Written by LineStar contributor, combat sports enthusiast, and practitioner, Chris Guy. Instagram: @therealsethgeko | Twitter: @DadHallOfFamer

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Main Card

Steve Garcia (-125) vs. David Onama (+105)

Garcia: DK: $8.3k | Onama: DK:$7.9k

“Steve Garcia was rioting in the street, tell me where were you? You were sitting home watching TV. While Steve was participatin' in some anarchy.” Hit that Sublime “April 29, 1992!” It’s like ripping a phat bowl of nostalgia from a four-foot gravity bong when I watch Steve Garcia fight. I get transported back in time to a much simpler era. Specifically, I’m reminded of high-speed car chases on KTLA interrupting Animaniacs after school.  

“We interrupt the regularly scheduled programming to bring you this live breaking news report.”  

Those words were classic, like the opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities. When you heard that, you knew you were in for some shit! I’d throw some Bagel Bites into the microwave, grab some Dunk-A-Roos and a Squeeze-It, and pull up the bean bag chair. I was like 50 Cent in the song “We All Die One Day,” rooting for the bad guy. And turn it off before the end because the bad guy dies. I had a comprehensive scoring system: 200 points for a bail-out, 150 for a carjacking, 100 for a foot pursuit, 50 for jumping over a fence, 50 if the K-9 unit was released, and 25 for every minute the suspect remained at large. It was real-life GTA after school, damn near every day. 

Steve Garcia is an old-school KTLA high-speed pursuit personified inside the Octagon. It’s just a clusterf**k of out-of-control exchanges on the feet that are the equivalent of speeding through an intersection against a red light, crossing your fingers that you make it through to the other side. And it’s “See You on the Other Side” on some Korn shit if you have to fight this guy. He’s the last guy you could have predicted would be headlining a card. Yo! Hit that Outkast “Elevators!” Steve Garcia is moving up in the world like elevators. From getting knocked out by Maheshate in 2022 to six straight dubs. Steve Garcia ain’t a star; this MF is a constellation.  

“Searching for” Steven Garcia is the equivalent of the band geek dating the head cheerleader while holding a middle finger up to the jocks. He grabbed the world, flipped it upside down like a snow globe, and made it rain upward. He threw a wrench in the featherweight division. Ain’t nothing pretty about Garcia’s style. He’s the least technical striker in the division. To quote Eminem in “Seduction:” “It’s quicker to count the things that ain’t wrong with you than to count the things that are.” The list of Garcia’s major malfunctions would be longer than War and Peace. Fundamentals: Fook all that. Steve Garcia breaks all the rules. Don’t tread on Steve. He can’t be governed on his feet. What he severely lacks in technical ability, Steve makes up for with unmitigated aggression.   

I’m talking bath salt aggression. Ass-neked, gnawing on faces, and howling at the moon. This guy will howl at a sliver moon. He’ll howl at the fookin’ sun at high noon. With long, whipping, never-ending strikes, Steve will fook you up quicker than food trucks in Calcutta. For better or worse, four of Garcia’s noine UFC bouts ended in the first round. And only two saw a third round. That Steve Garcia Guarantee: If he doesn’t fook you up in five minutes or less, the next ass whoopin’ is on the house. His special weapon is that he looks like he played right field in Little League. He looks like he’s only on the team because his dad is the coach. But he fights like he’s the team captain. Pressure is the key against David Onama. As it is in every Steve Garcia fight. He keeps his foot on the gas, extending combos, and never giving the opponent a chance to rest, physically or mentally.   

But it will be hard to break David Onama physically or mentally. If Nizzy Nate Landwehr couldn’t do it on that special night in 2022 in San Diego, I’m not sure anyone can. One Night in San Diego: Onama took a Brazzers beating that night in the San Diego Sports Arena. Nate Does Onama: It was a vintage beating. We’re talkin’ a Fu Manchu nether regions type of vintage beating. But Onama had Dirk Diggler on the ropes in the final moments. He had Landwehr looking like Heather Graham on a pair of skates in Boogie Nights after failing to finish Onama. After that scrap, Onama earned his dog tags.   

