Holloway returns to the cage following his unanimous decision win against Arnold Allen in April. He’ll face Chan Sung Jung, The Korean Zombie, who returns following his fourth-round knockout loss to featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

For those eager to watch this exciting matchup and all others this weekend, make sure to tune into UFC Fight Night 225, set to broadcast on ESPN+ at a special time in the United States. The main card begins at 8 a.m. ET with prelims getting started at 5 a.m. ET on Saturday morning.

How to bet: Sign up to BetUS and cash in our special sign-up offer of up to $2,500.

Betting Odds

Max Holloway is a heavy favorite ahead of this weekend’s main event in Singapore.

• Max Holloway: -740 (BetUS)
• Chan Sung Jung: +490 (BetUS)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get an exclusive sign-up offer worth up to $2,500

Staff Predictions

Braeden Arbour

This is a great fight against two very experienced fighters. The Korean Zombie (Chan Sung Jung) for a long time built a reputation as a brawler in a lot of fans’ eyes, hence the name. However, it is clear that although he can brawl he does not have to, he has some of the most accurate and technical boxing skills as well as a very educated jiu jitsu game. Zombie tends to do his best work when he is boxing with counter combinations, he is very good at slipping to counter uppercuts and hooks, and then chaining on shots, or using the same dip to initiate a takedown. Compared to many of his opponents, Zombie does not hold much of a speed advantage and this is the same against Holloway, what he does have is timing and three inches of reach. However, where he most often finds confidence in his ability to take a shot or lose ground in output in order to find that one sweet KO sequence, this trade becomes null if he cannot hurt his opponents, and instead ends up taking unnecessary damage.

Max Holloway so far has shown maybe the best chin in UFC history. It’s never a good idea to bet all your chips on chin and durability, but if anyone can wade through some of that danger from Zombie it is Holloway. What Holloway has in abundance is cardio, rhythm and output. He will be at a power disadvantage but his ability to switch stance and use in and out movement to land and evade is the perfect recipe to beat the Zombie. He utilizes a better kicking game, and even though giving up reach, has the height advantage allowing him to slip back from counter shots after landing.

Of the two men, The Korean Zombie is the more proficient jiu-jitsu player. He has shown a wider variety of submission offense, as well as good control, most recently against Holloway’s fellow Hawaiian, Dan Ige, before his title shot last year. Holloway has improved wrestling, but what sticks out are his trips and guillotine choke. Holloway has 84% takedown defense to Zombie’s 47% takedown accuracy, meaning it will be a tough go for Zombie to initiate a grappling exchange if it comes down to it, and the initial threat of the guillotine adds to that risk. Overall I do think that Holloway can avoid the grappling of The Korean Zombie, and use superior movement, speed and establish his rhythm in the striking. This all makes for the most difficult kind of fighter to consistently counter punch, which is The Korean Zombie’s main and potentially only route to victory. I think Holloway will be able to use kicks to stay outside when he wants and float in and out to box, and ultimately accumulate damage on Zombie.

Pick: Max Holloway to win (-740 at BetUS)

Michael Pounders

Come Saturday night, now 31, Max “Blessed” Holloway will grace the caged canvas for the 28th time in the UFC. He is arguably the best fighter who isn’t a champion in the entire promotion as evident by his #13 pound-for-pound ranking.

Holloway holds records for most significant strikes landed in his career, coming in with 3,122. For context, second and third place are at 1820 and 1801 respectively. Holloway also holds the record for most significant strikes landed in a single fight with 578, with second place coming in with 430. Possibly more impressive, though, is that Max ranks 1, 3, 5, and 6 on that list. Those statistics are shared in part to give one of the best fighters of this generation his well-deserved flowers but also to illustrate just how special of a fighter Holloway is.

“Blessed” is undoubtedly the best boxer in the UFC with the hand speed, volume, precision, dynamism, and toughness that accumulate to create such a fighter. Most of Holloway’s fights go the same way. From the first to the last second, Max takes the center of the octagon and rarely moves backward, instead he will stubbornly hold his ground or walk forward while unleashing unmatched volume with a variety of endless combinations.

As the fight progresses, Holloway only improves. His volume increases, his power accumulates, and his determination to win amplifies. He has one of the best cardio tanks in the UFC and knows how to weaponize that cardio along with his pressure. Beyond his pressure, cardio, and striking, the final hallmark of Holloway is his Hawaiian spirit and subsequent durability. With the likes of Dober, Luque, and Ferguson going away,

Holloway sits atop the mountain as likely the most durable fighter on the roster. Just another of his many accomplishments. Holloway has only been finished once- submitted by Poirier in 2012- despite absorbing punishment from the division’s elite for years. If there is a gap in the storied career and game of “Blessed” it is his inability or refusal to check leg kicks. Because he stands with such a wide and traditional boxing stance, Holloway carries much of his weight on his front foot which makes him more susceptible to the calf kick. But, that Hawaiian spirit yet again shines through because while Max has been hurt via leg kicks, he has always pushed through the pain and come out stronger on the other side.

