The fourth installment from Fight Island 2.0 takes place this weekend in Abu Dhabi with UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. Jung. Like last week’s main event, this one is going to be a banger. Brian Ortega takes on Chan Sung Jung in a featherweight bout, where the winner is guaranteed the next title shot against Alexander Volkanovski. With that being said, let’s take a look at the odds, pick some fights, and win ourselves some money. As always, the odds are provided to us by 5dimes via bestfightodds.com.
Please note that official plays are at the end of the article, but there are always betting angles that I present in my individual fight breakdowns that may help you make your own picks and win some money.
Odds
Main Card (6:00pm CDT)
Brian Ortega (+170) vs. Chan Sung Jung (-185)
Katlyn Chookagian (+140) vs. Jessica Andrade (-150)
Jim Crute (-295) vs. Modestas Bukauskas (+265)
Claudio Silva (+130) vs. James Krause (-140)
Thomas Almeida (-135) vs. Jonathan Martinez (+115)
Preliminary Card (3:00pm CDT)
Mateusz Gamrot (-320) vs. Guram Kutateladze (+260)
Gillian Robertson (-210) vs. Poliana Botelho (+175)
Jun Yong Park (-275) vs. John Phillips (+250)
Jamie Mullarkey (-130) vs. Fares Ziam (+120)
Gadzhimurad Antigulov (+285) vs. Maxim Grishin (-345)
Said Nurmagomedov (-400) vs. Mark Striegl (+325)
Preview
Brian Ortega (+170) vs. Chan Sung Jung (-185)
A spectacular fight goes down in the featherweight division between Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung. The winner of this bout will be fighting for the featherweight title in early 2021.
Ortega is super durable. He is a high-level ground fighter that prefers to strike. He’s a pretty fluid striker. He’s got big elbows, straights, and uppercuts. He throws combinations at will with decent power. On the ground, he’s great. He can lock up submissions from any position. It doesn’t matter if he’s on top or bottom, he’s a real threat.
Jung is an excellent striker that loves to counter his opponents. He’s got beautiful counter uppercuts and hooks. He’s got nice jabs and straight punches that he uses to keep his opponent at range. He does a good job of slipping his opponent’s punches and landing shots himself. He’s got legit power in his hands that he has used to knockout his previous opponents.
I do not fault anyone for taking a chance on the dog here, but it won’t be me. Jung should be able to piece Ortega up on the feet and avoid any long periods of time on the ground. Ortega doesn’t look to get his fights to the ground anymore, he loves to stand and strike. That’s exactly what Jung wants, will get, and what will allow him to get a decision victory over Ortega.
Katlyn Chookagian (+140) vs. Jessica Andrade (-150)
Jessica Andrade moves up a division to take on Katlyn Chookagian in a flyweight matchup.
Chookagian will look to keep this fight at a range where she can throw her straight punches and keep Andrade from getting inside on her. If she does get inside on her, Chookagian does throw good elbows and knees in the clinch.
Andrade is an aggressive fighter on the feet. She’s always pushing forward, looking to bully her opponent. She throws big, powerful punches that can easily finish her opponent. If she gets inside, she’s strong enough to hold opponents against the cage and/or take them to the ground. On the ground, she’s aggressive, looking to land big ground and pound and finish.
I gotta go with Andrade here. She will be at a reach disadvantage but I think her aggressive, forward pressure will allow her to walk through Chookagian’s strikes and work the clinch. In the clinch, she’ll be the stronger fighter and be able to land strikes in the clinch or take Chookagian down and land big ground and pound. I got Andrade winning inside the distance by KO/TKO.
Jim Crute (-295) vs. Modestas Bukauskas (+265)
Two young fighters are looking to cement themselves as the better prospect, as Jim Crute takes on Modestas Bukauskas in a light heavyweight bout.
Crute is a decent striker who really uses his striking to distract his opponent so that he can get them to the ground. On the ground, Crute is aggressive. He consistently looks to improve his position while throwing ground and pound.