Onama is riding a four-fight dub streak after beating a world-class striker, Giga Chikadze. What makes Onama special is his hand speed. His hands are so fast that it looks like he never throws them. He just stands there, and you get lumped up like time-lapsed footage. You look like a victim of paranormal activity. Like a spirit is having its way with you. All you need is some night vision. Your head snaps back a second before you hear the punch connect. Lightning before the thunder. Yo! Hit that Imagine Dragons “Thunder!” Imagine Onama draggin' your ass around the cage after landing a right hand like Achilles dragged Hector behind the chariot.  

There’s nothing particularly intricate about Onama’s style. He wins fights with superior athleticism. Watching him fight is like watching an American Gladiator fight Tom from Shipping & Receiving. It’s like a Pros vs. Joes matchup unless he gets taken down. Onama turns into Larry David on the mat. He’s always getting himself into some shit. Yo! Hit that Curb Your Enthusiasm theme music. Onama is an accident waiting to happen on the mat. He makes bad decisions, and his physical attributes always have to bail him out, like they called King Stahlman. Homie is a flight risk on the mat. But unless one of these guys hits a Mario Kart banana peel power-up, this shit ain’t going to the mat. Onama beats Garcia down the middle with straight, technical punches. When Garcia gets to flailing his wide punches, Onama will have six lane highways to his chin between his shoulders. 

Statistically, these guys are pretty much even. They both average five SLpM and one takedown per fifteen minutes. This will be the first five-round bout for both. Garcia is the early (-130) favorite, and Onama is the (+110) live-ass dog. His power and speed are superior to Garcia’s. Scuba Steve Garcia needs chaos to thrive. Onama can use his straight punches to stay outside and dictate a more traditional pace. There’s value in a decision, but I like playing this one for a finish. An early TKO/KO one way or the other. Steve’s style leaves him vulnerable, especially in the opening minutes. If it goes the distance, both will eclipse one hundred significant strikes. 

About last week: I tried to tell you about Tommy... I’m not buying him. The main event L streak remains at one after a no-contest last week. That eye poke bailed me out of two L’s in a row. Ciryl Gane via TKO/KO, round three. Put that on wax for the rematch. This week... damn. This one is brutally impossible to pick. Give me technique over aggression. It won’t be pretty. David Onama via TKO, round two. Put it on wax.   

Props

Garcia: TKO/KO (-105) Sub (+2000) Dec (+1100)  

Onama: TKO/KO (+180) Sub (+800) Dec (+1100) 

Winner: David Onama | Method: TKO Rd.2

Waldo Acosta (+105) vs. Ante Delija (-120)

Acosta: DK: $8.2k | Delija: DK: $8k

Yo! Hit that M.O.P. “Ante Up!” Ante up like Chauncey Billups. Ante Delija is raising the ante after knocking out Marcin Tybura in two minutes in his debut. This matchup right here is a rare heavyweight banger. If Delija has any say, for better or worse, this one will be over sooner rather than later. This guy fights like he left his phone unlocked backstage. He comes out like a rodeo bull as soon as they lift the gate. Surviving this guy for eight seconds is a real feat. But Waldo Acosta is an experienced bull rider. He just survived three rounds with Sergei Pavlovich. Acosta is a former pitching prospect for the Cincinnati Reds-turned MMA fighter. This will be a clash of styles on the feet. The frenzied blitzes of Ante Delija vs. the Cuban boxing style of Waldo Acosta.   

Ante Delija looks like a PlayStation 1 graphics Cain Velasquez. He looks like The Rock playing Cain Velasquez in Cain’s biopic. Spoiler Alert: They changed it. Cain doesn’t miss the shot at the end. Ante is anti-decision. He’s 26-6 with thirteen TKOs/KOs and six subs. As soon as the bell rings, Ante wastes no time applying foot to ass. He comes out swinging like the guy who KO’d Wanderlei Silva in the ring after Wanderlei headbutted his way to a DQ. In his debut, Delija turned Marcin Tyburainto Syko Stu. Tybura came out looking like he thought that shit was kayfabe. Tybura looked like he got stuck at the crossroads with the red lights flashing and the arms coming down. Yo! Hit that Bone Thugs “Crossroads.” Tybura saw Delija at the crossroads. Bullet train, money train, runaway train, when Delija fights, someone’s getting trained, homies. And we ain’t talkin’ Thomas and Percy. Choo choo!  

