MMA Fighting - No Bets Barred: Can Alexander Volkanovski Reclaim Gold Against Diego Lopes at UFC 314?

Episode Date: April 9, 2025

UFC 314 is finally here! This Saturday, the UFC returns to Miami for the best card of the year. Headlined by a vacant featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, UFC 314 also features a five-round co-main event between Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett, plus a whole lot more, so No Bets Barred is here to break it all down. This week, host Jed Meshew is joined by Morning Kombat's Long Island Luke to dive into the glory of UFC 314 in depth. Topics discussed include Volkanovski's chances at reclaiming the title, just how much does Michael Chandler have left in the tank, whether or not Jean Silva can do the world a favor and beat Bryce Mitchell, why Chase Hooper keeps trying to fight the old guys, the latest Climb update, and more. Tune in for episode 124 of No Bets Barred. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Luke Noseda: @MainCardMinute Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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What is up, y'all? We are back for another edition of No Betts, BARD, and it's finally a good one. I say finally a good one, but actually last week wasn't terrible. There have been some, well, no, last week was terrible? The week before, was it terrible? What was going back to Mexico, U.S. Vegas 105 was atrocious. And that's probably the last we'll say about that, because we got plenty to talk about this week, as UFC 314 is coming to town.

That is, if you live in Miami, it is there at the Casillas Center, headline by Alexander Volcanowski versus Diego Lopez, and a whole mess of other good action. I was going to say I teased. I'm pretty sure I just said it on last week's episode. There's certainly said it on a couple of other places as well, but I am joined as has become a bit of a habit, a bit of a tradition for us, Luke.

The wonderful Long Island, Luke. main card minute, Luke morning combat, Luke, Luke, uh, is it Noseeta? Is that correct? Am I, am I getting that like in the neighborhood of right, Luke? You're good. No Cita, like no seeds, uh, you know, something like that. No Cida. Sinsamea, I got it.

Uh, Luke from Morning Combat, Maincar Minute, you know him, you love him, he's been here for the last several paper views, figured why not? Why not just keep, keep this train rolling? I, it hasn't worked for me from a gambling perspective. perspective, but maybe all luck is about to change. Luke, how you doing? I'm doing good, Jed. I was going to say, I've actually had shit luck on the last few paper views as well. I will say our last one together, Magamette Ancolaev and Justin Gachie both cash, so that was nice. But these fight nights, dude, they're rough to get through. Some of them you do great. Some of them you do terrible. I'm glad to see

a card where I know everyone on the card don't have to go, oh, this guy's off contender series. Okay. Oh, see, I enjoy those because the off contender series, I at least know those guys. Not that it's helped. I am having a disastrous 2025, as is well documented on these very airways. Though, I mean, don't want to, don't want to get too hype. Bit of a streak going on. Back to back winning weeks as 105, we cashed a two and a half unit, uh, upper there. So digging in only 12 units and some change down for the year now as we just try to dig out of this gigantic hole. we have dug for ourselves.

Luke, how did Vegas 105 treat you? Not well. I lost three units. I had Josh Emmett. Joe Anderson. Brito was the last leg of my parlay, and you saw how that fight went. And I threw a flyer in Gerald Mearshardt. I thought he might look a little better than he did.

He looked pretty terrible in that fight. I'm not going to let. Sir, you say I saw that fight went. I sure didn't because I only watched the main event last week. I actually may have watched one other fight in real time, but for once I wasn't working, and that was not. a card I was going to spend my personal time checking out. I did see the main event. I got to tell you, I think, honestly think the best bet I've made all year was on the main event. Took a Josh Emmett

decision no bet. So if Josh Emmett wins, cash a plus money ticket. If it goes to the decision, bet canceled. As soon as that fight, I was like, sick, I'm going to not lose money on this. Within the first round, I was like, awesome. I don't lose money. Josh Emmett to get one takdown was plus 375. My boy, Gap had had him all the way up to five takedowns, and it was something like plus 1,400 for the fifth takedown. Wow, that is crazy. But I did cash a couple dogs.

I got to lead Alancar at Underdog Price, which was insane that I got at that. Honestly, I should have unloaded. And I got Pat Sabatini, who had a good, you know, good performance there. So I didn't see it, but I'm told that he dominated what with the grass. grappling and whatnot. So that's all we need to speak about UFC Vegas 105, and nobody will ever talk about that card again, and that's okay, because we got plenty to talk about this week, Luke, UFC 314.

This is what we're in the game for. This is the stuff, you know, this used to be a mid-level pay-per-view, and in a lot of respects, it still kind of is, but it's actually the best pay-per-view of the year on paper. And so, and one of them, just very excited about five main card fights that are, four of them are very interesting and one of them I hate and four main prelim fights, you know, the big section of the prelim that are all very good fights as well. And then four early prelims, and I got to tell you, we're going to lose steam on this show. If you're a listener now, tune in early, maybe at the end you can start checking out because

as we start to get to the early prelims, I got a lot less to say and the fights get decidedly less interesting, at least from my perspective. but we're looking at at least nine good matchups on Saturday, Luke. I am excited about it. And I'm excited because I get to see you tomorrow, man. Tomorrow as of recording today as of the day this podcast drops. Dude, I'm hyped for tomorrow to pregame preview 11 a.m. Wednesday. If this doesn't come out in time, either way, guys, tune in the VOD will be available.

But Jed, you said we're going to lose some steam as this card goes on? You already know I got a bet on every fight on this card. So I got plenty to say on these early prelil. Don't nothing to be neglected here. I have a lot of respect for you because as I was working through, I worked top to bottom. And I have a bet on everything until we get to the early prelims. And then it's like, I have, I have ideas. Like, I could throw this down.

Like, I don't really want this. I don't want that action. I don't want to be about that sort of business. But enough dillying and dallying. Let's hop right on into it. Because we got, we got things to do at this point in time. And the thing that we have to do most is the main event, Alexander Volcanowski, Diego Lopez, the vacant featherweight title.

Volcanovsky, you know, just lost the belt. First fight since losing the belt, and now he's fighting for it again, this time against Diego Lopez instead of the Iliot Toporia rematch that was anticipated. He is a slight betting favorite. Money has come in on Lopez a lot of this week. He is minus 120 at most books, something thereabouts. Lopez, even money, maybe a little bit over even, depending. on the book you're looking at.

Volk, we've talked about it a ton on various shows. Two and three in the past five, back-to-back knockout losses, first time of his career, back-to-back losses, first time his career. The Teporia knockout and February of 2024 is the last time he fought Lopez, five-fight W Street coming off the unanimous decision win over Brian Ortega at Noce, UFC, aka UFC 306. Luke, I'm sure we're going to talk a ton about this fight on the pregame pre-game pre-season. because obviously this is the main event and it's a sick-ass fight. How are you feeling about the main event on Saturday?