A warrior worthy of sharing the octagon with Holloway, “The Korean Zombie,” Chan Sung Jung, now 36, steps in for possibly the last time in the UFC. There have not been any substantial rumors suggesting that Zombie will retire after this fight; but, given his age, severe unlikelihood of another title shot, and the wars he’s been a part of, a retirement would not surprise many.

Just like Holloway, Jung’s hallmark and the origin of his nickname is his durability and willingness to continue fighting no matter the fire coming back his way. He will, sometimes to his own detriment, walk forward like a zombie through hell in a gasoline suit to try and land his own combinations. That determination and durability not only earned him the Korean Zombie nickname but propelled him to the top of one of the best divisions in MMA.

Each time he steps into the cage, Jung’s opponent better be ready for war. Jung will pressure forward, throwing heavy and frequent combinations intended to do damage with each blow. He can push a high pace for 5 championship rounds and continue to do damage from the first to the last minute of a fight. His striking is technical, powerful, and highly successful when offensive.

But, his defensive striking, skewed because of his willingness to eat shots to move forward, leaves a lot to be desired. Jung tends to plod forward, moving linearly and rarely cutting angles, with minimal head movement. His goal is not primarily to protect himself; but, rather, get into a position where he can hurt his opponent regardless of the strikes coming back his way. His chin and toughness, both may be starting to fade with age, have allowed him to fight with this style to great success.

The other, often-forgotten aspect of Zombie’s game, that elevated his standing in the UFC is his grappling. While Jung’s wrestling is infrequent and only partially successful, his grappling, scrambling, and submission game are often underappreciated attributes. If he hurts and opponent, something he’s done in most of his fights, Jung is fully capable of following his opponent down and finding a submission on the mat. While Jung hasn’t won via submission since 2012, the skillset helps open up opportunities for victories.

Holloway is a -800 for a reason, he is simply better than Zombie everywhere. Both men are insanely durable, have cardio for days, are high level strikers, and have enough high level experience for two careers. However, in each of those categories, Holloway is better. Holloway has never been knocked out, while Jung was TKO’d in his last fight and has been finished by strikes 4 times. While Jung can push a high-octane pace for 5 rounds, Max has nearly every output record on the books.

While Jung has a striking resume worthy of admiration, Holloway is the best boxer on the roster. And while Jung has been in there with the division’s best, Holloway is one of the division’s best. In short, Holloway will win this fight. The question becomes, how to bet it. My favorite bet on the card is a multi-unit parlay of Max and Chikadze. However, as a straight play, I like Holloway by decision.

I think we’ll see a fight similar to Holloway v Kattar so a stoppage is likely going to be determined by the ref’s subjective perspective. I think Holloway will hurt Zombie enough to warrant a stoppage, but I also expect Jung’s durability to be on full display and for him to continue fighting regardless. Therefore, because I expect a finish vs. decision to be around 50/50, I want plus-money on the prop play. That lands me on Holloway by decision.

Best Bet: Holloway to win by decision (+165 at BetUS)

The post Max Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie predictions | UFC Singapore appeared first on The Body Lock.

Coming off a heartbreaking split decision loss for the title, Taila Santos will be looking for her 20th pro win and to get back into the conversation to challenge for the strap once more. Blanchfield has soared up the rankings and after a stellar performance against a former champ in Jessica Andrade, her hype is as high as ever.

How to watch: Get ESPN+ and watch every fight live this Saturday, including Max Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie.

How to bet: Sign up to BetUS and cash in our special sign-up offer of up to $2,500.

Betting Odds

Though the line has shifted a bit this week, Erin Blanchfield still comes into this one as the slight favorite over the former title challenger.

• Erin Blanchfield: -145 (BetUS)
• Taila Santos: +115 (BetUS)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get an exclusive sign-up offer worth up to $2,500

Fight Breakdown

At only 24 years old, Erin Blanchfield is one of the best grapplers in the UFC regardless of division and has developing striking to pair with her submissions. She relies on takedowns from the clinch but will shoot at the hips from space should the opportunity present itself. Once she’s got her opponent down, it’s her world; she transitions with near flawless technique, keeping herself heavy from top control while hunting ground and pound and the submission. One of her best traits on the ground is her ability to isolate an arm and attack submissions from either her back or from top control. She’s opportunistic when it comes to chasing submissions but she won’t overcommit to the point where she puts herself out of position or in danger of being reversed.