Delija motorboats punches like he’s hitting a speed bag while running across the ring. My man blitzes like the old-school arcade game. Zero blitzes. Safeties in the box type-ish. Delija runs into problems when the fight slows to a more traditional kickboxing pace. He can’t stick and move on the outside, working a jab. He has to overwhelm with extended combinations. But his major malfunction is his resume. Delija spent a lot of time working at a recycling plant crushing cans. “You worked at this plant so long, you’re a plant.” Delija will have to have an answer for Acosta’s jab. He tends to move in straight lines forward and backward. That won’t work against the jab. He’ll have to create angles with feints and lateral movement.   

It’s time to make the trip to the mound. Signal with the right hand to the bullpen. “Hells Bells” blares over the stadium speakers, and a panel in the outfield wall opens. Waldo Acosta comes running out with a Ricky Vaughn mohawk. The Closer, and we ain’t talkin’ Glengarry Glen Ross. The catcher doesn’t have to bother with any signs. Everybody in attendance knows what’s coming. The high cheese. Waldo Acosta only throws fastballs. His jab is a four-seam fastball, and his right hand is a two-seamer. Acosta’s jab stops opponents in their tracks like a can of Raid does roaches. Acosta is the rare occurrence of a fighter using his jab too much. He does beautiful work with the jab, establishing range, but doesn’t follow it up with the right hand enough. His right hand just sits on the bench waiting for the coach to put it in the game.   

But overall, I’ve been sleeping on Acosta. When I finally woke up, it looked like Demolition Man outside. People were wiping their asses with three seashells when I finally woke up to Waldo Acosta. Even though he took home the L, he had his moments against Pavlovich. He just didn’t throw enough. Against Delija, Acosta has to commit to combinations. His style is painfully one-punch. But even though he doesn’t throw many combinations, Acosta still averages five and a half SLpM. Delija’s stats don’t count because his only measurable fight lasted thirteen seconds. 

Acosta is the (-130) favorite, and Delija is the (+110) live-ass dog. This one is a toss-up. Delija could easily outwork Acosta on his way to a decision or overwhelm him in the opening minutes.  Acosta is good at slowing fights down and using his jab to pacify aggressive fighters. Yeah, he can make things boring while remaining active. I think the play for this one is a decision. Acosta has never been finished. And he survived heavy damage against Pavlovich. Acosta’s one-punch style doesn’t often lead to fight-ending sequences. Give me Waldo Acosta via decision. On wax.   

Props

Acosta: TKO/KO (+350) Sub (+3500) Dec (+250) 

Delija: TKO/KO (+225) Sub (+900) Dec (+300)

Winner: Waldo Acosta | Method: Decision

Jeremiah Wells (+120) vs. Themba Gorimbo (-140)

Wells: DK: $7.8k | Gorimbo: DK:$8.4k

This is technically a wrestler vs. wrestler matchup. But not all wrestling styles are created equally. While Themba Gorimbo is more of a traditional earmuffs and singlet type of wrestler, Jeremiah Wells is more like a WWE wrestler. Gorimbo will take you down and control you like he’s consoling a loved one. At the same time, Wells will pick your ass up and throw you through a random picnic table mysteriously placed in the Octagon. The Rock Bottom, The Tombstone, The RKO, The Stone ColdStunner: They’re all in Jeremiah Wells’ repertoire. Wells will turn Saturday Night into Monday Night Raw real fookin’ quick. This one could turn into a low-key Hell in a Cell matchup, or as with two elite grapplers, it could turn into a sloppy kickboxing match.   

When it comes down to stand-ups, Jeremiah Wells is the more dangerous striker. Technique be damned: Wells just points to the crowd, like the Babe calling his shot, and swings for the fences. He’s a baggage claims brawler outside Gate 7 to Toledo. Wells has that chloroform power. Just catching a whiff of his hands will put you to sleep. If you stand and bang with Jeremiah Wells, he will have you dancing with Demi Moore to the Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody real quick. This dudefights like he’s shot out of a cannon. He will sprint across the cage while windmilling his arms, pick you up, dribble you, then bust a Steph Curry half-court shot. Mercy is Jeremiah taking you down and pounding on you. His hands are grim reaper scythes; if they touch you, you’re a goner. 