I'm not feeling great. I think going into this fight, I would have thought Volk would be the underdog. I would have thought the odds would be flip-flopped. Little surprised to see he's been the favorite the entire time and it hasn't even. You said money's come in and you're correct, but it hasn't ever gone plus money on him. Little surprising. Volk obviously got the experience advantage here. He's fought 12 straight ranked opponents.

Diego's only fought three ranked guys before. Also, despite the big size advantage for Diego, it only translates to a one inch reach advantage. So I don't really see the size being a factor here. I do think the biggest factors here are going to be Volk's age and Volk's chin. Volk, obviously on the wrong side of that over 35 stat. For those of you that don't know, male fighters over the age of 35 at 170 pounds and below are three in 30 all time. The only two exceptions being Tyrone Woodley and Bilal. Tyran did it twice.

Then you factor in that Volk was just brutally knocked out and back to back. fights four months apart wasn't that long ago either he did take a year off but still Diego four fights since volk's last fight uh he where was I oh I'm also a huge bulk fan guys so biased aside here I actually think there's a lot of value on Diego plus money wow I really again I thought the odds would be flip-flops so I was a little surprised to see Diego as a dog I would have thought he would be the favorite I personally win and if Volk becomes a dog will definitely definitely jump on that. But right now, at minus money, I can't do it. I am going to take the over

two and a half rounds. It's minus two 30. I did throw it in a parlay. Volks hit it in eight of his last 10 and Diego's hit it in three of his six UFC fights and Diego has also hit it in two straight fights. But yeah, dude, I can't put my money where my mouth is on this fight. I'm just riding with the over. Man, uh, I honestly surprised. I know, because I know you're a Volk guy. I know. And so I just not where I saw a comment. And we're going to get a little bit of a pivot for me here. Because for the last couple of weeks on various shows, various, you know, I was on submission radio last week and talked about this fight a little bit.

Shout out to submission radio, Dennis, you the man. Can't wait to come back. It was actually there with Brian Campbell. So shout out to him, K as well. On that show, on that show, I was like, I'm just, I hadn't done any of my research. I was just like, I'm probably going to bet Diego Lopez, Volk is old and coming off knockout losses and that's that's a bad sign and then i did my research and i'm i'm back and i'm not a volt guy fans will know i am decidedly not an alexander volkanowski guy but watching the

tape i i won't be stunned if he loses right like if his chin is just gone he's okay he loses and that's it i think that we should not assume his chin is gone because ilia tipporia killed him Ilya is Ilya Taboria. Diego Lopez is a very fun fighter, a very exciting fighter. He ain't no Ilyat Teporea. You go and watch them fight, and I was very much struck in the prep work that I did for this by. Volk is definitely not at his best anymore. No question about it that he is a diminished fighter from his peak to me.

But I, like, he is an all-time great. One of the hallmarks of the all-time greats is even when their fastball drops off, they start to make things work with their off-speed pitches. I think he can have plenty of success against Diego Lopez. I think Toporia is just a horrifically bad matchup for Volk in general, and especially a diminished Volk. Maybe Prime Volk can make some hay, but Lopez doesn't have the footwork Teporia does.

He is not the same kind of powerful striker that Teporia is. He is not the same sort of technician of, ah, I will find a way to make this work. he is much more a wild physicality and athletic guy. And that is just, well, to me, that is still probably like the best broad picture to beat Volcanovsky because he's so smart, he's so good at adjusting that you're not really going to outpoint him. You got to just do some big piece of offense and get it to stick. I don't think, and we've seen a bunch of dudes try that and fail, and I don't think Diego Lopez has the total package necessary. I don't think he can deliver the kill shots needed. I think Volk is going to come in here and deliver one of those crowning achievements.

Hey, a bunch of fans who don't know anything, you know, who are casual fans, they would be like, well, you're not really the featherweight champion. And there's some truth to that, you know? There's like a little nodule of truth to that. But the rest of us can be like, hey, it's still really cool when an all-time great just shows that, like, yeah, maybe I'm not the best best in the world, but man, I'm still damn good. I think that's what we're going to get from Alexander Volkanowski. weekend. I have a bet on Alexander Volcanowski at minus 120. If he drops to plus money,

I'll feel sad that I took it this early. I just think this line's probably going to stay something pretty close to where it is right now. I don't think it'll change much more. And I have not done it because I can't, I just don't think I will. I am strongly considering the over one and a half as the climb bet this week. Because I don't have a climb bet in. over one and a half. It's not everywhere, but from where I'm seeing, where it's available to a couple of offshores, it's around that minus 450 mark for the over one and a half.

Transparently, if I don't take this as the climb bet, I will not have a climb bet. There's nothing, unless you can show me something that I missed, but nothing else jumped out of me as anything I was excited for this week. And Luke, it's been a main car minute since you've been on the climb. We're halfway up the mountain, baby, 15 steps down. Trust me, I know. And I heard what, two weeks ago you had two on one card?

We sure did. Mexico, we doubled up, which is fine. We've done it a couple of times. And it especially works since we didn't have any for 105. But we doubled up with Raul Roses Jr. And Rafael Garcia, and both of those were sweaty and terrible. And I hated watching those fights. But we're halfway up.

If we go for Step 16 this week, I think it'll be the over one and a half on this main fight. But that feels concerning. given where Volkanovsky, like because the question is, can Volk's chin hold up? I'm not sure I want to take that sort of risk, even though I think that that chin's going to hold up, Luke. I do like the over one and a half on that. I feel like we got to go through the rest of the card. I got to see where your heads at on some of these fights before I suggest other things,

because I could be like, oh, take this guy. You might be like, bro, that guy ain't winning, you know, so I'll see where your heads at, but for now, definitely think that's a solid play. All right. Well, we'll keep it there, and I'll make a determination at some point, but it's not even available to any of my books yet, so I have no climb bet. That's where we're at. That's our main card. We stand in opposite. I'm interested to see if we will stand in opposite here as we talk about the co-main, a five-round lightweight matchup between Michael Chandler and Patty Pimbley,

Chandler, plus 130, your underdog Pimbleau, Pembleau, Pett, minus 155. Patty, the Badi is the favorite. Luke, how are we feeling about the co-main? I've gone back and forth on this one a few times. I mean, Chandler's lost four of his last five, but all four of those did come to top five lightweights. He's not losing to bad people. Patty, still undefeated in the UFC, questionable against Jared Gordon. But he hasn't fought anyone in the current top 15 right now. So we truly haven't seen him tested against elite guys.

