Gabriel Bonfim and Randy Brown took very totally different paths to their first UFC Battle Evening major occasion. Bonfim is a comparatively new addition to the UFC roster; in the meantime, Brown celebrates a decade with the promotion in January. They collide on Saturday night time on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Bonfim (18-1) is defending his rating, however arguably has extra to show than his opponent. Bonfim grew to become a prime 15 welterweight off a controversial choice win over longtime contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Two years in the past, almost to the day, he was knocked out by Nicolas Dalby. An in depth choice win over Brown, an unranked fighter approaching 10 years with the promotion, will not do him a lot good. Bonfim wants a standout efficiency.
“If I let Brown management the gap and hold the battle standing, he has a bonus, that is his recreation. However not with me,” Bonfim informed CBS Sports activities by way of a Portuguese interpreter. ” I am very comfy exchanging punches. I do know he is afraid and weary of my floor recreation.”
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Brown (20-6) is decided to take advantage of his first major occasion. He is a promising contender, however each time he builds steam, his momentum will get lower brief by guys like Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena and Vicente Luque. However all that have has given him a stage head. Brown is coming off a KO win over Dalby, the one individual to beat Bonfim, however he is not placing a lot inventory in it. Brown is aware of precisely what Bonfim did improper, however he cannot assure he’ll make these errors once more.
“I do know precisely what he misplaced that battle and what occurred. I am unable to assume he is in that very same place. He was pushed, overwhelmed, obtained drained, and was stopped…” Brown informed CBS Sports activities. “I am unable to financial institution on him making those self same errors. For all I do know, he is in the perfect form of his life, and when he exhibits up he’ll be able to do 10 rounds.”
There is not quite a bit to put in writing house about on the undercard. Ricky Simon vs. Raoni Barcelos is strong matchmaking. Neither fighter is at the moment ranked, however they’re veteran fighters who’ve blended it up with the perfect. Simon notably holds a controversial win over reigning UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and has fought former WEC champ Urijah Faber. Barcelos blended it up with title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov in recent times.
Rising flyweights are set for the co-main occasion when Joseph Morales takes on Matt Schnell. Morales is contemporary off profitable The Final Fighter 33 in August with a submission of Alibi Idiris in August. He had a earlier run with UFC in 2017 and 2018 earlier than three years of inactivity. He posted a 1-2 report in that point, together with a TKO loss to former champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Schnell, in the meantime, has been a fixture since 2016 the place he is posted a 7-7, 1 NC report. He ended a three-fight dropping skid in April with a call win over Jimmy Flick.
Beneath is the remainder of the battle card for Saturday, with the newest odds earlier than we get to a prediction and decide on the primary occasion.
UFC Battle Evening card, odds
Odds through DraftKings Sportsbook
| Gabriel Bonfim -190 | Randy Brown +160 | Welterweight |
| Joseph Morales -420 | Matt Schnell +330 | Flyweight |
| Uros Medic -150 | Muslim Salikhov +125 | Welterweight |
| Ismael Bonfim -195 | Chris Padilla +165 | Light-weight |
| Ricky Simon -180 | Raoni Barcelos +150 | Bantamweight |
| Marco Tulio -185 | Christian Leroy Duncan +155 | Middleweight |
UFC Battle Evening viewing info
Date: Nov. 8 | Begin time: 7 p.m. ET (major card)
Location: UFC Apex — Las Vegas
TV channel: ESPN+
Prediction
Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown: Do not let Bonfim’s rating idiot you; he has one thing to show. Many consider “Wonderboy” beat Bonfim. Dalby knocked him out. They have been Bonfim’s two most skilled opponents. Brown is one other such veteran, having confronted world-class competitors for over a decade. He is absolutely able to exploiting no matter holes Bonfim provides him, particularly ought to he wilt over 5 rounds. Talent-wise, I lean in direction of Bonfim. He has implausible submissions, considered wrestling, and accountable hanging protection. Thompson outstruck Bonfim in totality, however their important strike outputs have been nearly equivalent.
Final yr, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos took down Brown 4 instances. The yr earlier than that, Della Maddalena submitted Brown — one among solely two submission wins within the champ’s 20-fight professional profession. There are circumstances we should always acknowledge in these two fights: Brown nonetheless beat Dos Santos, and Della Maddalena locked within the rear-naked choke off a knockdown. The battle advantages Brown the longer it goes. Finally, Bonfim shines extra the place Brown struggles. The inverse is not fairly as true. I am going to take Bonfim, hesitantly, by submission. Bonfim through SUB2