Amid the ensuing chaos that follows, Wells will level change, lift you up, and throw your ass clear outside of the cage. Fans will be fighting over you like a foul ball. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Wells. He’s coming in off back-to-back losses. Against Carlston Harris, Wells caught the ass-whoopin' speed wobbles. Wells was bombing downhill, dominating Harris before he lost control and wiped out, getting caught in an Anaconda choke in the closing minute. To this day, Wells is still picking bits of gravel out of his ass after suffering serious road rash. Against Gorimbo, Wells has to pace himself. He comes in too hot. He needs to simmer down a little, especially in the opening minutes. His days of running over people within one round are over. Wells has to be prepared to wrestle/grapple for a full fifteen minutes. 

I don’t know what to make of Themba Gorimbo. He’s an imposing figure, but he’s not very dangerous. He’s 4-2 in the UFC, but both losses were submissions. Gorimbo has six career subs, but only one came within the UFC. His only finish came against a replacement fighter. His opponent was bagging groceries before he got the call, like Kurt Warner before becoming a Super Bowl Champion. That’s because Gorimbo is mostly a position over submission grappler. Once he gets you to the mat, Gorimbo lies on you like a homie’s couch when you’re down on your luck. Gorimbo is a human trenchcoat when he gets you to the mat. He blankets you like a California King comforter and waits for the clock to expire. Gorimbo averages over four and a half takedowns per fifteen minutes compared to Wells’s three. Both fighters also rock an eighty percent takedown defense. This fight is likely to play out on the feet. 

I’ll say this about Gorimbo’s striking: He has long-ass limbs. His arms and legs grow on you like vines when he gets to winging kicks and punches. By the end of the fight, you look like the outfield wall at Wrigley Field. His limbs are like bungee cords, like he’s made of elastic. Gorimbo is a human waistband, his arms and legs stretching to infinity. And beyond! This guy can hit you from a previous life. He can hit you from Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow. But his major malfunction is throwing combinations. He can’t do it. His hands fall apart like swap meet duds when he extends past a single strike. His hands get sloppy like a Doctor’s penmanship when he extends past a single jab or right hand. But he is the higher output striker, averaging three SLpM to Wells’ below two and a half. If this fight stays standing, and you have one of these guys on your Fantasy roster, you’ll wind up on the corner of a freeway exit, holding a sign: Will Work for Fantasy Points.  

Gorimbo will be the (-135) favorite, and Wells will be the (+115) live-ass dog. The dangerous fighter is Wells. He’s the bigger finishing threat, at least early. He has been known to fade late, which will give Gorimbo a shot at a late finish. But the x-factor is Wells’s wild temperament inside the cage. When he goes for it, boy, does he ever go for it. But Wells hasn’t fought since February of 2024. That’s a long layoff after back-to-back losses. This might be the toughest pick ‘em of the year. These are all complete toss-ups. I could see an early finish if Wells comes out NBA Jam on fire. He will either land something big early or run into something big early. But I like playing this one for a decision. I think there could be a lot of clinching against the cage. When in doubt, go with the dog. Jeremiah Wells via decision. On wax.   

Props

Wells: TKO/KO (+500) Sub (+400) Dec (+400)

Gorimbo: TKO/KO (+330) Sub (+700) Dec (+225)

Winner: Jeremiah Wells | Method: Decision

Allan Nascimento (-270) vs. Cody Durden (+220)

Nas: DK: $9.1k | Durden: DK: $7.1k

This is where the card goes completely sideways. I have no idea what the final order of the bouts will be; it's been changed too many times. And now Cody Durden is stepping in on short notice to fight Allan Nascimento, AKA Spirit Halloween Charles Oliveira. Cody is taking some PTO time away from the soap factory to continue his quest to step out from under the shadow of his legendary brother, Tyler Durden. Cody is a dog’s dog who has some big wins under his belt, like Charles Johnson. But he has also lost four of his last five. When I first saw Cody, I thought he would be three and done—play out a three-fight contract and never be heard from again. But he has stuck around because no matter what, this MF scraps like he’s in a bar basement fighting strictly for the love of violence.   

