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

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Main Card

Nassourdine Imavov (+110) vs. Caio Borralho (-130)

Imavov: DK: $7.8k | Borralho: DK:$8.4k

The WKO is giving Caio Borralho a new nickname: Con Air. It’s in reference to the flying prison used to transport the country’s most dangerous criminals, made famous by Nicolas Cage in a movie by the same name. Caio Borralho’s back mount is inescapable like Alcatraz and the Jerry and Stephen Jones death spiral that Cowboys fans are currently caught in. Authorities use Borralho’s back mount to restrain and relocate modern-day Hannibal Lecters, wheeling them around on dollies with Borralho strapped to their backs in a body triangle. Speaking of Alcatraz, not even Sean Connery and a group of former Marines could escape Borralho’s back mount. Fook the official record, I’m pretty sure Houdini died while trying to escape Borralho’s body triangle while underwater. His back mount is like a human straitjacket. You get certified 51/50 as soon as Borralho gets you to the mat.   

Caio Borralho has come within one victory of a title shot because of his grappling. Not that he’s a crumb bum on the feet. He’s just special on the mat. From the top position, Caio sticks to you like a damn spider web. Hours after he chokes you unconscious, you’re still scratching and clawing at yourself, swearing you can feel him stuck on you. What goes down doesn’t come back up: Borralho only averages one and a half takedowns per fifteen minutes, but that’s because he holds you down like a down-ass Betty. You're not getting up like you died in your sleep when Caio drags you to the mat. The only knock against Borralho’s grappling is a lack of finishes. He has only four career subs (one in the UFC) along with five TKOs/KOs (one in the UFC).  

When it comes to fighting Nassourdine Imavov, Caio will be at a disadvantage on the feet. Caio looks like he learned Karate at a dojo inside a shopping plaza. The ones that usually have a Discount Tire and a dentist next door. In & Out, and we ain’t talking Double-Doubles animal style and four-hour waits. Borralho uses a bouncing in and out cadence to set up his offense and his signature move, the Dirk Nowitzki fade-away flying knee. He uses the flying knee as a defensive counter by retreating and baiting you forward. As you pursue, he pulls the rug out from under you and explodes into a flying knee. He entraps you with it, just like every FBI sting operation. By the time you realize you walked into a trap, it’s too late. You’re just standing there with an “Oh shit!” look on your face like Chris Hansen walked into the room with a handful of transcripts. And you know what’s waiting for you when he says, “You’re free to leave.” In this life, ain’t shit free, Mr. Hansen. 

But, defensively, Borralho’s striking has more holes than David Carradine’s fishnets. It’s rare you see a Karate style paired with a boxing defense. But Borralho often resorts to the Philly Shell as his primary defensive tactic. The problem is, his Philly Shell is candy-coated. And it didn’t move to Philly until after high school. Extended combinations render Borralho’s Philly Shell useless. I’ve said this before, but I think Borralho’s ceiling will be when he faces a striker whom he can’t consistently get to the mat. That very well could be Nassourdine Imavov. Borralho has a point style on the feet that is dependent on maintaining distance on the outside. A firefight in the pocket spells disaster for Borralho.   

I’ve been watching Nassourdine Imavov with Eyes Wide Shut like I rolled up to a Hollywood satanic ritual, rocking an MF Doom mask and a black robe. I’ve been overlooking him like the hotel in The Shining. That’s because his style and persona are very robotic. Imavov is like an Asimov I, Robot who broke the first Law of Robotics. He’s very mechanical in his approach while relying on basic techniques to dominate fights. Excuse me while I quote myself: “Imavov is an MMA Weezer – a little underrated but not quite at the superstar level. Weezer can sell out a minor league NHL arena, but they ain’t selling out Petco Park. They make Disney soundtrack music, not stadium anthems. That’s Imavov; he’s a Weezer-level star, a recognizable name among the MMA heads but not among the casuals.” That’s the best way to describe Imavov. But he can step out from Weezer’s shadow with a win against Borralho, which will all but guarantee him a title shot.   

Nassourdine has excellent offensive grappling from the top position. But he has been unimpressive the few times we have seen him on his back. Imavov’s path to victory will be forcing a kickboxing match on the feet. My man might have the fastest hands in the division. His hands have hood scoops and spoilers with little NOS tanks hooked up to them. Imavov Drift: he has that Fast and Furious 15 hand speed. His hands are faster than the first time you rounded third base. Faster than Jim with Nadia. Faster than Jim left alone in a room with a warm apple pie. And he has a special move: The Electric Slide counter right hand. When Imavov is on his game, he looks like Chaz Michael skating around the Octagon:   

“They’re laughing at us.”  

