UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Craig main card tips & predictions

UFC Fight Night heads back to the Apex in Las Vegas for an interesting card that features a mix of rising prospects and more seasoned athletes. The surging Michael Morales will be looking to elevate his profile against UFC stalwart Jake Matthews, newcomers Payton Talbott and Nick Aguirre will be out to notch their first UFC win, and Brazilian strawweight contenders Luana Pinheiro and Amanda Ribas will be jostling for divisional ranking supremacy.

Brendan Allen v Paul Craig

Brendan Allen vs Paul Craig

Can Scotland’s Paul Craig bring an upset when he faces the USA’s Brendan Allen in the main event this weekend? See our Allen vs Craig UFC betting preview for this intriguing middleweight bout.

Michael Morales v Jake Matthews

Michael Morales vs Jake Matthews

Michael Morales (15-0-0) is a rising talent who appears ready to move through the UFC grades toward a welterweight ranking. The Ecuadorian is blessed with all the physical attributes an MMA athlete could dream of: he is tall with a long reach, moves well on his feet, and packs huge power in his strikes. The 24-year-old is still finding his way but appears wise beyond his years and might be a star in the making.

Jake Matthews (19-6-0) has been competing in the UFC since 2014 without making significant headway. The Australian has never won more than three fights in a row and will need to produce a career-best effort here against a young gun. While he has a solid ground game, the 29-year-old will suffer a huge seven-inch reach disadvantage and might struggle to get within range if this bout remains upright.

Chase Hooper v Jordan Leavitt

Chase Hooper vs Jordan Leavitt

Chase Hooper (12-3-1) has notched five wins and four losses since making his UFC debut in 2019, but he has appeared more confident in recent times with two straight wins. The 24-year-old is tall and rangy for the lightweight division and will enjoy a handy height and reach advantage in this contest. Hooper’s losses have primarily come via decision, and he needs to work on maintaining activity across the full five minutes of each round.

Jordan Leavitt (11-2-0) entered the UFC with an unbeaten record and has since gone 4-2 with losses to Paddy Pimblett and Claudio Puelles — both worthy opponents. The 28-year-old will need to overcome the striking length of Hooper if he hopes to utilise his strong grappling skillset. If Leavitt is unable to manage the range war, he might be in for a frustrating three rounds; but if he can slip inside the Hooper jabs and kicks, he might spring an upset at nice odds.

Payton Talbott v Nick Aguirre

Payton Talbott vs Nick Aguirre

Payton Talbott (1-0-0) makes his UFC debut after a solid decision victory on Dana White’s Contender Series. While he is an unknown commodity at this stage, the 25-year-old appears to possess heavy striking power backed up by deft footwork and well-timed knees and elbows. Despite his inexperience, Talbott is expected to make short work of this contest and comes in at very short odds with top UFC bookmakers.

Nick Aguirre (7-1-0) has competed once at UFC level, recording a unanimous decision loss to Dan Argueta in January. His previous form is difficult to assess; however, he has competed in recent grappling events and has a wrestling background, so he may be more comfortable fighting chest-to-chest than working strikes from longer range. With limited information on either fighter, we are following the MMA betting markets.

Luana Pinheiro v Amanda Ribas

Luana Pinheiro vs Amanda Ribas

Luana Pinheiro (11-1-0) has a perfect 3-0 UFC record and is expected to be a force in the women’s strawweight division. The Brazilian has been brought quickly through the grades and last faced Michelle Waterson-Gomez, earning a narrow split-decision victory. Already ranked ninth in her weight class, Pinheiro throws her strikes with impressive power and boasts five submission wins as a professional.

Amanda Ribas (12-4-0) has endured a bumpy road since 2021 with two wins and three losses, albeit against stiff competition. This patchy period has seen the Brazilian slump to 10th in the rankings, and this contest offers the opportunity to bounce back. The 30-year-old enjoys an experience advantage but has been stopped in three of her four losses, and her chin might be tested against a technical striker here.

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