UFC FIGHT NIGHT BAUTISTA VS OLIVEIRA PREDICTIONS

Main Event: Mario Bautista (-185) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (+160)
The last time we saw Mario was against the Dagestani freak Umar Nurmagomedov. Mario didn’t give Umar a serious run for his money, but he put up a respectable performance, especially defending takedowns and surviving tough positions. That experience alone should give him confidence coming into this matchup. Oliveira brings real power, but Mario’s pace, durability, and cardio could be a major issue—especially over five rounds. If this fight stretches late, it favors Bautista. Pick: Bautista by decision.

Co-Main Event: Amir Albazi vs. Kyoji Horiguchi
I almost don’t even want to analyze this one. Kyoji by finish. For context, the only loss of Horiguchi’s original UFC run came against arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time, Demetrious Johnson. Since leaving the UFC, he’s gone 6-0 since 2022. In his return fight, he submitted Tagir Ulanbekov—a Khabib-backed prospect—in the third round. The skill gap here feels real. Pick: Horiguchi by finish.

Jailton Almeida vs. Rizvan Kuniev
As a certified Jailton Almeida hater, I still think he can win this one. He’s coming off a loss to Alexander Volkov that he arguably could have won. The issue was inactivity—too much wrestling, not enough damage. If Almeida learns from that and actually looks to finish on the ground instead of just holding position, he should have a clear path to victory. Pick: Almeida.

Michal Oleksiejczuk vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
Oleksiejczuk is coming off back-to-back first-round KO/TKOs and has shown real aggression and finishing instincts. Barriault is tough and durable, but he spends too much time on the defensive. The volume and power of Oleksiejczuk should be the difference here. Pick: Oleksiejczuk.

Jean Matsumoto vs. Farid Basharat
This is a straight bantamweight banger. Only one loss between the two fighters. Basharat’s ability to control pace and dictate where the fight takes place gives him the edge. Pick: Basharat.

Dustin Jacoby vs. Julius Walker
This one feels like new guard versus old guard. Jacoby has been around since 2011 and is coming off two KO/TKO wins, but Walker’s grappling could be the deciding factor. At light heavyweight, strong grappling and control can completely drain a striker. If Walker commits to that path, he can wear Jacoby down. Pick: Walker.