“They laughed at Louis Armstrong when he said he would go to the moon. Now he’s up there laughing at them.” 

Borralho anticipates your first movement and slides back just out of range while delivering a right hand on the way out the back door. This is the move that sets up almost every fight-ending sequence. The counter right hand was the start of Stylebender’s ending. Yo! Hit that Mobb Deep “Start of Your Ending!” Boxing rule number three: You’re most vulnerable when you’re punching. Imavov takes advantage of that. Overall, Imavov is Cold as Ice, and he’s willing to sacrifice that dub. Homie tasks risks on the feet and has shown improved cardio since losing to Sean Strickland in a five-round main event two years ago and fading late against Joaquin Buckley before that. The key for Imavov will be using his solid seventy-eight percent takedown defense to keep the fight standing, where his speed will cause Caio problems.   

Caio Borralho is the (-125) early favorite, and Imavov is the (+105) live-ass dog. I thought Imavov would be the slight favorite. Get Imavov at plus-money while you can. He will have the advantage on the feet. And although Borralho can steal rounds with top control, I don’t think he will be much of a submission threat without hurting Imavov on the feet first. Imavov has only been submitted once in twenty career scraps, and that came in his pro debut. On the other side of the Octagon, Borralho has only one career loss, and it came by decision. The play for this one is a decision. Imavov could also switch shit up and put Borralho on his back. Especially late in the fight. The takedown threats will likely turn this one into a tepidly paced match on the feet. Fantasy numbers could be disappointing at the conclusion of this one.  

Johnny Walker fooked everything up two weeks ago. Everything was going according to plan until it wasn’t. One calf kick in the second round changed everything. The main event L streak now sits at two. This week’s pick is a complete toss-up. I think Imavov has enough wrestling/grappling to afford himself enough time on his feet to distance himself in close rounds. And that hand speed... Nassourdine Imavov via decision. Put it on wax.  

Props

Imavov: TKO/KO (+400) Sub (+1100) Dec (+250)  

Borralho: TKO/KO (+650) Sub (+800) Dec (+150) 

Winner: Nassourdine Imavov | Method: Decision

Benoit St. Denis (+155) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (-180)

BSD: DK: $7.4k | Ruffy: DK: $8.8k

The Fighting Nerds are going back-to-back like Danny Glover and Mel Gibson. McGregorzinho is back. Mauricio Ruffy is the orthodox Brazilian Conor McGregor. My man shares custody with McGregor’s style on weekends. Ruffy has to pay McGregor royalties every time he fights. Ruffy samples McGregor’s style like The Alchemist samples Motown hits from the seventies. Every part of Ruffy’s style was salvaged from Conor’s old style, down to the suspect gas tank. Who knows, Ruffy might even fook around and break his tib/fib like Conor. The only thing Ruffy didn’t copy is McGregor’s Coke habit. Ruffy prefers Pepsi. Also, in keeping with the McGregor theme, Ruffy has stormed onto the MMA scene after only three UFC bouts. He’s coming in off a first-round spinning wheel kick KO of my current favorite fight, Prince Green, formerly known as King Green. Ruffy snatched the crown off Green’s head. Ruffy turned into Doughboy in Boyz n the Hood, “Ya’ll want to see a dead body?" Ruffy did Prince Green like Scar did Mufassa. My kids were crying. I was crying. The Dino was crying.  

Speaking of Ruffy, this guy will sleep you like Cosby bartending a Catalina Mixer with a pocket full of them. Yo! Hit that Sublime “Date —!” You already know! On his feet, Ruffy is a range genius. He calculates range like a TI-84, always keeping you at the apex of his strikes. False pocket entries, angles, speed, and a variety of attacks crossing multiple disciplines, that’s Ruffy’s style. His special move is the step-back right hand, which is the mirrored image of the one McGregor slept Aldo with. He slides back in the pocket, allowing you to gain momentum, then stops and drops a right cross on your chin. But as good as Ruffy looks, he has a major malfunction that was exposed in his only fight that went the distance against James Llontop. 