Allan Nascimento wants to be Charles Oliveira soooooo bad. He’s a doorbuster version of Do Bronx. He uses Charles’ ID to get into clubs. He shows up at kids' birthday parties dressed as Charles and makes balloon animals. He can tie humans into balloon animals, too. In twenty career dubs, Nascimento has fourteen subs. Cue that “Smooth Operator” by Sade: “Coast to coast, LA to Chicago...” Nascimento is a smooth operator and slicker than a duck’s ass on the mat. He has Sean Brady back tatt back control and Brenden Allan rear-naked chokes. When he gets you to the mat, he travels a pre-determined path to the back mount. And even though he's handy with rear-naked chokes, his submission arsenal is diverse. He has finishes by heel hook, Brabo choke, triangle, kneebar, and arm triangle on his record. 

Nas wants nothing more than Durden to put him on his back. Not so he can look into Durden’s eyes lovingly while Durden hammers him. *On him. Hammers on him. But so he can do some Do Bronx shit and tie Durden in knots from the bottom. Nascimento is one of the rare cases not to be alarmed by a thirty percent takedown defense. Charles Oliveira’s is probably similar. As long as Nas remains active from his back like Charles did against Gamrot, he will have a good shot at landing a submission. Nas is 21-6 with two TKOs/KOs and fourteen subs. Durden has been finished six times in his career, and four came via submission.  

Unlike typical grappler vs. grappler matchups that end up on the feet for the majority, this one will likely play out on the mat. Should it stay standing, the stand-up will be fairly even. Nascimento’s feet are better than his hands. And Durden has sneaky overhands and hooks; he’s not a crumb bum on his feet. But his striking is only a formality before he shoots. He shoots double legs like a Gatling gun. Fully automatic double legs. Durden shoots like his life depends on it because it does. But if he gets you down, he’ll do you like The Narrator did that dude with blonde hair and eyebrows in the basement, “I wanted to destroy something beautiful.”   

The odds aren’t out for this one. Durden is taking this on just a couple of days' notice. He can win this fight with top control. But he’ll have to play Russian Roulette with Nas’s guard for fifteen minutes. It’s a tall task. But Nascimento is far from a world-beater like his idol Do Bronx. Nas will be the favorite, and Durden will be a live-ish dog. This is a guy who went the distance with Joshua Van less than a year ago. But I have to roll with the Do Bronx protege. Give me Allan Nascimento via rear-naked choke, round two. Put it on wax.   

Props

Nas: TKO/KO ( ) Sub ( ) Dec ( )  

Durden: TKO/KO ( ) Sub ( ) Dec ( )

Winner: Allan Nascimento | Method: Rear-Naked Choke Rd.2

Charles Radtke (-170) vs. Daniel Frunza (+140)

Radtke: DK: $8.7k | Frunza: DK: $7.5k

Ain’t shit pretty about Charlie Radtke. This guy has burned me like Kneehigh Park puppets more than once. Radtke is 3-2 in the UFC with two TKOs. One loss came against Carlos Prates. If Carlos Prates hurt his hand while punching me in the face in a dream, I would wake up and apologize. Radtke’s right hand is stupid. When it lands, fighters wake up looking like Steven Seagal in Hard to Kill, waking up from a seven-year coma with a beard in a hospital bed. This guy’s nickname is “Chuck Buffalo.” Maybe his right hand killed all the buffalo or some shit. Man, quit playing and hit that Randy Marsh “Buffalo Soldier!” Overall, Radtke wears mediocrity like a Men’s Fashion Depot clearance rack suit. His mouth is more lethal than his fighting style. He can talk the talk, but when it comes to walking the walk, he’s like Stephen Hawking blowing in a little straw to control his motorized wheelchair. Both of his UFC losses came via TKO/KO. 