‘Cold Blooded’ is a rightful nickname for the young New Jersey product as she’s more than willing to eat shots to open up her takedown opportunities. Her striking is improving and she’s become more consistent with her offense, mostly consisting of straight shots and kicks. She tries to use these straight shots to land at range and avoid eating shots coming back, but if she needs to take a few to grab the body lock, she’ll happily oblige.

I’d like to see her continue to improve on the feet, especially with evading strikes; she keeps her elbows far away from her body and her reactions/head movement to her opponent starting a combo almost always leaves her open for the straight right hand. She’s also still slow to exit the pocket when she wants to throw her own offense. This is where her opponents should be willing to engage as she’ll let herself get too squared in her stance and is very hittable. She doesn’t have much power in her hands so the more talented strikers of the division may still find success in throwing their own offense regardless of her forward pressure before using footwork to distance themselves before Blanchfield can engage in the clinch or shoot for takedowns.

Her fight against JJ Aldrich seemed to be a wake up call for her striking. Aldrich timed her well as she tried to enter with stiff jabs and crosses while also landing more powerful shots, exiting the pocket before Blanchfield could close the distance and make it a wrestling match. Even when she got caught in the clinch, she looked to overpower Blanchfield who usually has little issue getting her opponent down when she has her hands locked. She was able to sink in the high-elbow guillotine to finish her, but if she hadn’t, she likely would’ve been on the wrong side of the judge’s scorecards.

Her opponent is the former title challenger Taila Santos. This will be the first fight back for the Brazilian after her controversial split decision loss to Valentina Shevchenko where she arguably won three rounds against the now former champ. Santos is very strong and has a well rounded game of striking and grappling. She was able to notch 3 takedowns against Shevchenko and has dominated grappling exchanges against all competition including the grappling ace Gillian Robertson. This is in large part due to her overwhelming strength but she has good technique as well when keeping top control and transitioning, especially to the back.

The power of Santos is evident on the feet as well. She’s dropped multiple opponents with the right hand and her counters are sharp off the back foot. Shevchenko was able to find success in countering Taila as she isn’t super fast and her strikes, although impactful, aren’t the tightest and can be telegraphed by a good counter striker. Her kicks and knees are another big part of her game. She likes the front kick to the body and will batter the legs as well with her powerful low kicks. In tight, she uses her strength to gain control of the clinch and dig knees into the body. She’s a true threat on the feet as well as the ground.

Her best position is arguably this clinch where she’s almost always able to bully her opponent and take the body lock before tripping them and gaining top control. In her bout with Shevchenko, the two were more evenly matched in terms of punching power, but when it came to the wrestling, Santos looked to be much stronger physically. This has been the story of her UFC career so far; when she’s faced women who can match or exceed her ability in the grappling department, she’s still able to find success because she’s been able to dominate them with strength. She’s yet to face an opponent who’s capable of matching her strength as well as her grappling ability (if that fighter exists at 125 lbs).

Outside of her striking not being the most technically sound, she has a couple of other areas of worry. The first is her tendency to give up submission attempts. There have been multiple occasions when she’s on top of her opponent and they’re able to sneak an armbar or triangle attempt in. She’s always defended well and, when in doubt, has relied on her physicality to ensure she doesn’t get submitted but a high level grappler like Blanchfield isn’t going to miss on one of those opportunities. Other than that, the only other issue I could flag was her gas tank. Though she’s had no issues with going 15 minutes and has lasted 25 with Valentina, her pace on the feet slows as the fight progresses and the strikes become easier to read.

This matchup against Taila Santos is a tough one for Erin as she poses a lot of threats in the areas we see Blanchfield struggle in. The first of which is the powerful striking of Santos. Erin’s toughness and willingness to eat shots has given her opportunities to gain control of the clinch to work for takedowns, but Santos is very good (especially early on) at using her footwork to slide out of range of her opponent and land a powerful counter that makes them think twice about trying to rush in.

The second worry I have for Blanchfield in this matchup is the strength of Santos in clinch exchanges. We’ve seen Blanchfield struggle with stronger fighters along the fence and she relies heavily on these positions to get her takedowns. She’s very good at trips and she may be able to take advantage of Santos’s tendency to muscle her opponents down and reverse position but Santos has shown to be good in these scramble situations.

