Standing, Pereira's length and output press forward, though Ankalaev's distance management and chin are built to weather it. The picture flips on the mat: Pereira is the one more likely to force it down, but Ankalaev's top control is where he can neutralize the striking and bank rounds. The central question is whether Pereira's finishing pressure lands before Ankalaev turns exchanges into grappling and grinds from the top.

Dvalishvili brings the tested résumé and the push to get this to the mat, while Sandhagen owns the sharper finishing tools if it stays standing. That collision defines the fight: Merab's level changes against Sandhagen's length and improving defense on the feet. If Dvalishvili strings takedowns together and controls, he neutralizes Cory's power; if Sandhagen keeps distance and defends the entries, his finishing threat stays live in every round.

Prochazka's volume and finishing power meet Rountree's defensive footwork and durability on the feet. With a 10cm reach edge and southpaw-orthodox angles in play, the standing exchanges hinge on whether Prochazka's pressure overwhelms Rountree's distance work, or whether Rountree's chin lets him weather the early storm and answer. On the mat, Prochazka's submission threat clashes with Rountree's rising control game, making scrambles a live phase.

Zalal's most reliable path runs through the mat, where his top control and submission threat both come into play, so Emmett's ability to stay upright and force striking exchanges shapes the fight early. The longer this stays standing, the more Emmett's power exchanges matter, but every level change and scramble tilts the fight back toward Zalal's control and finishing threat. Zalal's rising output and slight edge in distance work give him tools to contest the striking rather than only chase takedowns.

Pyfer's push to drag the fight to the mat meets Magomedov's takedown defense head-on, and that collision likely sets the tone. If Magomedov keeps it upright, the extra reach lets him work from range, where Pyfer has to close the gap through danger. Pyfer's finishing threat keeps early rounds live, but his cardio advantage only pays off if the fight travels into later rounds rather than ending on Magomedov's terms.

Santos brings the deeper UFC sample, but the matchup-specific tools tilt toward Yoo on the feet. His length and volume let him work behind the jab and control range, forcing Santos to close 10 cm of reach against a man carrying real finishing power. Santos's rising output matters most if he can get inside and turn exchanges into a firefight rather than trading at Yoo's preferred distance, where the knockout threat lives.

Mix brings the tested résumé and the sharper finishing tools, while Wiklacz's edge is physical, five centimeters of reach in an orthodox-southpaw matchup that reshapes the striking angles. On the outside, Wiklacz's frame lets him contest range. If Mix closes distance and drags this to the mat, his submission threat becomes the central danger, and Wiklacz has to prevent those grappling exchanges from developing to survive on the scorecards.

The early rounds tilt toward Shahbazyan's power on the feet, where his knockout threat and improving defense meet Muniz's length and southpaw looks. As the fight wears on, Muniz's push to get it down grows in value, colliding head-on with Shahbazyan's takedown defense. If Muniz can't plant him on the mat, he's stuck exchanging in the phase where Shahbazyan's finishing is most dangerous. The takedown battle decides which fight this becomes.

Soriano brings the heavier UFC track record and rising power, but Veretennikov owns the sharper matchup-specific tools to blunt it. Soriano's climbing top control runs straight into Veretennikov's takedown defense and get-up ability, so grounding him won't come cheap. That likely keeps this standing, where Soriano's power meets Veretennikov's reach and length. If it drags late, the cardio edge shifts toward Veretennikov.

Gutierrez brings the deeper, more tested UFC résumé, but Basharat owns the sharper matchup-specific tools. This splits cleanly by phase: if Gutierrez keeps it upright, his pressure and volume set the terms, and the reach gap matters less at his preferred striking range. The fight tilts the moment Basharat changes levels, where his entries and top control can nullify that striking and stack up minutes. Gutierrez needs to defend the takedown and get back to his feet to stay in his lane.

Vanderford carries the sharper matchup-specific tools, but Brahimaj's résumé of seven UFC fights against Vanderford's single appearance is the offsetting context. The central tension is Vanderford's top game versus Brahimaj's submission danger off his back: controlling from top puts him in range of the exact finishing threat Brahimaj thrives on. If Vanderford keeps it standing behind his range and defense, he sidesteps that risk; every scramble on the mat is where Brahimaj gets his opening.