UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs Lemos main card betting picks

Like all UFC Fight Nights, this Saturday’s card offers the opportunity for a host of upcoming MMA prospects to showcase their talents to a wide audience. Let’s take a look at these emerging combatants to see who might continue the path toward contender status.

Neil Magny vs Daniel Rodriguez

Neil Magny (26-10-0) is an MMA veteran who has shared the ring with some legends of the sport, including former champ Robbie Lawler, and contenders Carlos Condit, and Michael Chiesa. Magny lost his most recent bout to the surging Shavkat Rakhmonov but still has plenty to offer the welterweight division. He brings a big experience advantage into this contest and looks very attractively priced.

Daniel Rodriguez (17-2-0) was caught up in the musical chairs of UFC 279 and ending up fighting Li Jingliang at catchweight after Khamzat Chimaev threw the card into chaos. Rodriguez was fortunate to score a split decision victory over the much smaller Jingliang, and many pundits had the bout scored the other way. Rodriguez was rusty for that fight after a year long lay-off and should be looking sharper for this encounter, albeit not enough for us to back him.

Josh Parisian vs Chase Sherman

Josh Parisian (15-5-0) is a recent graduate from Dana White’s Contender Series whose record stands at two wins and two losses since making the UFC grade. The hard-hitting heavyweight boasts 11 knockouts to his name and will be looking for another early finish here. Parisian last fought in June 2022, scoring a second-round TKO of Alan Baudot. Parisian may not be the most technical athlete, but he knows how to find an opponent’s chin and can end a fight in an instant.

Chase Sherman (16-10-0) brings a patchy record into this fight having won just one of his last five bouts. Sherman is coming off a KO finish of Jared Vanderaa, though, and will be looking to shore up his UFC contract with another win. Sherman and Parisian both stand at 6’4″ and appear likely to square up until the weaker man yields.

This fight promises to be a banger, and we are going with the slight underdog at +105 with Bovada.

Tagir Ulanbekov vs Nate Maness

After a lengthy career on the minor circuit, Tagir Ulanbekov (14-2-0) was signed by the UFC in 2020 and has looked solid ever since, recording two wins and a close decision loss. The Russian shares a connection with Khabib Nurmagomedov via Eagles MMA and is, unsurprisingly, a Sambo fighter with excellent grappling skills. If he can get this fight to the mat, it might be all over in quick time.

Nate Maness (14-2-0) also entered the UFC in 2020 and has won three fights and lost one since his signing. His most recent appearance was a decision loss to the unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov, so there was little shame associated with the result. It looks like betting markets might be selling Maness short here, and we suggest the odds may not reflect his true chances.

Grant Dawson vs Mark Madsen

Grant Dawson (18-1-1) is a serious lightweight contender who has not tasted defeat in his last 10 fights. The only blemish to that record is a draw against Ricky Glenn, but otherwise Dawson looks the real deal. Adept either standing or on the mat, his record contains both knockout and submission victories. He is yet to face a ranked opponent, but a win here will propel him closer to that league.

Mark Madsen (12-0-0) is a former Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler who is unbeaten in his MMA career. He has fought four times at UFC level and notably beat long-time fan favourite Clay Guida in 2021. The 38-year-old Dane is a ball of muscle and might have one of the strongest grips in all of combat sports. Dawson would be wise to keep Madsen at long striking range if possible, because the wrestler will certainly hold an advantage if these men fight in close.

We are cautiously tipping Dawson but are wary of the world-class grappling skills of Madsen.

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