Bukauskas is a striker who uses good in and out movement to land shots on his opponents. He fights at a range where he lands good jabs and hooks. He has good body kicks that he throws to the body and head. He’ll look to keep the fight on the feet where he has a path to victory.
Crute should definitely be able to get Bukauskas to the ground and dominate him. Bukauskas has a tough time stopping takedowns and Crute does not have issues getting fighters to the ground. Crute should grind out a decision victory here.
Claudio Silva (+130) vs. James Krause (-140)
Claudio Silva takes on the short-notice replacement, James Krause in a welterweight bout.
Silva is a legit black belt BJJ practitioner who can strike. On the feet, he’s super aggressive winging big overhands and straight punches looking to hurt his opponent. He is not concerned with being wild on the feet because of his ground game. If he’s taken down or he gets the takedown, he’s pretty much winning the fight. He’s a methodical grappler that has heavy pressure from the top. He’s relentless, always looking to lock up a submission.
Krause comes into this bout on short notice. He’s a good, accurate striker that throws crisp punches. He’s got good straight punches and knees up the middle. He’s a high volume striker, looking to wear down his opponent. He also throws a lot of kicks.
I gotta go with Silva here. He can hang on the feet and will most likely get this fight to the ground where he will dominate Krause. Krause comes into this fight on short notice, and really as a coach more than a fighter. He’s primarily been coaching and just decided to take this fight to make some money. I’m going with the hungrier fighter that can win on the feet or ground.
Thomas Almeida (-135) vs. Jonathan Martinez (+115)
A really entertaining fight goes down in the featherweight division between Thomas Almeida and Jonathan Martinez.
Almeida comes into this fight after nearly two years away from the octagon. The layoff should not stop him from doing what he does, which is put on exciting fights. He’s got an aggressive, forward pressure style. He throws punches in bunches. He’s got five, six punch combinations that are thrown to the head and body of his opponents simultaneously. He’s also got really good low kicks that he mixes in.
Martinez is a game opponent who will not be intimated by Almeida’s style. He’s got no problem with a firefight. He will press forward and throw as well. He’s a creative striker. He’s got good jabs and counters that he mixes in with kicks and knees. He’s got a strong chin that should help him here.
This is a super close fight and could easily be the fight of the night if it goes to a decision. This fight should be contested on the feet until someone falls. Almeida is super aggressive but has a questionable chin that has been his downfall in the past. I think Martinez is able to test that chin and ultimately finish Almeida. Martinez inside the distance is the pick.
Mateusz Gamrot (-320) vs. Guram Kutateladze (+260)
Mateusz Gamrot and Guram Kutateladze meet in a light heavyweight fight.
Gamrot is a much-hyped prospect, making his UFC debut. He’s a well-rounded fighter that is good wherever the fight goes. On the feet, he’s a technical striker. He throws accurate strikes in combinations to the head and body. He’s also a strong grappler. He’s got good singles and on the ground, great top pressure. While on top, he grinds away at his opponents with constant ground and pound as well as constantly trying to advance positions.
Kutateladze will look to keep the fight on the feet. He’s more of a counter striker that has nice pull counters and hooks. He will mix in counter kicks as well. If he gets into the clinch, he will throw big elbows and knees.
Gamrot gets a chance to prove that the hype is warranted and I think he will. If he is not having success on the feet, he is more than capable of taking this fight to the ground and getting a finish. He’s got a great gas tank and is well-rounded in general. Gamrot should run away with a decisive decision here.
Gillian Robertson (-210) vs. Poliana Botelho (+175)
Your classic grappler versus striker matchup takes place in the flyweight division between Gillian Robertson and Poliana Botelho.
Robertson is the grappler. She does a good job of pressuring her opponents and relentlessly looking for takedowns. She’s a finisher on the ground. She continuously looks for openings to lock up a submission.
Botelho is the striker. She throws nice, straight punches down the middle and mixes in heavy body kicks that often hurt her opponents. She’s a finisher on the feet. She’s got decent pop in her punches and will look to get her opponent out of there early.
Botelho is not good on the ground at all and I believe this will be her downfall. Robertson is tough and will have no problem walking through Botelho’s shots to clinch up, get the takedown, and finish the fight via submission. Robertson wins by submission.