He does have great jiu-jitsu and obviously great back control. And Chandler does give up his back a lot. And he was just sub from the back two fights ago. So obviously a little worrisome. Personally, I feel like Chandler has all the tools to win this fight if he just fights smart. The problem is, will Chandler fight smart? I can't trust the guy to fight smart, dude. I feel like

he has one of the most questionable fight IQs there is. Worth noting, though, that Jared Gordon fight trains at the same gym as Michael Chandler. Michael Chandler is going to have the same coaches in there, possible same game plan. Could be smooth victory for him. I don't want to put my money where my mouth is. I'll see if the line grows

plus 130, not really doing it for me right now. I am, though, taking the over one and a half. It was minus 125. Wow. For a five-round fight, for a five-round fight, crazy. I do have it in a parlay. Oh, I actually have it parlayed.

I can say it because we went over that fight already. With the over two and a half in the main event. It's plus 158 for those two together. I mean, I almost took Chandler as a dog, I will say, but I'm not putting my money where my mouth is. Chandler's hit the over one and a half in three of his last five, but all five of those did make it to round two, so he tends to go a little long.

Paddy's also hit it in three of his last five. Maybe a little risky, but I like Chandler to go. So like at least 15 minutes, right? So I'm also on the over one and a half. I didn't get it nearly the price you did because that money has come in from minus 125. I got a minus 175 and I still like the price. You're getting it at that low of a price because both of them are, you know, 50% at hitting

this over in their UFC careers. But I, it's unlikely. Patty doesn't really get finished. Michael Chandler does get finished, but I don't think Patty's going to finish him early. I very similar to the main event. I had one idea about this fight going in, and then I watched tape, and I have a completely different idea. And the idea I had going in was, which people will be shocked, as a known hater of Michael Chandler, is one of my least favorite fighters alive.

I was very, very much like, yeah, Michael Chandler's not good, but neither is Patty, and Michael Chandler's probably just going to hit. hit him and like he'll win and then i watch was like oh no michael chandler's washed because that's what the charles olivera fight was it was 20 minutes of michael chandler being washed and then cheating really hard and almost doing something by cheating and having those like two cool slams and then not even being able to win while virulently cheating and then losing the rest of that round anyway uh michael chandler is i think he's he's turning like 39 next week or something it's like very very soon that he turns 39. Obviously had the big long

Connor McGregor layoff waiting and that was probably not awful for him in general just as some recovery time, a lot of mileage on him. But I think he looked so bad against Charles Olivera, who himself is no spring chicken. Patty Pimbleau is not, I don't think he's amazing,

but he has consistently overperformed my expectations for him. You mentioned the Michael Chandler gives up the back. Patty's pretty good at that. I think, you know, if Chandler just shoots and wrestles a bunch, Patty Pimble is not the greatest wrestler. Maybe he could make hay. But Pimbleau is very durable. I doubt he's just going to get cold-cocked by one right hand and fall over.

And so I sort of just think this is going to, I think that this is good matchmaking from the UFC to keep Patty moving up the ranks. You know, now he's, now he's starting some guff with Armand, Sarukian. Maybe that happens. Or maybe they do the right thing and we get the Iliot-Tupy a fight. That is, for the record, I believe I wrote. this earlier this week. I believe that this fight is the Iliot Tuporia sweepstakes. I think the winner of this fight is fighting Ilya Tuporia next. And because of Patty, there's a great storyline there

built in and Ilya just needs one win to get a lightweight title shot. And then if Patty beats him, obviously the U.S. would be super okay with that as well. Same thing. Michael Chandler. Ilias would almost certainly kill Michael Chandler, but big name for Ilya to get that win over. and then if Michael Chandler does somehow win, they can throw him into a title fight, and the UFC loves anywhere we go. So that's where I'm at. I think Patty Pimble is going to do it and then go fight Ily to fight I'm at Pitya Taboria. And so I have a bet on Patty Pimble. I got him at minus 148 and feel pretty good about it.

Like, I'm happy to be betting against Michael Chandler. I'll have so much fun Saturday rooting against the guy I hate. I kind of agree with that. Not that I hate Michael Chandler, but I was feeling weird if I was going to put a dog bet on him to be like, then I have to root for Michael Chandler. Similar to another fight that's on this card, by the way, which we'll get to in a minute. But yeah, dude, do you think it goes the distance is my question to you, Jed? I would say no just because Michael Chandler really likes to get finished.

He's like, when he loses, he loves to get finished. And so, which honestly, you got to respect about this game. Charles Oliver didn't. And so, like, it wouldn't stun me if Patty, you know, did just sort of take the back and beat him. a bunch, but I think the more likely outcome is that Patty spends a whole bunch of time and his back and eventually he finds a submission at some point in this. But I'm not confident, right? Like, you could tell me that Patty just has to win 25 minutes.

Yeah, I was going to say, because Draft Kings just dropped the spread bet. And at first, I was very intrigued by the Michael Chandler's spread bet. But the longer I think about it, I think you'd just be better off taking like an over. four and a half in case patty wins anyway you know what i mean like i don't you know but they're giving you plus five and a half on chanler plus 105 but again five and a half at plus 105 and it's a five round fight if it was a three round fight that's way more intriguing but five rounds yeah five and a half that's still interesting enough yeah i don't know probably not enough but i want to think about that it's tempting it's tempting i say it's enough to make me think i don't know if it's enough to make me uh click

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Speaking of thinking, let's talk about someone who doesn't do any of that. And we won't, that's called an A plus transition right there. That's professionalism. Featherweight contest, the feature bout of the evening about that I frankly will not be spending too much time talking about because I don't want to. Bryce Mitchell is taking on John Silva. Mitchell, your underdog plus 270, Jean Silva, minus 340 as a significant favorite. one of the bigger betting favorites on the card. Mitchell coming out off knocking out Cron Gracie with a slam, if I'm remembering correctly,

in December of 2023, or no, not 2023. When the hell was that? 24. It was 24. 310, I think. Yeah. And also coming off supporting Hitler and arguing that the world is flat and just being the fucking worst.

And John Silva coming off being the man at 4-0 in the UFC, one of my favorite dudes coming off Continental Series. I loved him so very, very much. He T.k. He killed Melsic Bagasarian back in February. And he immediately was like, I would like to fight Bryce Mitchell because he's the most obvious heel in the world. And this is pro wrestling promotion.

Luke, I hate this fight. I hate that the UFC is actively attempting to promote a man who, um, uh, Hitler, apologist. There's no other way to say it. But it is the fight that we're getting. And I have very specific thoughts. But what are your thoughts? I mean, dude, I hate this fight too. But you know, you got to put some things aside for a second. Bryce has alternated wins and losses in his last five. Most recently taking that huge L on the internet for that terrible take on his podcast. Silva won 12 straight, 11 of those coming by finish. Bryce's only two losses came to top 10 featherweights, including the soon-to-be former champ.

