been able to force the finish.
Brogan Walker is coming off TUF and was finished by Julianna Miller in the finals, which isn’t a good loss to have.
Iasmin Lucindo vs. Brogan Walker Final Betting Analysis:
Even if Walker-Sanchez can win the early goings of this fight, she’s not much of a finishing threat.
As a result, Lucindo’s pace and athleticism are likely going to become more and more of a factor.
As her strikes start to land more and the takedowns grow more exhausting, Lucindo should be able to pull the momentum into her favor.
Once on the feet, Lucindo will be able to pick her apart and get either a late TKO or a one-sided decision.
UFC Fight Night: Jeremiah Wells vs. Matt Semelsberger
Why Bet on Jeremiah Wells?
Wells is 3-0 in the UFC with all three fights ending by finish in under 6 minutes, winning two by knockout and one by submission.
He’s a well-rounded fighter with a clear finishing ability and began his career primarily as an explosive wrestler who used athleticism, sound technique, and raw strength to aggressively drive opponents to the mat and inflict damage on top.
As he’s developed as a mixed martial artist, Wells has shown significant improvements with his striking and his wrestling, with both being a steep above in explosive movements and raw power.
His striking technique lacks some refinement but he marries it well with his wrestling.
Why Bet on Matt Semelsberger?
Semelsberger is a fighter with a ranked-level ceiling but hasn’t put his game all the way together yet.
Early in his career, Semelsberger relied solely on his natural gifts as he got into brawls and won them on the back of his edge in power, speed, and toughness.
More recently, Semelsberger has refined his technique and started incorporating more straight shots in his combinations rather than wild hooks. He has shown a good chin, quicker hands, and an ability to throw combinations with more accuracy.
However, he can get caught watching for the perfect shot and lose important rounds because of a lack of volume.
Jeremiah Wells vs. Matt Semelsberger Final Betting Analysis:
Semelsberger has the potential to walk through Wells with stout defensive wrestling, powerful striking, and an ability to eat heavy shots with ease.
However, he has the potential to let Wells dictate pace and space, land more volume as he watches for the perfect shot, and lose valuable minutes or even rounds.
This fight comes down to whether or not Semelsberger has reached his potential. We don’t think he’s there yet and believe Wells has shown remarkable consistency in his short UFC tenure. So, we are backing the more reliable fighter in this one.
UFC Fight Night: Ricky Glenn vs. Christos Giagos
Why Bet on Ricky Glenn?
Rick Glenn (22-6-2) announced his arrival in the Lightweight division by thrashing Joaquim Silva in 37 seconds, erasing the memory of a loss to Kevin Aguilar and a previous mediocre 3-3 UFC Featherweight run.
Two rough rounds against Grant Dawson looked poised to put him back in the loss column, but “The Gladiator” battled back to force a majority draw.
Why Bet on Christos Giagos?
Though he fell to Charles Oliveira in his Octagon return, Christos Giagos (19-10) reignited his UFC career with wins in four of his next five appearances.
Then came Arman Tsarukyan and Thiago Moises, who put away Giagos with first-round submissions to drop his Octagon record to 5-6 in the last 10.
Ricky Glenn vs. Christos Giagos. Final Betting Analysis:
On paper, Giagos’ high-volume takedown attack is the right approach to take.
He may not be a top control artist on the level of Grant Dawson, but we’ve seen Glenn struggle underneath the likes of Myles Jury and Dennis Bermudez in the past, so it might not take truly elite grappling to neutralize “The Gladiator.”
The jury’s out on whether he can hold down Glenn; if he can’t, Glenn’s pressure and output figure to win the day on the feet.
We’ll hedge our bets and say Giagos does hit a handful of takedowns, but can’t keep Glenn on the mat or rack up enough damage to offset Glenn’s striking volume.
UFC Fight Night: Rani Yahya vs. Montel Jackson
Why Bet on Rani Yahya?
Now more than one decade into his UFC career, Rani Yahya (28-10-1) sits at 13-4-1 in the world’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.
His current 5-1-1 run includes consecutive wins over Ray Rodriguez and Kyung Ho Kang, the former of which earned him his 21st career submission.
