Standing favors Usman's range control and defensive polish, but Du Plessis brings the clearer path to a finish whenever exchanges open up. Usman's takedown defense limits Du Plessis's grappling entries, and if the fight does hit the mat, Usman's top control and durability work against an early stoppage. Across five rounds, Du Plessis needs to force damaging moments before Usman's distance management and control grind out the scorecards.

Cannonier brings the deeper UFC résumé, but Duncan owns the sharper current tools. The central question is Cannonier's ability to drag this to the canvas against Duncan's size and improving defense. If it stays standing, Duncan's reach, finishing threat and chin keep him in control of the range. If Cannonier lands his entries, his rising top game narrows that advantage and forces Duncan to work back up across three rounds.

Ramirez brings the rising striking volume, but Hooper owns the sharper matchup-specific tools once it hits the mat. The fight likely turns on whether Ramirez can keep it standing and work behind his output, or whether Hooper closes distance, gets him down, and leans on his top control and submission threat. Hooper's cardio and length over three rounds favor a grinding path if the grappling exchanges go his way.

Standing exchanges favor McMillen's output and reach, letting him fire from outside Montes' range while walking him down. His knockout power and ability to end fights early mean the longer this stays in open space, the more that pressure compounds. Montes needs to close the 13 cm gap, change the rhythm, and drag McMillen out of his preferred distance before the pace and size start dictating terms across three rounds.

Early, Delgado's volume and length set the tone standing, where his reach helps him keep Bashi at the end of his strikes. The counter is Bashi's level changes: if he closes the gap and plants Delgado on the mat, his top control and submission threat reshape the exchange. His cardio edge grows in value as three rounds wear on, rewarding sustained pressure to drag the fight into his grappling.

Ko brings the sterner résumé and the cleaner stand-up, but Lebosnoyani owns the sharper finishing tools for this matchup. The pivotal tension is on the mat: Ko's top control is exactly where Lebosnoyani's submission threat lives, so every position Ko wants carries risk. If Ko keeps it at range and manages distance, his defense and chin blunt Lebosnoyani's pressure and power across three rounds.

Franco's ground finishing threat meets Rodrigues' urge to close the show, and that collision likely decides this. If Franco drags it to the canvas, his submission hunting becomes the primary danger, which gives Rodrigues real reason to keep exchanges standing where his finishing instinct has room to work. Over three rounds, whoever dictates where the fight lives, mat or feet, shapes the outcome.

Coria's recent finishing power makes the early rounds his most dangerous window, while the three-round distance lets his stand-up defense and chin pay off if it goes long. With a 5 cm reach edge, he can work from the outside, and his takedown defense plus ability to scramble back up means Nicoll faces trouble keeping this on the mat or away from Coria's hands. Nicoll needs to force phases where Coria is uncomfortable.