Who? Of all the Fighting Nerds, Ruffy might be the weak link. He might be the only guy to have a GPA below 4.0. Homie needs a tutor for his cardio. Ruffy fades like Jada’s hairline. Don’t forget, Ruffy lost the third round to Llontop. Who? My man needs to bum some cigs off Carlos Prates. Yo! Hit that Kanye “The New Workout Plan!” You have to make Ruffy work like a deadbeat. If you keep him busy, he will fade – Field of Dreams voice. And we haven’t seen him have to defend takedowns and scramble back to his feet. Can he survive in a grinder, which he will surely be in against Benoit St. Denis? Ruffy has yet to face a guy that will be hell-bent on getting him to the mat like BSD will be.  

Ever since his debut, a fight in which he was on the wrong side of a profound ass-whooping, BSD has been breaking French stereotypes for being a bunch of Sal Bonpensieros. BSD is the new PTSD. Your fookin’ therapist needs a fookin’ therapist after you sit on the black couch and recount the time you fought BSD. After your visit, they’d rather have Tony Soprano as a patient than you. Benoit’s M.O. is pressure. From the moment the bell rings, this guy stays glued to you, flailing punches and kicks while trying to drag you to the mat. It’s like you're stuck in a Saw movie when you share the cage with BSD. You have to saw off a limb to escape this guy when he gets hold of you.  

In my experience, all Benoits are a little bit crazy. But this one is crazy and violent. This guy is more violent than Thanksgiving dinners in ‘24. His fights are so wild that whoever watches them dies within a week on some The Ring type-shit. The keys to beating BSD are surviving the first five minutes and keeping the fight standing. BSD is Johnny Storm in the opening minutes. He comes out on fire like he got hit with a DEW, pressuring you against the cage and tripping you to the mat. BSD is a Tale of Two Positions grappler. From the top, he’s a mauler with aggressive ground and pound. But from his back, he’s a cheap date. But BSD’s major malfunction is his defensive unawareness. Striking with this guy is like playing Duck Hunt while holding the gun an inch away from the TV screen (and I still couldn’t get past three fookin’ ducks). His defense is like a layup line: Homies are out there busting out double-clutch reverse punches on BSD at will. 

Not even Bruce Willis Dies Harder than BSD. When he goes out, he goes out in dramatic fashion like a Broadway musical. If BSD can get Ruffy to the mat early, he can win this fight even without an early finish. His pace will wear on Ruffy. But BSD has to avoid prolonged exchanges on the feet. BSD is the higher output striker, averaging five and a half SLpM compared to Ruffy’s four and a half. BSD also averages four takedowns per fifteen minutes. So far, Ruffy hasn’t had to test his takedown defense. That will soon change.  

Ruffy is the (-210) favorite, and BSD is the (+175) live-ass dog. Don’t forget BSD’s first round against Dustin Poirier. BSD dominated it, dragging Poirier to the mat and even briefly mounting him. Can Ruffy survive if he ends up in a similar situation, especially late in the fight? Barring an early finish, that BSD rip current will drag Ruffy into deep waters. And we have no idea if Ruffy can emergency float until a Carnival cruise ship happens by and rescues him. But if BSD can’t get Ruffy to the mat early and often, he will get dominated on the feet. The play for this one is a finish one way or another, a TKO/KO in Ruffy’s favor or a submission in BDS’s favor. I just can’t trust BSD’s faulty stand-up. Mauricio Ruffy via TKO, round two. On wax.   

Props

BSD: TKO/KO (+650) Sub (+550) Dec (+500) 

Ruffy: TKO/KO (+100) Sub (+1100) Dec (+450)

Winner: Mauricio Ruffy | Method: TKO Rd.2

Bolaji Oki (+115) vs. Mason Jones (-140)

Oki: DK: $7.6k | Jones: DK:$8.6k

It’s Mason Jones! Who? It’s Mason Jones! Swisher House in this bish! After his first stint with the UFC, Mason Jones made his successful re-debut against the “Little Heathen” Jeremy Stephens back in May. This guy is a straight dog that marks his territory on all eight sides of the Octagon as soon as he enters. The ref walks out that bish with doodie stuck to his shoe after every Mason Jones fight. Rabies shots are required before stepping into the Octagon with Mason Jones. But this story isn’t about Mason Jones; it’s about Bolaji Oki. Is he real, son? Is he real, son? Let me know if he’s real, son, if he’s really real. One look at Oki’s physical appearance would emphatically suggest that he is. But physical attributes will only take you so far in this game. Oki is about to turn into some driftwood, floating perilously out toward shark-infested deep water. Can he survive until a jumbo jet flies overhead and spots the sun’s reflection off his Timex watch and sends out an S.O.S. on his behalf?   

