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Brett Okamoto
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Brett Okamoto
ESPN Employees Author
- Brett Okamoto has reported on blended martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has lined all the greatest occasions in fight sports activities throughout that point, together with in-depth interviews and options with names similar to Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was additionally a producer on the 30 for 30 movie: “Chuck and Tito,” which appeared again on the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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Ian Parker
On one of many hottest streaks within the UFC, Reinier de Ridder (21-2) is again in motion for the fourth time this yr at UFC Combat Night time in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, prelims at 4 p.m.). His opponent, Brendan Allen (25-7), is stepping in on brief discover after Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez withdrew due to harm final month.
De Ridder, ESPN’s sixth-ranked middleweight, is undefeated in his four-fight UFC tenure and Allen, No. 10 by ESPN, can be coming off a win. He gained a unanimous resolution over veteran Marvin Vettori in July.
ESPN MMA analysts Din Thomas and Anthony Smith present their foremost occasion predictions, and ESPN betting knowledgeable Ian Parker provides perception on the worth bets obtainable on the combat card.
Middleweight foremost occasion
To ensure that Allen to win fights, he has to have the ability to take his opponent down. He is usually the higher grappler in each combat he wins. Right here, I feel De Ridder might be the higher grappler. De Ridder ought to be capable of reverse any place Allen places him in and find yourself on prime. I am saying De Ridder by resolution, but it surely would not shock me if De Ridder acquired the submission. — Din Thomas
Allen is a greater striker than De Ridder, and I feel he is the higher wrestler. I do not suppose De Ridder will be capable of take him down, so the grappling must be managed extra by Allen. If I find yourself being incorrect on this, I feel will probably be as a result of Allen generally fades underneath a excessive tempo. When he is pushed actually onerous, we have seen him fall behind within the later rounds, however I feel he has the instruments to win this matchup. — Anthony Smith
Betting evaluation
Odds correct as of Oct. 16. For essentially the most up-to-date odds, go to ESPN BET.
Parker: De Ridder to win (-210). If Allen is ready to pull off the upset, he can put himself within the middleweight title image in 2026. Nonetheless, I imagine a five-round combat favors De Ridder over Allen. De Ridder went 5 rounds with Robert Whittaker in July and was capable of dictate the tempo within the remaining spherical to get the win. Until Allen catches De Ridder in Spherical 1, his gasoline tank will seemingly run out because the combat goes on, giving De Ridder the chance to take the win.
Parker’s greatest bets on the remainder of the cardboard
0:50
Mike Malott will get large end in entrance of hometown crowd
Mike Malott wins a vital bout vs. Adam Fugitt in entrance of his fellow Canadian followers.
Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Mike Malott
Over 1.5 rounds: This must be an extremely shut combat between two well-rounded fighters. Coming off a knockout loss to Daniel Rodriguez in July, I count on fan-favorite Holland to be extra defense-minded and fewer reckless offensively to keep away from getting tagged by Malott, who’s on a two-fight successful streak. Malott has additionally been utilizing his wrestling and floor sport extra not too long ago, which can come in useful right here. I feel Malott may have success with takedowns and hold Holland on his again for almost all of the combat. If end occurs, I see it coming late within the combat, so take over 1.5 rounds.
Males’s bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi vs Marlon Vera
Zahabi to win (-135): Coming off his win over José Aldo in Montreal in Might, Zahabi will probably be trying so as to add one other seasoned veteran and former title challenger to his résumé. Each Zahabi and Vera are extraordinarily sturdy, however the distinction of their combat will probably be Zahabi’s output and Vera’s tendency to start out sluggish. Zahabi additionally has the flexibility to take down Vera and hold him there, if he is not having success on the toes. On prime of all of that, Vera has taken quite a lot of harm in his 15-year skilled profession. Greater than seemingly this combat goes the space and Zahabi wins by resolution.
Ladies’s flyweight: Manon Fiorot vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Manon to win by resolution: In her first combat since dropping her title combat to Valentina Shevchenko in Might, Fiorot will probably be taking over the surging Jasdavicius in Fiorot’s dwelling nation of Canada. This must be an fascinating combat between two proficient fighters. Fiorot is a 2-to-1 favourite, and I feel it is sensible. On the toes, she is the higher striker, and until Jasdavicius can get Fiorot to the bottom, I count on Fiorot to win a three-round kickboxing combat by resolution.
