The UFC goes back to the Apex once more for what was originally supposed to be fight night Shangai, but with the UFC Road to Shangai tournament postponed, things ended up being set up in Las Vegas.
The change of location did not change the fact that we are getting an exciting event with 11 fights in it, including 5 main card bouts and 6 prelims to pave the way into an exciting night.
The main event of the card is a bantamweight fight between Yadong Song and Chris Gutierrez, who are going to have their first 5 rounds clash. The co-main event is a Light Heavyweight clash between the always-dangerous veteran Anthony Smith and the up-and-coming Khalil Roundtree Jr.
Besides some exciting headliners, we also have a ton of international fighters getting ready to showcase the best of their skills for all MMA fans in the most famous Octagon in the world.
You can check all the UFC/MMA bets, the analysis of each fighter, and the final bet you can make in these fights.
UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutierrez Card Odds and Picks – Info
When:
Saturday, December 9th, at 7:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Yadong Song -370 / Chris Gutierrez +290
Anthony Smith +200 / Khalil Rountree Jr. -240
Sumudaerji +135 / Tim Elliott -160
Nasrat Haqparast -220 / Jamie Mullarkey +180
André Muniz +180 / Jun Yong Park -220
Kenan Song +145 / Kevin Jousset -170
Hyun Sung Park -220 / Shannon Ross +180
Steve Garcia +210 / Melquizael Costa -260
Stephanie Egger +165 / Luana Santos -200
Tatsuro Taira -440 / Carlos Hernandez +340
Rayanne dos Santos -140 / Talita Alencar +115
Where can I watch it?
UFC Fight Night: Yadong Song vs. Chris Gutierrez
Why Bet on Yadong Song?
Song Yadong is a well-rounded fighter who has shown flashes of brilliance at just 26 years old. The Chinese prospect has an aggressive style that has led to fan-friendly fights in the past.
Why Bet on Chris Gutierrez?
Gutierrez plans to play spoiler in this matchup as an almost 3-1 underdog. On the feet, he is a sniper who excels when striking at a distance. His 20-4-2 record has made him one of the top prospects in the Bantamweight division.
Yadong Song vs. Chris Gutierrez Final Betting Analysis:
Yadong will be a physically stronger fighter and can take Gutierrez to the ground if he struggles to get inside. For Yadong to find success while striking, he needs to get past the long jab of Gutierrez to land combinations in the pocket.
Neither fighter has won by Submission in the last five years, so look for this matchup to take place standing. Yadong has multiple ways to win, but if Gutierrez can land effectively at a distance, this could be a highly competitive contest.
We expect Yadong Song to take the victory here.
UFC Fight Night: Anthony Smith vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Why Bet on Anthony Smith?
Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith returns this Saturday after his comeback win over Ryan Spann. Smith absorbed a significant amount of punishment in the first round of that fight but fought back to win a split decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Why Bet on Khalil Rountree Jr.?
The devastating finisher Khalil Rountree Jr. comes with a record of 12 wins and 5 losses, and having knocked out three of his last four opponents, Rountree is quickly becoming one of the scariest contenders in the division.
Anthony Smith vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Betting Analysis:
Smith has fought 55 times in his career and will be the far more experienced fighter. Rountree will need to avoid getting taken down with, his rival having 14 wins by Submission on his record. The veteran is now 35 years old and currently works for the UFC as a Desk Analyst for their pre- and post-fight coverage on ESPN+.
If Smith has one foot out the door, this could be a dangerous fight, however, we expect him to go out with a bang and his hand raised.
UFC Fight Night: Sumudaerji vs. Tim Elliott
Why Bet on Sumudaerji?
Mudaerji is a Chinese mixed martial artist with a professional record of 16-5 with 13 TKO/KO wins and 1 submission. Even with his inactivity over the last few years, he is the #11 ranked flyweight in the UFC and is the first Tibetan fighter in the company.
Why Bet on Tim Elliott?
Elliott is an American mixed martial artist with a professional MMA record of 19-13-1, including 3 TKO/KO wins and 6 submissions.
He is a veteran of the sport at age 36 with 33 professional fights, four UFC performance bonuses, and pretty much has all the records in the UFC flyweight record books. Elliott was also the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions season.
Sumudaerji vs. Tim Elliott Final Betting Analysis:
Elliott is not as dynamic as ‘The Tibetan Eagle,’ but he is solid all-around. Tim Elliott will look to chain his takedowns together and dominate this fight from on top of Su Mudaerji on the ground. He will be in danger every minute this fight stays on his feet, though.
We expect Sumudaerji to get his hand raised in a barn burner of a fight. Elliott is going to do well on the ground early on, but Su Mudaerji will thrive in the scrambles and will deal damage to make this fight a war.
Expect this one to be the fight of the night!
UFC Fight Night: Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jamie Mullarkey
Why Bet on Nasrat Haqparast?
Australia’s Mullarkey is extremely tall for the weight class at 6’0 and recently picked up a win over John Makdessi at UFC 293. He can be caught at times losing by knockout in two of his last five.
Why Bet on Jamie Mullarkey?