Have they stripped Ilya yet? I don't think so, right? Technically not yet. I believe the way that their policy at this point is, is until the next people fight, they just get to hold it. That's what I thought. So, including the champ, guys. Silva hasn't fought anyone in the top 15.

Biggest story here has to be Bryce's chin combined with Silver's power. We've seen Bryce on the receiving end to one of the most vicious knockouts in UFC history, and Silva definitely throws with malicious intent, but stylistically, Hear me out. This is a really good matchup for Bryce Mitchell.

He averages almost four takedowns per 15 minutes, and we've seen Silva taken down before. Not only that, but he was taken down by Charles Jordane three times. For reference here, Charles Jordane has only one other takedown in 14 UFC fights, and he took John Silva down three times. So definitely not the highest wrestler here taking down John Silva, and now you got Bryce Mitchell coming in. I don't want to root for Bryce,

and I'll weirdly still be happy if he gets knocked. out cold, but I got to put money on him here at these odds. I took him at plus two 75. Yeah, when John Silver called for this fight, I hated it because I don't think you should just, I just genuinely think nobody should be trying to fight Bryce Mitchell because you shouldn't give him a platform. And the worst safe scenario is Bryce Mitchell wins and then gets a live microphone to say, God knows what, into. And I also think that's a really possible scenario. And I love John Silva. He's my boy. Totally agree. John Silva is not remotely the same. sort of hitter that

Ilya and Josh Emmett are. He's got power and he's got great striking and I love him dearly but those two dudes they move people when they hit them and John Silva just does not pack the same sort of punch to him. Bryce Mitchell has historically been durable in his career. I mean, Ilya

had a real tough fight with him before it finally ended up going down and if Bryce Mitchell gets on top I don't think John Silva is going to handle that very well. He's just going to be sat on and that's going to be tough. I objectively think if you are just in this to make money and don't care at all, you should be placing a wage on Bryce Mitchell. I will never put money on Bryce Mitchell ever again.

And I'm not going to bet on this fight at all. If I were, it would just be John Silva because he's my guy. And I don't want Bryce Mitchell. I don't ever want to root for Bryce Mitchell at this point in time. So do you think they give him a mic even if he wins? I kind of feel like they won't. And I know it's a pay-per-view so they can. Like, there's no time limit to... I think they will because even though, admittedly, the Hitler apology is the worst thing he's ever said. It's not like Bryce Mitchell doesn't have bad, hasn't had bad takes forever.

True. About any number of things. They've always let him do it. And it's... They let Sean Strickland do it. Sean Strickland says it's reprehensible shit all the time. For some reason, these mostly... fighters are like pretty good about not saying the terrible shit into a live mic in front

of a big crowd of human beings. Bryce Mitchell might not, like it will never know until it happens, but I think they'll give it to him and they'll see what happens because they don't give a shit. They're promoting his ass. They are promoting him. No other entity in the world would, he would still have a job for them. Like he'd have been fired from a goddamn McDonald's and like not only will we, we will put him as the feature bout on a pay-per-view.

We live in the upside-down. It is what it is. But you know what else is? A pretty sick other featherweight fight on this main card. Fight that I was very excited about until I started watching tape. I feel like all of my preconceived notions about this card got changed after I started studying. Nonetheless, this is still on paper, a very fun fight. Yair Rodriguez taking on Patricio Pitball.

Yair minus 190 betting favorite. come back on Pitbull in his UFC debut is plus 160. Pitbull, I don't know, he's the most winningest Bellator fighter of all time, but he's 37 years old, about to be 38 this summer. TK.O. Jeremy Kennedy and Bellator in March of last year, so just a little over a year out of action. Prior to that, his career has been very weird. His previous two fights prior to the Jeremy Kennedy fight at Featherweight were

a catchweight, aka lightweight, fighted Risen where he got knocked out, and then a banam weight fight because Pitbull just fights whoever, wherever doesn't really care. Yair, on a two-fight losing streak, the submission lost to Brian Ortega in their rematch in February of last year. So also about a year-long layoff for Yair Rodriguez. Luke, how do you see the better featherweight matchup of the main card bouts? I'm very curious to hear where you initially started. where you went. I haven't really

wavered too much on this fight. Yair, you mentioned, has lost two straight, but they came to a champion and a two-time title challenger, not bad losses at all. Pitbull, you mentioned, lost two of his last three, and he's coming off that win over Jeremy Kennedy. Jeremy Kennedy's lost three in a row.

Like, that's not a good win either. Yair has fought the better competition. I mean, obviously, he's been in the UFC, and Pitbull hasn't. But also his last two wins came over top 10 featherweights. Pipple he does have a win over top 10 lightweight Michael Chandler but that was six years ago hasn't fought anyone obviously in the top 15 at featherweight

I think this is either going to be super competitive for three rounds or just a total domination from Yai'ir either way I think Yaiyar gets the W I'm taking him money line minus 180 it's in a parlay I'll get to it as we go Jed I hope you're on the same page sure am I was excited about this fight because I was like oh that's just a really fun fight And then I watched them if I was like, oh, Pippel's washed. So this isn't. Wash is maybe too extreme. Pippel is a very, very good fighter.

I think this fight should have just been Josealdo. Forever it should be Josealdo. I don't know why Josealdo is fighting Amon's a hobby. That's one of the dumbest fights that's ever been match made. Yeah, Iarajig, he is a mercurial dude for sure, but he's still super talented. And Pippel just, he's not the same. Like if Pipple wins, that would be an incredible accomplishment for him. It would be super cool.

And you should immediately give him a title fight. I strongly doubt it's going to happen. He doesn't take damage in the same way. He is slower. He does not pack the same pop he used to. Yaya is still super dynamic. He's going to kick him a bunch. And Pippel is probably going to end up getting stopped.

So I'm on Yaya Rodriguez. I got it at minus 185. Let's go. Easy enough. But I still think I'll have fun watching the fight. And we go to our main card opener. A light heavyweight matchup that's strange, but very, very interesting to me. Nikita Krilov, taking on Dominic Reyes.

Krilov, your betting favorite minus 190, the comeback on Reyes plus 160. Krilov, his first fight in two years since Triangle choking Ryan Span in March of 2023. Reyes, don't look now, guys. Dom is on a winning streak. Two in a row, a TK over Anthony Smith in December. I mean, a man who was dead to rights, his career was all but over, and now he is on a streak, the surging Dominic Reyes. Who are you on, Luke? Are you taking the surging Dominic Reyes as an underdog, or are you backing Nikita Krillov in his long layoff?