Daniel Frunza is regular with a cape on, super regular. Like 87 octane gas. The displays at Halloween Depot are scarier than this guy. His name sounds like a compact family sedan. The Kia Frunza. Yo! Hit that The Weeknd “Ordinary Life!” Frunza took the extra out of extraordinary. He’s the type of dude to wear the same Billabong collar shirt for any occasion: a wedding, a funeral, Christmas dinner. It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t get fancier than that. Frunza will be the more technical and trustworthy fighter in this matchup. He lost his debut after a doctor stoppage in the first round against Rhys McKee. But he was in that fight, landing shots on short notice against a veteran. I don’t know anything about his ground game other than he gave up two takedowns on the Contender Series before scoring a second round TKO. Frunza is 9-3 with eight TKOs/KOs.  

Radtke is the (-160) favorite, and Frunza is the (+135) mystery dog. If he can avoid Radtke’s right hand, Frunza can out-point Radtke on the feet. He’s the more technical striker. Radtke is basically a wrestler striker with a nasty right hand and left hook, but not much else. Frunza uses a far more diverse attack. But can he stay on his feet if Radtke plays it smart and uses his wrestling? I like the chances for a finish in this one. One of these guys will get got. Likely early. I have to ride with the guy who has stared down Carlos Prates and actually had the huevos to step inside the cage with him. Charles Radtke via TKO, round two. Wax on, wax off.   

Props

Radtke: TKO/KO (+215) Sub (+550) Dec (+330)  

Frunza: TKO/KO (+215) Sub (+2200) Dec (+600)

Winner: Charlie Radtke | Method: TKO Rd.2

Prelims

$7k Value Menu

David Onama ($7.9k): The main event will be a stand-up banger between two high-output strikers. With an extra ten minutes to work with, both participants will likely eclipse the one hundred strikes mark (barring an early finish). Onama will havespeed, power, and technical advantages. So why is he the dog? Because Steve Garcia has all the intangibles that Onama doesn’t. Garcia is wild and unpredictable, while Onama won’t provide Garcia with any looks he hasn’t seen before. But Onama is entering this fight off the strength of beating a world-class kickboxer in Giga Chikadze. Chikadze is a much more technical striker than Garcia. Not only will Onama be a finishing threat, but even without a finish, he can put Fantasy points up on the scoreboard.  

Jeremiah Wells ($7.8K): The more dangerous fighter in the matchup between Wells and Gorimbo is Jeremiah Wells. This guy is a Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball. Yo! Hit that shit! Jeremiah came in like a wrecking ball! This MF swings from the Chandeliers like Sia. When Wells’ UFC career is over, he could make a smooth transition into the WWE. His wrestling is show-stopping. High amplitude slams and vicious ground and pound: that’s Wells’ style on the mat. And on the feet, he throws nothing but bombs like every U.S. president since Vietnam. Napalm palms, that’s what Wells is toting. Wells is the finishing threat in this matchup, while Gorimbo is more of a threat to dominate from the top position for fifteen minutes. 

Yadier Del Valle ($7.1k): I’m not so sure this guy won’t fook around and beat Isaac Dulgarian. I picked Dulgarian to win only because I just haven’t seen enough of Del Valle. I don’t know much about his ground game. If he can stay upright, he will winthe stand-up battle. The toughest thing to do in MMA is to wrestle for fifteen to twenty-five minutes. Eventually, Dulgarian will run into a takedown wall like Sonny Bono hitting a tree. Should that happen, it will be Del Valle’s time to shine. Likely, Del Valle will have to make a late comeback after giving up the early minutes on his back. But this guy has some dog in him and better striking than Dulgarian. This fight will be closer than the odds suggest—more like a pick ‘em.  

 $6k Clearance Rack

Cody Durden ($7k): There is only one option on the Clearance Rack this week, and it isn’t much of an option at all. If you're digging in the crates for a low-salary-cap option, Durden is the best option. He will be playing with fire when he steps in on short notice against Allan Nascimento. Nas is a Do Bronx protege with slick submissions. Durden’s game is wrestling. He will have to dominate the top position while navigating around Nas’s sub attempts. Nas rocks a thirty percent takedown defense while Durden averages over four takedowns per fifteen minutes. If this fight stays standing, it will be anybody’s guess who will have the advantage. Nas is a better kicker than puncher, and Durden just throws nothing but overhands and hooks with sneaky power. But at all times, Durden must channel his inner Wu-Tang and protect his neck.   