You heard of Hell? Well, Mason Jones was sent from it. Mason is a Backdraft firefighter. You can rock a NASCAR flame-retardant (not derogatory) suit when you fight him, but you’ll still walk out of the cage looking like Fire Marshall Bill after conducting a fire safety seminar, “It’s okay! I’m a Fire Marshall!” You walk out of that bish looking like you went joyriding with Paul Walker. Jones’s special weapon is constant pressure. You walk out that bish shining like a diamond after all the pressure Jones puts on you. From the jump, he stays in your face like drill instructors. Jones straps on the standard-issue boots and marches you down, trapping you against the cage where he can unload extended combinations and level changes.   

Mason is known for his pocket presence. This guy turns into a squatter in the pocket. You need the Sheriffs to evict him. Jones lives for that All Quiet on the Western Front trench warfare. After every battle, Mason walks away with a full clip and a bayonet with entrails and viscera hanging from it.  His specialty is dirty boxing within the clinch, digging Nolan Ryan uppercuts, and dropping bows. And if the opportunity presents itself, Mason won’t hesitate to take you to the ground. Mason is a well-rounded ass-kicker, averaging five and a half SLpM and nearly four and a half takedowns per fifteen minutes. Against Oki, he can forge a path to victory anywhere he chooses. 

Bolaji Oki is a 1:18 scale diecast Kamaru Usman minus the wrestling and championship potential. But while he’s built like a mini Ngannou, Oki’s attributes don’t necessarily match his superior frame. Oki is like putting a four-banger Ford Escort engine under a ‘65 Shelby GT hood. That’s because his hand speed is oddly slow for his physical stature. His hands 0 to 60 speed is about ten seconds. His hands get left in the dust at green lights by soccer moms in Sienna minivans. My man has those Paul Wall and Kanye hands: Drive slow homie. You never know, homie. I think all that muscle hinders Oki’s hand speed. He just doesn’t fight loose; he’s too tense and can’t activate his quick-twitch muscles like a long, lanky fighter.  

But a lack of speed is a trade-off for power. Oki is a flatfooted striker who sits down on every strike. He’ll knock your block off like eminent domain using only his jab. But to take the next step in his career, Oki will have to develop some basic footwork and head movement. He’s too straightforward. His movement is too boxy. Taking one to give one is his only real tactic. He’s an eye-for-an-eye striker who hopes to land the big one before you do. The problem for Oki against Mason Jones is that Jones has already beaten a better Oki named David Onama. Oki is like a non-alcoholic Onama. He’s the Beck’s version of Onama. But it only takes one punch for him to change the tide of any fight. And check it, homie averages over seven SLpM. You’d never guess that watching his flow. But he landed a career high of one hundred thirty-six significant strikes in his previous fight. And he also rocks an eighty-five percent takedown defense. He should be able to keep this one on the feet.   

Jones will be the (-150) favorite, and Oki is the (+130) live-ass dog. Jones is very hittable on the feet. He walks straight into the fire, betting on himself that you’ll get the hell out of the kitchen first. The play for this one is a decision. Jones has never been finished in eighteen career scraps. And Oki has only been finished once (by submission) in twelve. This is a banger and a tough pick. Overall, I think Mason Jones is the better, more proven fighter, having fought guys like Jeremy Stephens, Ludovit Klein, David Onama, and Mike Davis (watch that fight). Mason Jones via decision. Bust out the pumpkin spice Yankee candles and put it on wax.   