Dude, I couldn't decide on this one. I can't back either guy, Money Line. I do think Krillov has more ways to win, but I still can't trust Dom's chin. I mean, you mentioned the two-fight win streak, but he was on a three-fight, finish getting finished streak before that. So, uh, his chin hasn't really been tested in the last two. You mentioned the win over Anthony Smith. Anthony Smith wasn't really landing on him. Dustin Jacoby before that, if I remember correctly,

wasn't really landing on him. Uh, so I just feel like I can't trust Dom's chin, but I also can't really trust the inactivity of Krilov. So I'm taking the over one and a half rounds, little risky minus 165. I got it at parlaying it with Yaya Rodriguez money line, gets us plus 150,

both these guys have hit the over one and a half and four of their last seven fights. I also considered taking fight does not go the distance. It's minus 200 right now. But my gut was telling me this fight has a chance, more of a chance to go long than it does to end in the first minute or round and a half, you know? Yeah, I don't know how to pick how this fight ends, right? Like it's just, yeah, a dude doesn't fought in forever. Who's our, like, Khrlov's a Mercuro kind of weirdo guy anyway. Dominic Reyes will be winning a fight right up until he loses it dramatically.

I could see any number of outcomes. But here's what I do see here. What I see is that Dominic Reyes is on a streak. And Krilov is a fighter that I've always enjoyed a whole lot. But I don't think is, like, great. He's just, like, good. Like, he's rock-solid, top 10-ish light heavyweight. The big, long layoff concerns me.

Dominic Reyes, I don't think he's like back. I'm not saying Dom Reyes has got it all figured out, and now he's running to the title. That's not what's happening here. But I do think that winning solves a lot of problems, and he got confidence back by winning one, and then he wins another. And now he no longer has to have that specter of,

oh, shit, was I supposed to be the guy that beat John Jones, and now I can never win again, and my whole career is collapsing. and I am just, like, I'm just going to go into retirement as the biggest, like, what-if that's ever happened in the sport. He's finally cleared that way. He's got some wins. He's got some distance.

And I do think that ultimately he is the better of the two strikers here. He is the more dynamic fighter on the feet. And Krilov isn't really going to have a ton of success taking him down. And while Khrlov is not, like, a terrible striker, he doesn't pack like a ton of power. And so I think that the big weakness that Reyes has, which is the big weakness that Reyes has, which is, that his chin is like, I think his chin's fine. I just don't think his chin is spectacular, which is a problem at light heavyweight. I don't think Krilov is really going to endanger him that much in that regard.

So Reyes can feel confident to go out there and have a comfortable fight for himself. So getting him an underdog odds, I like it. Dominic Reyes plus 165 is the price I got him at. Anything else to say on the main card, Luke, before we move to the prelim action? No, just that, I mean, what we started with, Best main card pay-per-view of the year by far. Something about these April pay-per-views. We got UFC 300, now this.

I mean, you know, something to look forward to every year. I'm calling, if we need something to look forward to because a lot of the other shit isn't. Like, 3-11 was supposed to be good, and then things went walkie in, so there it goes. True. 312 wasn't ever really supposed to be good. It was supposed to be what it was. It was fine. 313 was what it was.

It was fine. 315 is what you did. is it's fine. 360, knock on wood, we're hoping. That's the one we're hoping sticks together, I guess.

I don't know. That's a whole separate conversation. Moving on to the prelims, another featherweight contest, four of them this week. This is our third one, and is it Dan Ege taking on Sean Woodson in the prelim main event,

the final card that leads us into the pay-per-view. Ege, plus 135. The comeback on Woodson minus 160. Ege, two and three in his past five. Coming off that unanimous decision lost to Lorone Murphy at UFC 308, that was nonsense because he should have beat Lorone Murphy. That's the same Lauren Murphy who just beat Josh Emmett.

Thought Dan Egey defeated him. Sean Woodson, seven, one and one in the UFC. And on a four-fight win streak, seven-fight on beaten streak, has got a draw thrown in there in the middle of that. The TKO over Fernando Padilla in December is his most. recent bit of activity. Luke, how you see in the prelim finale? I kind of like this fight. I mean, Ige has lost three of his last four, but they all came to ranked opponents. Woodson, you mentioned on a nice stretch himself, but he hasn't fought anyone in the top 15 in his last six fights.

Woodson, probably the better striker here. He will have a seven inch height and reach advantage. So, I mean, he's an anomaly, dude. He's going to be fucking long and rangy out there. However, Ige, probably better at mixing it up, having taken down 10 of his 18. UFC opponents and Woodson was taken down in his lone UFC loss and in his draw to Luis Salada. I think the line here is pretty accurate. Like, I gay does have upset potential, but I don't love that play as much as I just love taking the safe route here. Over two and a half, it's minus 250. I'm throwing it in a parlay. Ege's hit it in 13 of his 18 UFC fights, including four of his last five and he's never been finished before. Woodson's hit the over two and a half in seven of his nine

UFC fights. He's also hit it in four of his last five. And while he has been finished before, it still hit the over two and a half. So yeah, I just think Sean Woodson will win this fight is pretty much the long and short of it. And like I said, I thought Dan I gave him beat Laurel Murphy. I got a lot of respect for Dan Ige as a fighter. Dan Ige on 20 minutes notice, you know, with a hot dog still sitting in his tummy came in and gave Diego Lopez a fucking scrap. Like that's, Dan Ige is a fighter. and a half. I think, I don't really particularly care for Sean Woodson. His personality grates on me a little bit, but I think that he has proven to be a

capable, like a very good fighter. He is just comically large, particularly compared to Ige, who's not like a particularly big featherway. I think he's like 5-7, 5-8 maybe, and Woodson's 6-2. I think I'm going to really struggle with the range. I think, you know, he's crafty, he's got tricks, but Woodson's like his ability to put weaponry down the middle those you know long legs the kicks the knees it's just really going to be hard for ege to get too much going i think i don't dan egey does not get finished it does not happen

so uh you could look at woodson by decision i think i looked at it and it was like the the values just like not that that much extra but actually let me look at that again right now let me find woods and by decision where is it plus 115 honestly that's probably the bet that I'll make. I was going to just take Woodson straight up, but I think I'll probably just take Woodson by decision because Danny Gay can't be stopped, and I do think Sean Wood's going to win,

getting a little bit of extra value there. So yeah, give me Sean Woodson by decision at plus 115 whenever that line drops at a book that I can use. Love it. I'll be riding with it with the over two and a half. I'll just root for Woodson. There you go. Easy. Easy. Moving on to a women's strawweight contest. This guy's flying under the radar.