Jun Yong Park (-275) vs. John Phillips (+250)
Jun Yong Park versus John Phillips takes place in the middleweight division.
Park is an action fighter. He’s a slick boxer who uses a lot of feints to confuse his opponents to get in and out on them. He’ll look to throw a jab to an overhand right or a one, two to a left hook. In general, he’s a very accurate puncher who throws nice combinations with heavy shots behind them. He’s a very durable fighter. He’s got a good chin and good cardio.
Phillips has often been described as the “White Mike Tyson” as he looks to get in the inside and throw big overhands and hooks until his opponent falls. He’s a tough, durable guy that is hard to finish but is 1-4 in the UFC.
As long as Park avoids the first-round flurry from Phillips, he should be able to win this fight running away. He will utilize his boxing to keep Phillips at a distance and pick him apart en route to a victory.
Jamie Mullarkey (-130) vs. Fares Ziam (+120)
Jamie Mullarkey takes on Fares Ziam in a lightweight bout that should be super entertaining.
Mullarkey is a technical striker who’s got a good jab that he will often double up. He’s got a good left hook that he follows up with a straight. He’s a varied striker, throwing a vast array of strikes on the feet. He’s got solid low kicks that he likes to mix. He’s a tough, durable fighter that will fight for your money. He’s got heart. If he gets his opponent up against the cage, he will look for a takedown, but outside of that, his entries are sloppy. On the ground, he’s good from top position, throwing good ground and pound. His top control is pretty solid.
Ziam is good on his feet as he is a former Glory kickboxer. He’s fast and athletic. He’s got big body kicks that he will throw behind some nice one-twos. He’s got beautiful combinations and is hard to hit defensively. In the clinch, he throws big elbows and knees that do serious damage to his opponents.
This should be a pretty close fight. Both fighters are proficient on the feet, have good cardio, and are decent on the ground. I’m going with the fighter who has more heart in Mullarkey. I think that he will get the better of the exchanges on the feet, and is slightly better on the ground, especially in half guard. Jamie Mullarkey by decision is the pick.
Gadzhimurad Antigulov (+285) vs. Maxim Grishin (-345)
The light heavyweight division sees a matchup between Gadzhimurad Antigulov and Maxim Grishin go down this Saturday.
Antigulov has a couple of interesting statistics surrounding his career. First, he has not won a fight in three years. Second, twenty-five of his twenty-seven fights have ended in the first round. As for his fighting style, he’s primarily looking for the takedown. He’s aggressive in top control, looking to get to the back of his opponents. If he does throw strikes on the feet, it’s mainly to distract his opponents so he can get in on them and take them down.
Grishin is a solid grappler himself. He’s got good strength against the cage in the clinch and will take the fight to the mat, but is mainly looking to keep the fight on the feet. On the feet, he hits hard, looking to land one big shot and get his opponent out of there early. He will have the speed, reach, power, and athleticism advantage in this matchup.
Maxim Grishin will win this fight and he should do it inside the distance.
Said Nurmagomedov (-400) vs. Mark Striegl (+325)
The first fight of the night goes down in the bantamweight division between Said Nurmagomedov and Mark Striegl.
Nurmagomedov is a flashy striker who has a strong wrestling base. On the feet, he’s a fluid striker who throws a diversity of strikes. He’s got good jabs and counter left hooks. He’s got good spinning kicks to the body and leg kicks. He’s also a strong wrestler that will shoot for single and double leg takedowns. He has good top control and stays active on the ground.
Striegl is a good grappler himself as he’s won championships in Sambo. He has good timing on level changes and takedowns. Once he’s got his opponent on the ground, he looks for submissions. He’s got good rear naked chokes that he searches for once he’s on the back of his opponent. He also got a solid guillotine.
Nurmagomedov is the better fighter and will win this fight.
Plays
2U Chan Sung Jung (-185)
1.5U Jessica Andrade (-150)
1U Claudio Silva (+130)
1U Jonathan Martinez (+115)