Props

Oki: TKO/KO (+300) Sub (+2500) Dec (+350) 

Jones: TKO/KO (+400) Sub (+1000) Dec (+150)

Winner: Mason Jones | Method: Decision

Patricio Pitbull (+180) vs. Losene Keita(-220)

Pitbull: DK: $7.3k | Keita: DK: $8.9k

Yo! Hit that Jay-Z “A Week Ago!” It seems like Patricio Pitbull fought only a week ago. Since making his UFC debut in April, Pitbull will be making his third appearance. After fighting two UFC veterans, Pitbull will be fighting a guy I’ve never heard of. Losene Keita is making his UFC debut, and his Sherdog profile pic shows him holding a championship belt. So, he must be good. It doesn’t look like one of those Party City fake belts handed out to the beer pong champs at the end of the night. That might even be real gold on that bish now that I’m looking at it. You don’t get to debut against an MMA legend like Pitbull unless you’re a bad mother-shut-your-mouth. There is high potential for a stand-up banger when these two meet in the Octagon.  

After a tough debut against Yair Rodriguez, Pitbull strapped on his old red service animal vest in his second appearance against Dan Ige. We got to see some of that old Pitbull dawg. The old Pitbull used to wear a collar and muzzle when in public. But against Yair, he looked more like the rapper Pitbull than the Pitbull who was the face of Bellator for well over a decade. Trust me when I tell you, this guy used to be one of the dogs on the cover of one of Snoop Dogg’s No Limit albums. That No Limit Top Dogg shit. But against Yair, Pitbull found out Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told. It was a rude awakening after a lifetime of crushing cans in the minor leagues. Pitbull was crushing cans in Bellator like Popeye. My man was walking around with a Glad bag full of cans on some hobo-type-ish.   

But beating Dan Ige is a big deal. Ige was probably one of the best fighters Pitbull has fought in a long time. And he didn’t have to entirely rely on wrestling. Pitbull had Ige hurt on the feet and looked like the overall better striker that night. Homie made me a believer. And I don’t believe anything. I think this is all just a simulation controlled by an extraterrestrial species in the future. Against Losene Keita, Pitbull has to make this an MMA fight and test Keita’s ground game. Strike when necessary and grapple accordingly. Much like he did against Ige. He still has the power to keep anyone honest on their feet and the takedowns to make them hesitate. And he has the big show experience that Keita doesn’t.   

Straight out of Wakanda, a crazy MF named Losene. They call this guy “Black Panther.” Honey, I Shrunk Melvin Manhoef. From what little I’ve seen, Losene reminds me of a half-size Melvin Manhoef. If you don’t know who that is, check out some highlights on YouTube. Manhoef was a kickboxer who served as a circus sideshow for some MMA promotions because he had stupid power. He also had a penchant for getting KTFO emphatically. Crazy speed and power, that was Melvin Manhoef. And Losene Keita has both those traits. Losene’s hands haul ass like he has a back seat full of Bettys. And he combines it with a Battle Toads right hand (IYKYK). He has that Griffey stroke with his right hand. My man doesn’t punch for average; he swings for the fences. Losene calls his shot like The Babe between exchanges. 

But Losene is fairly vanilla. Yo! Hit that Lupe Fiasco “Dumb it Down!” Losene has watered down striking; there’s nothing tricky or intricate. Fighting him is like timing a fastball. After your first at-bat, you get his timing down and swing away. He’s a counter waiting to happen. Every time he engages, his offhand drops. Yet, no one has capitalized on it. Losene is 16-1 with ten TKOs/KOs. And the one loss was due to a leg injury. There are far more questions about Losene than answers. His past opponents read like a bowl of Alphabet Soup. It’s hard to tell if he has ever been tested. But he will be against Pitbull. The biggest question is his ground game. From the fights I watched, Losene has solid takedown defense, but he was also fighting part-time fighters, aka Part-Time Lovers of the game. His advantage will be at range on his feet, using his superior speed to keep Pitbull from getting inside.   

Whoa! Losene is the (-200) favorite, and Pitbull is the (+170) live-ass dog. I might be missing something here. Pitbull’s experience alone should make this closer to a toss-up. But maybe Losene is the real deal. He will likely have to go three hard rounds to beat Pitbull. In forty-five career fights, Pitbull has only been finished three times. The play for this one is a decision one way or another. Fantasy-wise, this one could be a low-scoring affair. Pitbull averages just over two and a half SLpM, and Losene isn’t a combination striker. There should be plenty of clinching to eat away some clock, too. I’d try to avoid this matchup if possible. But there’s too much value in the proven dog to pass him up. Patricio Pitbull via decision. Put it on wax.   