I did not realize this fight was happening this week at all until I started doing the prep. It is, and I knew that this fight was happening, I didn't know what was happening this weekend because potentially a title eliminator here. Maybe not eliminator because Jan Jan Jan Jan is not really going to get it. But the other side of this could get a title fight with the win. Janjaunan taking on Vina Janjiroba. Janjirobi are betting favorite minus 155 to come back on Jan plus 130. Jan 3 and 2 over past 5.

bounced back after losing the title fight against W. Lee Zhang with a win over Tabitha Ritchie in November. Verna four-fight W streak tapped Amanda Limosch back in July. If Vina wins, she gets a title fight, Luke. Is she going to win? Is she going to get a title shot? I don't know. I think if she does win, she squeaks it out. I mean, Jan has won three of her last four. All those wins came against ranked opponents. You mentioned the loss to the champ. Vierner, you mentioned her four-fight win streak, all four to top-15 straw weights. While Yon can wrestle, I do think Varner is going to have the wrestling advantage here, and she'll want to take this fight to the ground.

Majority of her wins also come by sub, and Yon has been subbed before. Granted, it was 15 years ago. On the other hand... It was a long time ago. On the other hand, if Yon can stuff the takedown, she could probably get the upset here. She lands more than twice the amount of significant strikes per minute, and Virna has been outstruck in three of her last four fights,

despite winning all four of them. In fact, she's been outstruck in seven of her 10 UFC bouts, which is wild because she's won seven of them. Upset potential here. So I'll probably take a look at Yon with the spread, thinking she can squeak around out of this. But otherwise, I am taking the over two and a half rounds. It's pretty cheap price, minus 180.

I'm going to throw it in a parlay. Yon's hit it in 10 of her 12 UFC bouts, and Vernas hit it in six of her 10 UFC bouts. I think a Yon spread action might be interesting. I think Viena Janjirova is going to get this W, though. I don't think she's going to tap her. I think Jan showed, particularly against Wiley. She showed an improving sort of defensive ability on the floor.

But defensive ability didn't really include a lot of get-up ability. It was just don't get finished. I think Vindisiroba is a very good control grappler, obviously, given her background. I think she can get the takedown. and if Jan was a more dynamic striker, I would be a little more concerned. Vian is in general durable, but Jan, you know, I know she's got the one big, impressive knockout win, you know, and credit to her, right? Like, it's cool to do that to Jessica and Drudge.

That's a sick-ass win. But that's really it. That was so outside of the norm because I remember being like, well, Jan will never knock her out. That's not what she does. And then she did it. everything else goes to the card. So Vienna is going to have an opportunity to, you know, she's not going to have to really be that worried about the shots coming back.

She's just got to make those grappling exchanges happen, which I think she'll be able to do. I am on Vina-Changirova at minus 140. But I don't mind a Yon spread bet at all, depending on what that line looks like. It's probably going to be high, but it's like minus 180, if not more. But still interesting.

Throw it in a parlay. Can certainly throw it in a parlay. Lightweight. Contest, we go back to the best division in the sport in a, I'm intrigued. If nothing else, I'm intrigued by this one. Jim Miller, taking on Chase Hooper, minus 700 is Chase Hooper. The comeback on Miller plus 550. Miller's 46th walk to the octagon coming off the guillotine win over Damon Jackson,

a UC 309 November. Hooper, four and Ossence bumping back up to 155 pounds, coming off the 8thagint. arm bar win over fellow old guy, Clay Guida, back in December. Luke, I just have one very important question about this fight. This is Chase Hooper's second time fighting a man old enough to be his father, legitimately, not even like just a hyperbolic thing, like legitimately, Jim Miller is old enough to be Chase Hooper's dad. And obviously, Clay Guida, who's older than Jim Miller, was old enough to be Chase Hooper's dad. My question is, does Chase Hooper just really want to fight his dad?

and he can't do it so he is forced to do it by proxy in the UFC Octagon. I never thought about it like that. You think he's like calling up Mick and Sean and he's like, I need a 40 plus year old. He's got to be old enough to birth me. Give me the old guy. Yeah. I don't want the old guy.

Dude, when Jim Miller made his UFC debut, Chase Hooper had just turned nine years old. Like it was his birthday like the week before. Nine years old Jim Miller's taking the walk. Crazy he's still hanging around. He has won three of his last four. Hooper, on the other hand, you mentioned the four-fight win streak, three straight by sub. Feel like he might be coming into his own finally.

Naturally, most people, you probably favor the younger guy here. Chase, he's going to have a three-inch reach advantage. He lands close to twice the amount of significant strikes is Jim Miller. Majority of his wins come by sub. Miller's been subbed three times before. But at plus 550, if you don't take a little flyer on Jim Miller here, I mean, what are we doing with our lives? He's had five fights against the current top 15 at lightweight, including a submission win over Charles Oliver.

People forget about that. Hooper hasn't fought anyone in the top 15. I think both would be smart to avoid the other's ground game. And I think if it stays standing, I could see Jim Miller squeaking out two rounds here in a decision. Either way, bro, plus 550, I got to take it. We are in lockstep on this one, right? Like, it's plus 550.

I didn't throw a whole unit, just threw a half unit down on it. I actually got it a plus 600. Nice. Just He's Jim Miller's so much better than Clay Guida that like it won't stun me if Chase Hooper beats him

because he's 16 years younger than him or whatever But Jim Miller is still very, very durable. Chase Hooper, while he's honestly improving. Like he's getting way better in his last few times out. Jim Miller I still think on the feet is very competitive here and on the ground I don't, I just don't think Chase Hooper

is going to tap him on the floor in the same way that he did against Clay Guida. So this is just a huge price, and I really like Jim Miller at the price, so a half unit down on it. And if, I guess honestly, either way it goes, when this is over, Chase Hooper can go fight Vince Bichel as yet another 40-plus-year-old man in the lightweight division as he continues to try to get back at his father. Some people dress up in goth closing and listen to Emo music. some people join the UFC and fight the legends of the game. Chase Hooper, we see what you're doing out there. We move on to the final mid-prelimbout of the evening, a featherweight contest as Darren Elkins takes on Julian Arosa.

Erosa minus 340. Elkins plus 315. I guess Darren Elkins is also a possibility for Chase Hooper if he wants to drop back down. Or if Darren Elkins wants to bump back up, both of these two and two over the past five and on two-fight winning streaks. Elkins coming off, unanimous decision win over Daniel Paneda in October, whereas Erosa, guillotine, choked Christian Rodriguez in July. And this is where I start to fall off on the bets, Luke, because I don't know what to make of this fight. This fight is really hard to call. Elkins, you mentioned, he's over 40 years old.