This marks his first appearance in 17 months.
Why Bet on Montel Jackson?
Undaunted by his UFC debut loss to Ricky Simon, Montel Jackson (12-2) bounced back with six wins in his next seven appearances.
He last saw action in Nov. 2022, overpowering Julio Arce to extend his win streak to three.
Rani Yahya vs. Montel Jackson Final Betting Analysis:
There is so much respect for Rani Yahya because rather than attempting to “round out his game” and veer away from what made him successful in the first place, he built a style designed to maximize his strengths.
That said, Jackson may be a bit much for him.
Beyond “Quik’s” massive physical advantages, he’s got ridiculously heavy hands and fairly stout wrestling.
Indeed, he’s been out-grappled before, but Simon and Brett Johns are stronger takedown artists than Yahya and neither managed to put him in any submission danger.
He’s got what it takes to weather the early Yahya blitz and demolish him down the stretch, though he’s struggled to find the finish of late and may have to settle for a decision after dropping the first half of the fight.
UFC Fight Night: Karol Rosa vs. Norma Dumont
Why Bet on Karol Rosa?
Karol Rosa (16-4) rattled off four consecutive wins to start her UFC tenure, only to fall short against Sara McMann and suffer her first defeat since 2018.
She returned to action seven months later with a majority decision over Lina Lansberg at UFC 280.
This will be her first Featherweight appearance in more than five years.
Why Bet on Norma Dumont?
The inglorious UFC debut loss for Norma Dumont (8-2) to Megan Anderson gave way to three straight wins, among them a main event victory over Aspen Ladd.
Macy Chiasson put a halt to her momentum a half-year later, but Dumont reclaimed a portion by dominating Contender Series product, Danyelle Wolf, at UFC 279.
Karol Rosa vs. Norma Dumont Final Betting Analysis:
Though Dumont will enjoy a noteworthy size and power advantage, Rosa is the far busier striker of the two, which could prove critical in a fight likely to go the full 15 minutes.
The latter has also proven willing to lean on her takedowns, and considering that Dumont hit the deck six times against a notoriously poor wrestler in Chiasson, that looks like a winning strategy if the standup doesn’t play out to her liking.
In the end, Rosa out-works and out-wrestles Dumont to a comfortable decision win.
UFC Fight Night: Mohammed Usman vs. Junior Tafa
Why Bet on Mohammed Usman?
Despite entering the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 30 house on the heels of a submission loss to Brandon Sayles, Mohammed Usman (9-2) worked his way to the finals with narrow decisions over Mitchell Sipe and Eduardo Perez.
Then came undefeated Zac Pauga, whom Usman upset via one-punch knockout to claim both tournament victory and “Performance of the Night.”
Why Bet on Junior Tafa?
Junior Tafa (4-0) — a decorated kickboxer with Glory experience — turned his talents to mixed martial arts (MMA) in July 2022.
His first four professional fights came in the span of fewer than six months, capped off by a 98-second knockout of Tsuyoshi Sudario in Rizin.
All of his professional MMA victories have come by knockout, three of them in the first round.
Mohammed Usman vs. Junior Tafa Final Betting Analysis:
Tafa’s call-up was likely premature, honestly. He’s less than a year into his pro-MMA career and he’s working through some teething issues as he tries to convert his style from the ring to the cage.
We’d have given him a few more softballs before easing him onto the world stage, although you could argue that’s what they’re doing by having him a debut against Usman.
“The Motor” doesn’t figure to test Tafa’s takedown defense and doesn’t have much to offer on the feet besides power, which Tafa’s more than able to deal with.
Tafa is green enough to fall apart, but against someone willing to trade leather, it’s hard to pick against him. He out-slugs Usman for another quick finish.
UFC Fight Night: Francis Marshall vs. William Gomis
Why Bet on Francis Marshall?
Though he was forced to make his second professional trip to the judges, Francis Marshall (7-0) sufficiently out-classed Connor Matthews on Contender Series to secure a UFC contract.
His Octagon debut came four months later, resulting in a second-round knockout of veteran Marcelo Rojo.