Haqparast has competed well against some of the division’s elite, like Bobby Green and Dan Hooker, but has yet to make a statement win in his young career.
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jamie Mullarkey Final Betting Analysis:
These are two of the most durable fighters in the division, which should lead to an entertaining contest. Haqparast has nine wins by knockout and defeated Landon Quinones in September.
On the feet, Haqparast will be the more fluid and powerful striker, but Mullarkey has a two-inch reach advantage. If the fight hits the ground, the latter has three wins by submission while the former has none.
This could depend on where the fight goes, but we expect Haqparast to avoid the ground and get the victory.
UFC Fight Night: André Muniz vs. Jun Yong Park
Why Bet on André Muniz?
Outside of the UFC, Muniz is a 3rd-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has a middleweight title in Bitetti Combat, a regional promotion. He also won submission of the year at just about every publication in 2021 for his armbar against Jacare Souza.
Muniz is a pure BJJ practitioner who has been trying to work striking into his style over the years. His striking doesn’t come naturally to him and you can see that in the way he throws techniques and his overall strategy on the feet. He will look to catch kicks and try to take this fight to the ground in any way possible.
Why Bet on Jun Yong Park?
Park is a South Korean mixed martial artist with a professional MMA record of 17-5 with 5 TKO/KO wins and 6 submissions so far.
Before signing with the UFC, Park was the Yawara FC middleweight champion. He currently holds the UFC middleweight record for most head strikes landed in a single bout (254).
Park is a very talented all-around fighter with a strong base, good hips, and excellent top control on the ground. He is a pretty technical Muay Thai user who looks to land big right hands while setting up for power double-leg takedowns.
André Muniz vs. Jun Yong Park Final Betting Analysis:
We are expecting Jun Yong Park to get the nod in this clash, as his slow-twitch muscle and overwhelming pace will cause Muniz to make mistakes at certain points of the fight. Park will capitalize on mistakes made on the ground by Muniz and control this fight in all aspects.
UFC Fight Night: Kenan Song vs. Kevin Jousset
Why Bet on Kenan Song?
The 4-1 UFC start for Song Kenan (20-7) gave way to a two-fight skid over two years. His struggles left him a sizable underdog against Rolando Bedoya, but ‘The Assassin’ bounced back from a rough first round to claim his first win since 2020.
His 17 professional finishes are split 9:8 between knockouts and submissions.
Why Bet on Kevin Jousset?
Kevin Jousset (9-2) needed just three months to claim Hex Fight Series titles at both Middleweight and Welterweight. He ultimately joined UFC in Sept. 2023, choking out Keifer Crosbie to claim the fifth finish of his professional career.
Kenan Song vs. Kevin Jousset Final Betting Analysis:
We honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see Song flip the script again here. Jousset is not what you’d call a defensive wizard — and while Song has his fair share of shortcomings — three knockdowns in his last four fights suggest that power isn’t one of them.
That said, Jousset does have some of the tools that Ian Garry used to neutralize Song, namely height, reach, and a solid arsenal of long-range strikes. Between that and his Judo prowess, he should be able to stay out of reach of his rival’s power shots and score takedowns whenever he tries to force the issue.
In the end, Jousset racks up pot-shots at range and overpowers Song in the clinch to secure a wide decision.
UFC Fight Night: Hyun Sung Park vs. Shannon Ross
Why Bet on Hyun Sung Park?
Back-to-back first-round finishes carried Hyun Sung Park (8-0) to the Road to UFC finals, where he met countryman Seung Guk Choi in ‘Sin City.’ Despite hitting the mat in the second round, ‘Peace of Mind’ came back to choke out Choi in the last two minutes of the fight.
Each of his last seven wins have come inside the distance, four of them via submission.
Why Bet on Shannon Ross?
Despite suffering a vicious knockout loss to Vinicius Salvador on Contender Series, the grit of Shannon Ross (13-8) impressed Dana White enough to earn him a UFC contract.
He’s still chasing his first Octagon victory, having suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Kleydson Rodrigues and Jesus Aguilar in a combined 1:16.
Hyun Sung Park vs. Shannon Ross Final Betting Analysis:
Park didn’t exactly set the world on fire against Choi, but he fulfills the two basic criteria for beating Ross: his takedown defense exists and he can box. Ross has been dropped and/or stopped in five consecutive fights, starting with a club-and-sub from Steve Erceg and culminating in a one-punch knockout loss to someone who’d failed to record a single prior (technical) knockout stoppage.
Frankly, it’s irresponsible to keep throwing Ross in the cage. His striking defense is non-existent and his wrestling is too mediocre to make up for it. In other words, Park makes it four brutal knockout losses in a row by sniping Ross with an early counter.
UFC Fight Night: Steve Garcia vs. Melquizael Costa
Why Bet on Steve Garcia?
Steve Garcia (14-5) bounced back from a 1-3 skid by winning four straight, only to fall to Luis Pena in his short-notice UFC debut. Undaunted, he went on to win three of his next four inside the distance and earn his first post-fight bonus in the process.
Eleven of his professional wins, including all of them in the last five years, have come by knockout.
Why Bet on Melquizael Costa?
