-
Brett Okamoto
Close
Brett Okamoto
ESPN staff writer
- Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing on ESPN since 2010. During that time, he covered all the greatest events in combat sports, including deep interviews and functions with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges Sterre. He was also a producer in film 30 for 30: “Chuck and Tito”, who looked back at the career and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and these Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas and is a passionate, below -average golfer in his free time.
-
Ian Parker
Alexander Volkanovski He is a former UFC feathers that ruled for more than four years, but lost his last two fighting, both knockout. What Volkanovski must do to regain the throne when they face Diego Lopes In the fight for the unoccupied title at UFC 314 in Miami (ESPN+ PPV at 22:00 et, with preliminary animals on ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+ at 8)?
Volkanovski (26-4) since he lost the title Ulli tepriaria In February 2024. But with Toporirie decided to release the championship to move lightly, Volkanovski gets a shot on his old belt face Lopes (26-6), the winner of five fighting in a row. His last victory was a unanimous decision on a uniform challenger title Brian Ortega Last September.
Volkanovski is No. 2 and Lopes No. 4 in the ESPN Featherweight ranking.
Brett Okamoto spoke to UFC Featherweight And IgEwho is scheduled to face Sean Woodson In UFC 314 Prelims and who lost with Lopes last year to get his view of the main event. ESPN betting expert Ian Parker added Insight and analysis to the UFC main event and other interesting bets that this card like, as well as in Friday’s PFL matches with the first round of bantam weight and female flyzaks.
Editor’s note: The answers have been modified for brevity and clarity.
Featherweight: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
1:09
Alexander Volkanovski: I plan to remind everyone that I didn’t do it
Alexander Volkanovski joined “First Take” and discussed his upcoming fight against the title against Diego Lopes.
Dan IgE, UFC feathers weight
How Volkanovski wins: In later rounds, they must use their feet and test the Lopes gas tank. I noticed when I fought against Diego as soon as I started to work on my feet and found my reach, I began to take over when it disappeared. There will be a volk. He’s a great tactic and his team always comes with great game plans. He has to stay away from Lopes’s explosive herons soon and get a fight to later rounds. Lopes has a very large presence in the octagon, different from anyone else I have ever fought. He throws everything he got with 100%, and there is a little afraid of Volkanovski. But if he uses his work and angles and wears on Lopes cardio, I think he can take over late.
As Lopes wins: The key to him is just nothing to change. Don’t blame it. The way Volkanovski has been eliminated in his last few fighting will give Lopes a great confidence. When you fight someone you know has been dropped, injured, discarded, gives you a little fire that you can do it yourself. Diego has a flash in his hands. He’s not the most technical fighter and that’s fine. If he tries to be technical with Volkanovski, Volk wins all day. Don’t be a technical. Go there and fight. Brawl and tried to hurt the guy.
X Factor: It’s the presence of Lopes I talked about. I fought Josh Emmett“Korean zombies” Chan Sung Jung, Calvin Cats – None of them had the presence. Everything Lopes did, it hurts.
Forecast: I prefer Volkanovski to win, but I don’t count Lopes. I think there is a big chance that it can hurt a volk in wheels 1 or 2.
Bets analysis
Courses accurate from publication. The most up -to -date courses can be found ESPN bet.
Parker: Lopes to Win (+105). Volkanovski, not only in his career, comes back loss for the first time, but these losses were both Kos. A little over a year after the second he returns to the cage to take over another artist KO. Lopes has power along with the skills of Elite Jiu-Jitsu. Rarely uses them, but if necessary they are there. The question with Lopes was his cardio – faded if he couldn’t win in the 1st round – but that wasn’t a problem in his last victory over Brian Ortega. I take Lopes in the Underdog/Plus money to become a new champion.
Parker’s best bets for the rest of the UFC card
Light: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy pimblett
Chandler to win (+125). Like the rising star like Pimblett, it is still to face the competition of Chandler’s level, nor fought with someone who can represent a threat like Chandler. When we folded (which is not too often), Chandler has a skill like a champion, as we have seen in many fighting. It was a few seconds from slaughter Charles Oliveira in their first fight in 2021 and was on the way to beating Dustin Poirier Next year before grabbing in both fighting. Chandler will have a match, speed and advantage. Until he gets, or let Pimbletta take his back, Chandler finishes. In the chances with Underdog in the five-round fight-some who had previously experienced-Ber Chandler.
Feather weight: Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull
Rodriguez to victory (-195). Pitbull’s debut Octagon should be a banger for 15 minutes. Pitbull has the advantage if he struggles and puts Rodriguez on his back. If he can, he can remove the unpredictable strike of Rodriguez. Many of them, however, tried and failed, and since Pitbull has fought over the years, I expect this struggle to stay on the foot. Victory over Pitbull, the legend of Bellator MMA, would move Rodriguez one step closer to the title.
SLAWWEIGHT: Yan Xiaonan vs. Jandiroba
Jandiroba to win (-150). In what looks like a struggle of 1 candidate, it will be a battle for styles between the attacker and the grappler. Jandiroba has a world class Jiu-Jitsu, and as her career advanced, as well as her striking. In her latest fighting victory in subordinates over OneTime Title Challenger Amanda LemosJandiroba managed to use his strikes to establish her ground game, which could be the best in the division. Yan has a huge power in her striking, but when she is deployed on her back (which happens often), he tends to play only defense and stay there throughout the round. Take a look at Jandirob to get this struggle to the floor as quickly as possible and secure your status in a row for a crack.
Parker’s Best Bets on PFL Card
Female Flynáha: Liz Carmouche vs. Ilara Joanne
Carmouche won inside a distance. Carmouche, who lost in the PFL semifinals last season after three defense in Bellator, is the biggest favorite on Friday’s card at an incredible -850. On this issue I am not sure I will add it to Parlay, it will get much more value. However, Carmouche has completed all its final Bellator fighting and will try to make a statement against Joanne. It will have an advantage no matter where the fight goes. The only question is how the aggressive Carmouche gets with her striking soon in the fight.
Bantamweight: Profits vs. Justin Wetzell
Kasumov by decision. Kasumov will try to become a brand in PFL, a horse for six combat winning lanes. It is a pressure match that sets a terrible pace and breaks its opponent over time. Wetzell is not in the match department any section and has been completed once in its 12 combat professional career. I expect Kasumov to win? Yes. However, I think this struggle is all three rounds. Kasumov is a Favorit 5-1, so you can put it in Parlay and take it separately to win by decision if you want better chances.