Chase Hooper would totally fight this guy. He's won three of his last four, but he hasn't beaten anyone on the UFC roster in seven years. Let that sink in for a second. That's not great. It's not great, Bob. Juicy Jay, you mentioned coming off the guillotine win to Crod. Not only that, it's a two-fight guillotine streak. He also guillotined Ricardo Hamos before that.

But, yo, his current UFC run has been so streaky, and historically, he burns me every single time I bet on him. Like, I think he's going to win. He loses. I think he's going to lose. He wins. So I'm staying away from betting on Julian Orozah. The odds do seem a little wide for a fight that I think either guy can win here.

but I don't really trust either guy either. I do like the over one and a half. It is a little risky. Elkins has hit it in 10 of his last 11, but Erosa's gone under in four straight. He did hit it three straight fights in a row before that, for whatever that's worth. I also like fight does not go the distance.

It's minus 145. I'll probably end up throwing it in a parlay. Four of Elkins' last seven of knock on the distance and 11 of Erosa's 15 UFC fights of knock on the distance. Yeah. I mean, I understand it. It would be concerning because, like, Darren O'N O'N O'Kittin'Hawkins is going to shoot.

And we know that guillotine. Elkins hasn't been subbed except, like, Charles O'Levara got him 15 years ago. It's also Charles O'Olever, and it's also 15 years ago. But, you know, I, to me, I think that this is a doggar pass situation. I do think Darren Elkins is a little undervalued. He can wrestle. If Orozah doesn't tap him, he's probably going to get taken down, because he certainly will jump Gillies, try and play a defensive or, you know, an aggressive

submission game off his back like that. And it's probably bad plan in general, unless it works. But I just, maybe I would take a sprinkle on Elkins, particularly the number keeps moving. If it gets bigger on Elkins, I'll throw one just for fun. But I do kind of just think a Rose is going to win because Darren Elkins is old and hasn't beaten anybody really good lately. So, I don't know. We'll see if I end up pulling on it, but as of now, I've got nothing on this.

And we can move to our early prelims. And this is a middleweight contest. No, there's one more middleweight. I was like, is this the only middleweight? No, there's one more middleweight, but this is the first of two middleweight contests. So Drick Dumas, taking on Mikhail Olix Seych, do Ma, you're betting underdog plus 190 to come back on Olexeychik. It depends on your book, minus two something.

And those numbers fluctuate, because I didn't actually. to look at this today, so this might have changed. Tell me if it's changed, Luke, and tell me how you're feeling as Oleg Seych on a three-fight losing streak. Does he put it together as the betting favorite, or does he probably get his walking papers if he doesn't? I don't know. Like the line, I think, is accurate here, despite how these guys' streaks are looking.

Like Dumas, he's won three of his last four, but they're all a little questionable. He's coming off a win to Dennis Tallulin, who went one in five in the UFC and then got cut. Uh, the win before that came to Abu Zaitar, who has not won a fight in seven years. And the win before that came to Cody Brundage. So enough said on that. Oleg Zechuk has lost three straight, but they all came to pretty legit opponents. Shara Bullitt, Kevin Holland, Michelle Padeta, all of which I think are probably better than Dumas. Uh, Sederge will have a five inch reach advantage, but I think Oleg Zechuk is the better

striker, as long as he can avoid, Sedrike picking him up apart from the outside. I think he can get the W here. Biggest X factor. It's going to be if this fight goes to the ground. Oleg Zichuk been subbed six times before, and Dumas did get his contract on Contender Series with a submission win. So when it drops, hasn't dropped yet, but Draf Kings does those either or bets.

I think I'll take Dumas by sub or Olegzajtuk by K.O. Only 20% of Dumas's pro wins have come by sub, but 67% of Olegzajc's losses have come by sub. and 74% of Oleg Zaychuk's wins have come by KO and 50% of Dumas's losses have come by KO. I also do like the over one and a half. It's minus 125. Dumas has hit it in four of his last five

and Oleg Zaychukes only hit it in two of his last five, but he did hit it in his last fight for whatever that's worth. I don't hate that at all because I do think I read that pretty similar. So I could be with you on that, but to me I just don't have a bet on this one. I think Olexatioch is going to win. I think in general you should not bet on people who are betting favorites on three-fight losing streaks.

That's just, I think if you avoided betting on people on three-fight losing streaks in general, you'd probably be very, very successful. It was probably far more successful than you wouldn't be. And especially laying, you know, favorite odds. You shouldn't be doing that. And so even though I think Oloxatrix is going to win, I am a firm pass on this one. So we move to the flyweight division, Sumadairji, taking on Mitch Roposa in an early prelim bout.

Sumadairji, speaking of men on three-fight losing streak, Sumadherj is on one himself and is the minus-220 betting favorite. So I think you know where my analysis is going to go on this fight. Mitch Roposo, plus 180 as the underdog here. Raposo, the rare veteran of both contender series and the ultimate fighter. And then finally made it to the UFC lost a split decision to Andre Lima. that was insane that it was a split decision. So got a scorecard in there, I think, honestly, if you go to M.A.

decisions, I think, like, most of them have it 30, 27 Lima. And somehow Raposo got one of the judges to believe in him. So credit to that bit of nonsense. Another super weird fight. Very similar odds. Are you feeling similarly here? Do the flyways have you feel indifferent, Luke? Little different.

I mean, you mentioned Sumedars. three-fight losing streak. He also hasn't beaten anyone on the roster, so there's that. Raposo, sure, the judges might have given him a gift by one of the judges given him the fight against Lima, but also, like, losing to Andre Lima, it doesn't look like that bad of a loss at this point. Andre Lima looks pretty good. Sumadarji will have a whopping eight-inch reach advantage, but if Mitch Raposo's smart, it shouldn't matter. He should try and get this fight to the ground. Sumadherjee was taken down in all four of his UFC losses, and Raposo got to take down. in both his contender series fight and his UFC debut.

Sumadherjee has also been subbed six times, like his boy, Olegzechuk, and a third of Raposo's wins have come by sub. I'm pretty surprised to see Raposo's the dog here, considering Sumedirji on the three-fight losing streak. So I'm probably going to take a flyer on Raposo. Probably throw him in a parlay even. Ooh, throwing him in a parlay.

Now you're just, now you're getting saucy with it. I, in fact, did take a flyer on him. at plus 180 odds when I first saw this. It's the same corollary as the last fight, except for I actually don't know that he'll win. You know, Michael Lixeychik, I thought he's going to win, but he's on three-fight losing streak, and he's a betting favorite.