Props

Pitbull: TKO/KO (+750) Sub (+1200) Dec (+350)  

Keita: TKO/KO (+275) Sub (+3000) Dec (+110)

Winner: Patricio Pitbull | Method: Decision

Modestas Bukauskas (-370) vs. Paul Craig (+285)

Bukauskas: DK: $9.3k | Paul Craig: DK: $6.9k

Yo! Hit that The Doors “The End!” This is the end. Beautiful friend. This is the end. My only friend. The end. I’m old enough to remember when Paul Craig was a live-ass dog submitting future world champions like it was just a thing to do to pass the time. If Paul Craig can’t win this fight, it’s time to “pack it up, pack it in” like House of Pain. Losing this one would be like striking out against an outfielder brought in to pitch during a blowout. Like striking out in slow-pitch softball. There’s no coming back from losing to the human waiting room, Modestas Bukauskas. Like David Carradine said when his Fredricks of Hollywood Fall collection negligee came in the mail, “It’s time to hang ‘em up.”   

The thing about present-day Paul Craig is that he isn’t submitting anyone. Where are the subs? And he kickboxes like he has two left feet and hands to match. Kickboxing!? He couldn’t kick a stack of actual boxes. Craig couldn’t box if he worked for U-Haul. When you watch him fight, you can see that he has no game plan. He has no path to victory. He’s just stuck in the middle of nowhere looking like the Beetlejuice meme. But he still has the extremities of world champs mounted over his fireplace. He uses Jamahal Hill’s hand as a back scratcher. But Craig rarely tries to wrestle and get the fight to the mat, where he can dominate. His only option is to go full Basic Instinct between rounds while sitting on the stool wearing his Scottish kilt and hope to distract Modestas Bukauskas. If he can get Modestas down, he can beat him. If he can’t, this will be a tepid kickboxing match, and Modestas will get his hand raised.   

Bukauskas is the heavy (-370) favorite, and Craig is the (+280) stray dog. The thing about Bukauskas is that he’s painfully average. He's a walking plain white t-shirt. Hit that Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah!” one time for your boy! Bukauskas’ idea of taking a risk is wearing one after Labor Day. His special power is that he won’t beat himself like Jim Carrey did in Liar Liar. All he has to do is stay on his feet, using his seventy-seven percent takedown defense, and point strike his way to victory. This fight will likely produce two Fantasy busts as an awkward kickboxing match will likely ensue. Modestas Bukauskas via decision. Wax on, wax off.   

Props

Bukauskas: TKO/KO (-135) Sub (+1600) Dec (+300)  

Craig: TKO/KO (+1400) Sub (+600) Dec (+900)

Winner: Modestas Bukauskas | Method: Decision

Prelims

$7k Value Menu

Nassourdine Imavov ($7.8k): In his two five-round bouts, Imavov eclipsed the one hundred significant strikes mark. Borralho’s takedowns could stifle some of Imavov’s output, but check it: Borralho hasn’t recorded a takedown in his last three scraps and has only attempted two. To me, Borralho is a grappler first. His striking is solid, but it’s not elite. Imavov’s striking is closer to the elite level. Just like it did to Adesanya, Imavov’s speed will cause Borralho problems on the feet if Borralho is set on kickboxing for five rounds. Imavov will be the best fighter Borralho has fought to date. Paul Craig and a forty-one-year-old Jared Cannonier aren’t walking through that door. Also, it’s been one year since Borralho last fought, and long layoffs are rarely good-looks.   

Trey Waters ($7.5k): If Trey Waters can stay on his feet against Sam Patterson, I like his chances of piecing Patterson up on the feet. Waters averages six and a half SLpM while rocking an eighty-five percent takedown defense. Although Patterson can crack on the feet, he is a better grappler with slick submissions from the top position. But Waters’s footwork and ability to create angles are rare, especially in the welterweight division. Waters reminds me of a prime King Green, using multiple stances and slick slip n’ rip counters. His only red flag is that sometimes he gets too complacent, starts bordering on showboating in the Octagon, and leaves himself open to big shots. But I like his chances of racking up solid Fantasy striking stats if he can stay off the cage and dominate the center of the cage.   

