UFC Austin main card preview, betting tips & fight odds

This weekend’s UFC Fight Night at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, is stacked with flashing strikers, potential contenders and one former champion. Bobby Green will be out to showcase his trademark hand speed when he faces Jalin Turner, Rob Font will welcome Deiveson Figueiredo to the bantamweight division, and Sean Brady will be hoping to get back on track when he squares off with veteran Kelvin Gastelum.

Read on to see BettingPlanet’s fight previews and betting picks for the UFC Austin main card.

Beneil Dariush v Arman Tsarukyan

Beneil Dariush vs Arman Tsarukyan

Can lightweight veteran Beneil Dariush bounce back into title contention with an upset win against the impressive Arman Tsarukyan? See our UFC Austin main event preview here.

Jalin Turner v Bobby Green

Jalin Turner vs Bobby Green

After racking up five consecutive stoppage wins, Jalin Turner (13-7-0) has dropped his last two fights. Both losses came in narrow split decisions, and Turner has never won a single fight via the judges’ scorecard. The 26-year-old’s most recent performance against Dan Hooker started brightly, but he faded in the latter stages in a weakness that must be addressed by his coaching team. If he cannot find another stoppage here, the same outcome appears likely.

Fan favourite Bobby Green (31-14-0) looks to keep his current form rolling after producing one of his memorable performances in the octagon in October. The 37-year-old was sent out at huge odds against Grant Dawson but wound back the clock with a dynamic first-round knockout within the opening minute. Green is a slick boxer who can trouble any opponent when he is fully focused on the task and will be looking to school another up-and-comer here.

Rob Font v Deiveson Figueiredo

Rob Font vs Deiveson Figueiredo

Rob Font (20-7-0) has slumped to 1-3 since December 2021, with all three losses coming via the scorecard. The 36-year-old will enjoy a decent height and reach advantage over his opponent, but his recent form engenders little confidence. Font has a 50-50 record with the judges and might be hard-pressed to match the output of his opponent in the second half of this contest. His best chances will lie in the opening five minutes.

Deiveson Figueiredo (21-3-1) moves up to bantamweight after winning and losing the flyweight belt numerous times during a long-time rivalry with Brandon Moreno. The Brazilian has struggled to make 125 pounds in recent years and should be better suited at the heavier division. Whether he can match the power of bigger opponents remains to be seen, and he will need to carefully slip in and out of range given his smaller stature. We are tipping him based on his class and complete skillset.

Sean Brady v Kelvin Gastelum

Sean Brady vs Kevin Gastelum

Sean Brady (15-1-0) tasted defeat for the first time in his most recent appearance when suffering a second-round TKO to Belal Muhammad in a wild, action-packed contest. The 31-year-old appeared to lose confidence when Muhammad was able to walk through some heavy strikes that might have finished a less resilient opponent. Brady is a talented athlete on the rise but must now face the harsh reality that comes with his maiden defeat. If he can bounce straight back to his best form, he might have too many striking angles for his opponent.

After coming within inches of claiming the middleweight crown in 2019, Kelvin Gastelum (18-8-0) has endured a tough road with four losses and two wins in the octagon. The 32-year-old is almost too tough for his own good and has been engaged in some heavy wars across his career. Gastelum is coming off a last-start win over Chris Curtis after taking a lengthy break but has drawn another testing assignment. If he can start brightly and dominate the opening exchanges, the veteran might spring an upset; otherwise, it might be a long night.

Clay Guida v Joaquim Silva

Clay Guida vs Joaquim Silva

Clay Guida (38-20-0) is rounding out one of the longest MMA careers of all time, during which he has established himself as one of the toughest men to enter the octagon. The 41-year-old has built a huge fanbase with his distinctive fight style that relies on constant motion and frenetic footwork. Guida has produced three wins and five losses since 2019 but can still match it with almost any lightweight opponent.

Joaquim Silva (12-5-0) shares a similarly patchy record with two wins and four losses in recent years. His last five bouts have been decided via knockout, and the 34-year-old can be a little reckless in his approach. The Brazilian will need to corral his opponent to the fence, where he can cut off his lateral movement. Given Guida’s toughness, this contest appears destined to go the distance, and we are leaning toward Silva to earn the judges’ nod if can remain upright and find his striking range.

Punahele Soriano v Dustin Stoltzfus

Punahele Soriano vs Dustin Stoltzfus

Punahele Soriano (9-3-0) is in desperate need of a victory after dropping three of his last four fights. The 31-year-old is blessed with knockout power but lacks defensive skills and can be stopped or outworked when enough pressure is applied. He faces a reach disadvantage here and will need to work behind a stiff jab to set up his heavy strikes. If he loses the range war and is taken down, he risk being submitted by a competent grappler.

Dustin Stoltzfus (14-5-0) finds himself in a similar position with just one win from his last five appearances. He looks to have an edge in the submission department and will be looking to make Soriano miss and score takedowns that tire out the more muscular man. This might be a scrappy affair, but UFC bookmakers are expecting Soriano to impose his gameplan and emerge with a finish.

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