Melquizael Costa (20-6) likewise stepped up on short notice for his UFC debut, which saw him succumb to Thiago Moises’ rear-naked choke midway through the second. He was quite a bit more successful in his second bout, a one-sided mauling of Austin Lingo that earned Costa his eighth win in 10 fights.
Steve Garcia vs. Melquizael Costa Final Betting Analysis:
Garcia has proven himself a fearsome glass cannon, but while the ‘cannon’ part has been more prominent of late, we’re about due for a reminder on the “glass” bit. Beyond being a far sharper technical kickboxer than Garcia, Costa is exceedingly durable; his only (technical) knockout loss was a 2017 corner stoppage between rounds. With how few opportunities Garcia will have to land clean punches, an inability to put Costa down for the count with those shots seems like a death sentence.
This will look a lot like Costa’s fight with Lingo, with “Melk” dissecting his super-aggressive opponent with cleaner technique. The difference is that instead of getting cowed to the point of barely fighting back, Garcia will be reckless enough to run headlong into a fight-ending bomb.
UFC Fight Night: Stephanie Egger vs. Luana Santos
Why Bet on Stephanie Egger?
Egger’s short-notice UFC debut saw her drop a unanimous decision to Tracy Cortez for her first loss in nearly four years. She’s 3-2 since most recently suffering a kneebar defeat to the debuting Irina Alekseeva in April 2023.
Her seven professional finishes include four via submission.
Why Bet on Luana Santos?
Luana Santos (5-1) went undefeated as an amateur (3-0) and was perfect as a professional (3-0) before dropping a decision to Jena Bishop in Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA). She returned to form with two straight wins, then started her UFC run strong with a first-round knockout of Juliana Miller.
Stephanie Egger vs. Luana Santos Final Betting Analysis:
The 23-year-old Santos looks to have a notably higher ceiling than Egger, but this feels like a potential speed bump. Santos came up short the last time she faced a similarly credentialed grappler in Bishop, thanks in no small part to questionable decision-making. On top of that, she’s moving back up to Bantamweight against someone strong enough to throw Ailin Perez around.
Though we could easily see Santos swarming her way to another finish, she seems destined to come up short against a bigger and more experienced Judoka. In the end, Egger proves too much, too soon, out-muscling Santos down the stretch en route to a late finish.
UFC Fight Night: Tatsuro Taira vs. Carlos Hernandez
Why Bet on Tatsuro Taira?
Tatsuro Taira (14-0) conquered the Japanese scene before his 22nd birthday, flawless as an amateur (9-0) and perfect (10-0) as a professional before joining UFC in 2022. He’s 2-0 thus far in 2022 after choking out Jesus Aguilar and surviving both a knockdown and submission trouble to beat Edgar Chairez via decision.
He’s submitted seven professional foes and knocked out three others.
Why Bet on Carlos Hernandez?
Carlos Hernandez (9-2) took home back-to-back decisions over Daniel Barez (on Contender Series) and Victor Altamirano (in the Octagon) before Allan Nascimento halted his win streak at eight. He bounced back strong in June 2023, defeating Denys Bondar via a technical decision at the APEX.
Tatsuro Taira vs. Carlos Hernandez Final Betting Analysis:
This marks the fifth consecutive time that Taira’s fought a Contender Series alum. While Hernandez is arguably better than most of the first four, we don’t see this going any differently. Taira’s grappling skills are more than sufficient to recreate Nascimento’s successful efforts and that reach advantage should carry him through any prolonged striking engagements.
We do feel like UFC brass are being overly conservative with Taira’s matchmaking, but one can suppose there’s no need to rush when he’s still one month away from his 24th birthday. In short, he shows off his ground dominance once again with a mid-round finish.
UFC Fight Night: Rayanne dos Santos vs. Talita Alencar
Why Bet on Rayanne dos Santos?
The 2022 Contender Series bid for Rayanne Dos Santos saw her overpowered by Denise Gomes en route to a one-sided decision loss. After scoring a get-well win in her native Brazil, she took her talents to Invicta, ultimately claiming its Atomweight title in May 2023.
Dos Santos has ended 10 professional fights inside the distance, eight of them via submission.
Why Bet on Talita Alencar?
Talita Alencar kicked off her professional mixed martial arts career with three straight submission wins before beating Kelsey Arnesen by decision in her LFA debut. Then came Contender Series, where she dominated Stephanie Luciano for two rounds before gassing out and narrowly escaping with a draw.
Rayanne dos Santos vs. Talita Alencar Final Betting Analysis:
Though Amanda’s lack of size will be a significant obstacle to reaching contention, we like her chances here against a similarly diminutive opponent. Her light footwork and solid takedown defense will make it prohibitively difficult for Alencar to set up any takedowns, while her boxing out-classes Alencar’s by a decent margin.
And that’s not even bringing Alencar’s cardio issues into account. Amanda was still fresh after five rounds with Invicta champion, Jillian DeCoursey, so she should have little trouble putting the pace on Alencar. Alencar admittedly has the stronger grappling pedigree and could ruin Amanda’s day if she winds up on top, but there’s too much going Amanda’s way everywhere else. Indeed, Amanda sprawls and brawls to an increasingly dominant victory.
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