Sumedaregi is also on three-fight losing streak of betting favorite, and I don't think Mitch Rapos is a great fighter by any stretch. Sumedaregi is not a great fighter, and Raposo needs two takedowns, maybe even just one, given, you know, Sumedareg can be submitted. but let's say he just needs two takedowns to get this done. I'm going to guess that he can get it, and plus 180 is the price.

I'm content betting on that. And as things stand, the final bet I have of the evening, because I don't have any on these next two. I know you do, good sir, so you will be running the ship primarily as we talk about a middleweight contest between Treson Gore and Marco Tullio. Tullio, big favorite. Mine is 370 against Gore, Gour plus 275. Gore on a two-fight winning streak.

Coming off a submission win over Antonio Tricoli back in November, where Tullio won his USC debut against Ihor, Portia. The villain, Ihor. Nobody respects Ihor Potieri, not on this podcast. He got that win in January coming off Contender Series. Luke, I know you got some action. Where's that action going? So this one's hard.

I mean, Gore was already a questionable add to the UFC roster coming off a tough. He was only 3 and O coming off a tough factor in. He's only fought once a year on average since going pro in 2018, and he's only fought once in the last two and a half years. Tullio has had six fights in the amount of time that Gore has had won. It'll be up to Tullio, though, to keep this on the feet. He lands close to twice as many strikes per minute as Gore, and Gore gets hit a lot, having been outstruck in three of his four UFC bouts.

The wrestling from Gore, though, could be the X factor here. He has gotten six takedowns and four UFC fights, including both of his UFC wins. Tullio's wrestling has not been tested yet in his three Zufa fights. He hasn't been shot on once. So we have no idea if he can defend the takedown. So this has upset potential if Gore can get it to the ground. But let's just say Tullio has elite takedown defense.

This should be his to lose. So I got to stay away from the money line either way. I do like the over one and a half, though. It's minus 145. Little risky because Gore's only hit it twice in his seven pro fights. But Tullio's hit it in three of his last six. six, and one of those was also 10 seconds away from hitting, so he almost hit it in four of his last six. I'm really just hoping Gore can implement the wrestling game and slow it down a bit, even if

Tullio does end up knocking him out late or cruising to a decision, either way, hoping it goes a little long. Yeah, I didn't even like Tullio that much coming off Contender series. I think Adam graded as like a mid-round prospect. You know, he beat the duelist, but whatever. I just have no concept or care on this fight. And so feel past. Line is maybe a bit too big on Gore, honestly, given how unproven Tulio is. And like you said,

I can't he defend a takedown? Don't know. I guess we'll find out, potentially. But yeah, I just don't want to be involved here, which takes us to the opening bout of the evening, the curtain jerker. Nora Cornoli taking on Haley Cowan. Cornoli minus 160 Cowan,

plus 135 in this women's bantamweight contest. Cornoli 2 and 1 in the UFC, a split decision lost to Jacqueline Cavalcante, Cowan lost her UFC debut, and missed weight against Jamie Horvath all the way back in April of 2023. So she missed weight so badly that she then didn't compete for two years. She's also competed like five times total. Luke, I'm just going to lead us off here. I'm pretty sure Nora Cornoli is going to win this fight.

I don't think I want to be invested in it, but I kind of just because, like, do I need a bet? But if I was betting, it would be Nora Cornoli, who I suspect is going to beat Haley Cowan. Yeah, and 100% agreeance here. I mean, Cornoli, she's only lost to Jacqueline Cavalcanti. Not only did she lose that split decision to her, she also lost her pro debut to her. So, I mean, unless your name is Jacqueline Cavalcanti, no one can beat Cornoli. Now, that's a great point. Yeah.

So you mentioned Cowan. She missed weight in her day. debut takes two years off. Not only that, Jed, she was scheduled for four bouts in the last two years and three of them she pulled out of. I don't know what happened on the fourth. Also, 50-50 chance she even shows up this weekend. Her coach slash husband was also arrested for some sketchy shit. You guys can look it up about a year ago. So who knows what kind of training she's getting at this point. Who knows what her personal life is like. Let's just take all those factors aside for a second, though. Her striking defense was pretty bad.

34% I think Cornoli is going to be able to pick her apart. The threat of the takedown is always there for Cohen, but we've seen Cornoli go wrestling heavy last time she went out against Cavalcanti. So I'm hoping she can stuff these takedown attempts from Cowan. I'm going to go Cornoli by decision at plus 150. She's only won by decision once, but it did come in the UFC and Cowan's lone UFC loss came by decision. Yeah.

I mean, that's, I don't even know what to say about this fight. Like the one, obviously when I do this show, we kind of have to go top down people are the most interested in the top. But I have thought in many weeks, and this week in particular, there are some downsides to ending with a whimper, which is what we functionally did today. And there was no way around it because this is always the fight we're going to talk about. It always is what it is. I will say, a friend of the pod, friend of the show, Billy Ward and I were talking, he was like, dude, I thought Nora Cornoli was going to be a much bigger favorite. and she could be your climb bet this week. And I was like, I still wouldn't do it.

But I am surprised she's minus 160. He's on to something with that, dude. I almost like that more than I like over one and a half in Volk Lopez. I mean, she's going to win. It's very cheap. I can't. I think we're just not climbing this week. I will probably bet Norcronoli.

I'll also probably end up betting Darren Elkins at just like a little splash there. Just because, you know, let's have some fun. What are we watching fights having fun? on the weekend. Let's get the money down. So Luke, any last words about UFC 314 or anything else before we get on out of here at just under an hour of showtime?

No, I mean, I'm looking forward to the card. Hope you guys join me. I'm Main Card Minute. I'll be doing the full card watch long. Hope you guys tune in to morning combat tomorrow morning, Wednesday morning, 11 a.m. pregame preview with Jed, Luke, Brian. Looking forward to all that. And thanks again for having me, Jeff.

Anytime, Luke. And Luke is correct. as mentioned at the top of the show I will be on the morning combat pregame preview about to get on an airplane in just a couple hours here to go up to New York City and do the damn thing with the boys by the time this drops we will have already recorded but go check the VOD

on YouTube where both me and both Luke's will make some appearances I am certain keep a locked to me fighting for the rest of the week as we do the rest of the UFC 314 stuff enjoy the fights this weekend because they're damn good. And you know what comes next? The rare week off.

We get some time to digest before we go to Kansas City, Missouri. I, for one, am super pumped to have a week off. And the Kansas City card is going to be a damn good one, or at least that main event is now a damn exciting one. Until then, thank you all for listening. Love you. Unwrap Holiday Magic at Holt Renfrew with gifts that say I know you. From festive and cozy fashion to luxe beauty and fragrance sets,

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