Four of his five professional finishes have come via submission.
Why Bet on William Gomis?
Undefeated since his fourth professional fight in 2016, William Gomis cut his teeth on the European circuit before joining UFC in Sept. 2022.
His Octagon debut pitted him against Jarno Errens, whom “Jaguar” edged out by majority decision.
Francis Marshall vs. William Gomis Final Betting Analysis:
He may not have impressed in his UFC debut, but Gomis is going to give Marshall some real issues.
“Jaguar’s” blend of strong kicks and tireless lateral movement presents a puzzle for the fairly linear “Fire,” who’s not exactly a defensive wizard.
This is a test of Marshall’s maturity and ability to stick to a game plan in the face of adversity.
Our guess is he passes. Gomis can get sloppy in combination, opening him up to Marshall’s powerful hands, and has shown a recent reliance on wrestling that could come back to bite him against a superior grappler.
Marshall weathers the storm of kicks to rack up takedowns and win enough pocket exchanges to secure a win.
UFC Fight Night: Priscila Cachoeira vs. Karine Silva
Why Bet on Priscila Cachoeira?
Priscila Cachoeira (12-4) clawed her way out of an 0-3 UFC hole with knockouts of Shana Dobson and Gina Mazany, only to suffer a submission loss to Gillian Robertson and subsequently settle for a decision over Ji Yeon Kim.
There was nothing controversial about her most recent effort, which saw her demolish Ariane Lipski in 65 seconds.
Why Bet on Karine Silva?
“Killer” fought through a round of overpowering wrestling to choke out Yan Qihui on the Contender Series, earning a UFC contract in the process.
Her subsequent Octagon debut pitted her against Poliana Botelho, whom Silva finished via bonus-winning d’arce choke late in the first round.
All of her pro wins have come inside the distance, eight of them via (T)KO.
Priscila Cachoeira vs. Karine Silva Final Betting Analysis:
The ingredients are there for another Cachoeira upset. Silva doesn’t fight well off of her back foot and her cardio is unproven, neither of which are issues you want to have against an impossibly durable and relentless slugger.
We are, however, not convinced that Silva’s issues are enough to offset her advantages, namely her speed and, more importantly, her ground game.
Cachoeira is a non-entity off of her back, essentially relying on opponents gassing themselves out trying to keep her down, and that’s not a viable strategy against a skilled finisher.
So long as Silva doesn’t get caught up in a slugfest, she’s sharp enough to hold her own on the feet and drag things into her wheelhouse as needed. She finds Cachoeira’s neck before cardio can become an issue.
UFC Fight Night: Danaa Batgerel vs. Brady Hiestand
Why Bet on Danaa Batgerel?
Danaa Batgerel (12-4) put his “Fight of the Night” UFC debut loss to Alatengheili behind him with three consecutive first-round knockouts, one of which earned him “Performance of the Night.”
The momentum wasn’t to last, and he enters the cage this Saturday on the heels of consecutive losses to Chris Gutierrez and Kyung Ho Kang.
Why Bet on Brady Hiestand?
Brady Hiestand (6-2) battled his way past Josh Rettinghouse and Vince Murdock in the TUF 29 house, only to fall just short against teammate Ricky Turcios in the finals.
A yearlong layoff followed, after which he out-dueled Contender Series graduate, Fernie Garcia, for his first Octagon victory.
His pro wins are split evenly between knockouts, submissions, and decisions.
Batgerel Danaa vs. Brady Hiestand Final Betting Analysis:
For Hiestand’s sake, that loss to Turcios better has been a learning experience.
Cardio and durability issues are the last things you want against an aggressive, heavy-handed slugger like Danaa, especially since Hiestand can’t rely on grinding out a wrestler of “Storm’s” caliber.
To be fair, Hiestand is at the stage of his career where dramatic improvements are to be expected, so he’s got a shot at recreating Alatengheili’s successful efforts and neutralizing Danaa with key takedowns.
More likely, though, Danaa lands the heavier blows and overpowers the hittable Hiestand down the stretch to edge out a decision.
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