Robert Bryczek ($7.1k): I’m taking a shot on this guy after he burned me in his debut. I’m talking third-degree burns, wrapped like a mummy from head to toe with gauze and Neosporin. This guy looked like an absolute killer on the feet before his debut against Ihor Potieria. But Potieria’s speed was too much for Bryczek. This time, Bryczek will be fighting a much slower opponent in the triple OG Brad Tavares. Bryczek is 17-6 with eleven TKOs/KOs and one submission. He’s a big power striker who will have a decided advantage against Tavares. But Tavares has a massive advantage in experience, having fought the best fighters the middleweight division has had to offer for well over a decade. Tavares has lost two of his last three, and two of his last three Ls came via TKO/KO. His chin is compromised. This is a mulligan for Bryczek. Although I’m not picking him to beat Tavares, he’s a live-ass dog with. And his upside is a TKO/KO finish.   

 $6k Clearance Rack

Brendson Ribiero ($6.7k): This guy is wild; he howls at the moon. Ribiero is a swinger on the feet, and I ain’t talking Carnival cruises and pineapple Hawaiian shirts. Homie just wings punches from the waist and lets the chips fall where they may. But Ribiero’s specialty is on the mat. He has nasty ground and pound and sneaky submissions. Ribiero will be the risk-taker in his matchup against Oumar Sy. Sy is a dominant wrestler/grappler with limited striking. All around, Sy is the better fighter. But he doesn’t take the risks that Ribiero does. Ribiero will go for the kill from the moment the bell rings. Sometimes his aggression works against him, and he ends up face down on the mat. But he always gives himself a chance to win.   

Twenty-Twen-Twen Sleepers

Nassourdine Imavov (+115): Imavov is the more tested fighter. He has fought two former world champions and beat one of them (Adesanya). He has had a much tougher path to the top than Borralho. I like Imavov’s chances of keeping the fight standing for much of the duration. Blow for blow, punch for punch, I think Imavov is the more well-rounded striker. Also, Imavov has fought twice since Borralho’s last bout. The more active fighter always seems to have the advantage. After finishing Adesanya inside of two rounds, I’m not underestimating this guy any longer. If he can avoid giving up his back on the mat, I think his speed will allow him to separate himself from Borralho on the feet.   

Trey Waters (+160): If Trey Waters can avoid Sam Patterson’s ground game and submissions, his footwork and counters will give him the edge on the feet. Waters is the far more intricate striker. Patterson has won three in a row, but he was KO’d in his debut by Yanal Ashmouz, who is a wrestler striker with half the skills on his feet than Waters. Ashmouz exposed major defensive holes in Patterson’s stand-up. The key for Waters will be using lateral movement to force Patterson to move his feet and chase Waters around the Octagon while trying to catch him out of position. So far, Waters has shown excellent takedown defense, and if it holds up, I like his chances of out-striking Patterson.   

Patricio Pitbull (+180): The big fight experience will be in Pitbull’s favor. This will be his third trip to the Octagon since debuting in April after fifteen years with the Bellator promotion. The UFC immediately threw him to the wolves against Yair Rodriguez in his debut. Pitbull didn’t look like his normal aggressive self in that bout, but returned closer to form in his second bout against Dan Ige. Not only was he able to land five takedowns against Ige, but he also got the better of the stand-up. Against the two-division Oktagon champion, Losene Keita, Pitbull will have to be more aggressive. He can’t afford to get stuck on the outside at the end of Keita’s speed and power. From what I’ve seen, Keita has impressive physical attributes, but he is highly hittable. Pitbull needs to test that chin early, then work in his wrestling.   

Pick ‘Em

Rhys McKee (+110) vs. Axel Sola (-130) 

Winner: Axel Sola 

Method: Decision 

William Gomis (-270) vs. Robert Ruchala (+220)  

Winner: William Gomis 

Method: Decision 

 Oumar Sy (-490) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+355) 

Winner: Oumar Sy 

Method: Decision 

Marcin Tybura (-105) vs. Ante Delija (-115)  

 Winner: Marcin Tybura 

Method: Decision 

Kaue Fernandes (-170) vs. Harry Hardwick (+145)  

Winner: Kaue Fernandes 

Method: Decision 

Sam Petterson (-185) vs. Trey Waters (+160) 

Winner: Trey Waters 

Method: Decision 

Brad Tavares (-225) vs. Robert Bryczek (+185) 

Winner: Brad Tavares 

Method: Decision 

Andreas Gustafsson (-115) vs. Rinat Fakretdinov (-105) 

Winner: Andreas Gustafsson 

Method: TKO Rd.3 

Shauna Bannon (+265) vs. Sam Hughes (-330) 

Winner: Sam Hughes 

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.