Twenty-Twen-Twen Sleepers

Jeremiah Wells (+115): Give me the more dangerous fighter in any MMA equation. Wells will be that against Themba Gorimbo. I think the odds reflect the size difference between the two. Gorimbo is huge with long limbs. I say it all the time, but length is one of the hardest attributes to overcome. Especially when you’re on the short end like Wells, but when it comes to aggression, Wells goes to the well often. Wells was dominating Carlston Harris, a man with a physique similar to Gorimbo's. Wells got caught in a late Hail Mary Anaconda Choke. But with a couple of adjustments, he can replicate that performance and rewrite the ending. 

David Onama (+115): Never forget when Maheshate KO’d Steve Garcia. Garcia tends to get out of pocket early and often. He only has one mode: Fook You Up! HE fights like he can’t kick ass fast enough to satiate his violent urges. But all that aggression leaves him open to blowback. And Onama can deliver a lot of blowback. His punches will beat Garcia down the middle every time. Garcia throws long, whipping punches, while Onama attacks down the middle with straight punches. As long asOnamadoesn’t get drawn into a firefight, I like his chances to stay outside and find openings when Garcia wilds out a little too much.   

Waldo Acosta (+115): There are some mangy-ass dogs on this card. (+115) seems to be a sweet spot this week. Acosta is the more consistent fighter with a more consistent output/pace. His jab will be the single best weapon in his matchup against Ante Delija. Delija is a blitzing fighter. He relies mostly on intermittent bursts of aggression and extended combinations, and Acosta can turn this into a traditional back-and-forth kickboxing match. And that’s a style that Delija struggles with. A traditional kickboxing match is Delija’s kryptonite. He needs chaos to thrive. Acosta can sit back on the mound and deliver fastballs from the stretch all night long. As long as he stays ahead in the count, Acosta can systematically pick Delija apart.   

Pick ‘Em

Yadier Del Valle  (+195) vs. Isaac Dulgarian (-235) 

 Winner: Isaac Dulgarian 

Method: Decision 

Billy Elekana (-250) vs. Kevin Christian (+210)  

 Winner: Billy Elekana 

Method: Decision 

Timothy Cuamba (-120) vs. Chang Ho Lee (Even)  

 Winner: Timothy Cuamba 

Method: Decision 

Donte Johnson (-340) vs. Sediques Dumas (+270) 

 Winner: Donte Johnson 

Method: TKO Rd.2 

Ketlen Vieira (+150) vs. Norma Dumont (-170)  

 Winner: Norma Dumont 

Method: Decision 

Alice Ardelean (-380) vs. Montserrat Ruiz (+290)  

 Winner: Alice Ardelean 

Method: Decision 

Philip Rowe (+160) vs. Seok Hyeon Ko (-180) 

 Winner: Seok Hyeon Ko 

Method: Decision 

Talita Alencar (-220) vs. Ariane Carnelossi (+180) 

 Winner: Talita Alencar 

Method: Decision 

Thanks for reading LineStar Weekly Knockout! We'll be back next Thursday with another one. Until then, good luck and support your local MMA Gym.

About Me

My name is Chris Guy, and I’m an avid combat sports enthusiast and practitioner. I’ve been a fan of MMA since the early 2000s when Limewire was still around, and I downloaded Bas Rutten’s Big Book of Combat. In 2004, I started training Muay Thai at City Boxing in San Diego, CA. I competed as an amateur for many years, and I've also dabbled in Jiu-Jitsu. I follow many different disciplines, such as Combat Ji-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Glory Kickboxing, Boxing, and MMA.

I’m equally as enthusiastic about the craft of writing, and in addition to writing about combat sports, I also write short fiction and music. I hope to bring unique prose to sports writing, and along the way, encourage people to not only become Martial Arts fans but to also become Martial Artists themselves.

In the future, you may see me refer to the Thunderdome; it's an ode to the old Mad Max movie and refers to the world-class training facility I built in my one-car garage. It's complete with throw dummies, wrestling mats, heavy bags, and six months' worth of Chef Boyardee cans from when I thought the world was going to end back in March.

I hope you enjoy my work, and if you don’t, the Thunderdome has an open door policy.