Prediction

We need to see an improved version of Blanchfield if she wants to get past Santos this weekend. She’ll need to show improvements in her ability to evade shots and exit striking exchanges before she eats the big shots from Santos and look to time her grappling attempts while Santos is off balance or surprise her with a double/single leg shot from space. For Santos, she needs to make sure to stay as technically sound as possible on the feet and avoid being in a bad position when Blanchfield inevitably searches for the takedown. If the fight gets to the ground, I’m always confident that Erin Blanchfield will win that battle but if she’s attacking submissions from the bottom and not finishing them, she may not get the nod on the scorecards.

I think Santos, as the slight underdog in this matchup, is really good value for the Brazilian. Blanchfield is still growing into the fighter she’ll be when she challenges for a title one day but a test like Taila Santos feels like a tough learning experience that she may not come out of with a win. With her level of talent and continued improvements, she may show off a level of wrestling/grappling dominance we have yet to see against Santos and if she gets top position, we’ve seen just how lethal she can be with her submissions. That being said, I like Santos to steal this one as she has more tools and, in my opinion, the more likely path to victory. I believe Blanchfield keeps it close and is able to last the full three rounds though with the scorecards likely reading 29-28 for Santos.

• Prediction: Taila Santos by decision +165 (BetUS)
• Best Bet: Taila Santos to win +115 (BetUS)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get an exclusive sign-up offer worth up to $2,500

The post Erin Blanchfield vs. Taila Santos prediction | UFC Singapore appeared first on The Body Lock.

Michal “Hussar” Oleksiejczuk, 28, has been a mainstay in the UFC since 2017. He has amassed a 6-4-1 record with five knockout wins and three submission losses. Both of these men tend to start fast and fight with violence.

How to watch: Get ESPN+ and watch every fight live this Saturday, including Max Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie.

How to bet: Sign up to BetUS and cash in our special sign-up offer of up to $2,500.

Betting Odds

This fight opened at near pick’em and has only narrowed throughout the week.

• Chidi Njokuani: -108 (BetUS)
• Michal Oleksiejczuk: -112(BetUS)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get an exclusive sign-up offer worth up to $2,500

Fight Breakdown

Njokuani is a talented and dangerous kickboxer who, through his endless length and striking technique, finds success at range. Typically, as seen in his back-to-back first-round finishes, Chidi is a fast starter. However, he doesn’t typically bring the fight to his opponent. Instead, Njokuani looks to stay near the black line on the canvas and use his range weapons like his stiff jab and prodding front kick to force his opponent to rush into range. When an opponent crashes distance without caution, Njokuani is highly skilled at landing a counter shot that can shut the lights out.

His goal is to be all the way out at range until that counter combination presents itself because his takedown defense and defensive grappling are still gaps in his game. Yes, he’s improved his ability to stay upright; and, once down, has improved in his defensive submissions. But, dedicated wrestlers have been able to get him down and hold him there for long and important minutes. Unsurprising given his background, when Chidi is given the kickboxing match he wants, he typically finds the finish. But, when the fight turns into a mixed martial arts match and he has to worry about clinch work, dirty boxing, and defensive grappling, we’ve seen Njokuani struggle.

Oleksiejczuk is a hyper-aggressive southpaw striker with show-stopping power and a killer’s mindset. From the opening bell, Oleksiejczuk looks to crash distance and land thudding body shots and overhand lefts that can knockout any opponent. Even though he’s competed at 205, Oleksiejczuk still often finds himself as the smaller fighter in the 185-pound division. Because of his height and length disadvantage, Oleksiejczuk typically enters range with a reckless abandon, relying on his stout chin and the powershots he swings forward.

Once he gets in the pocket, Oleksiejczuk has fast hands, works the body and head in combination, and pushes a solid pace. Further, “Hussar” is strong in the clinch and can hold opponents against the cage while dealing enough damage to deter the ref from breaking it up. His biggest issue, as is the case for Njokuani, is his defensive grappling. Oleksiejczuk has a sub 50% takedown defense and has been submitted 4 times. While Njokuani offensive wrestling would surprise me, if Oleksiejczuk gets lazy in the clinch, there is a chance that he gives up position or even his neck. When Oleksiejczuk fights with measured aggression, he’s dangerous and successful. When he fights with pure aggression, though, he can find himself in dangerous spots.

Prediction

On paper, both of these fighters are similar and that likely impacted the near even odds. Both are dangerous, powerful, explosive, and struggle with defensive grappling. However, a few key differences has me on the Oleksiejczuk side. First, Njokuani’s chin has been cracked and failed 4 times against less impressive power punchers than Oleksiejczuk; meanwhile, Oleksiejczuk has been in the cage against 205lb power punchers and has only been knocked out once.

Also, while both men struggle to defensively grapple, Oleksiejczuk is more likely to engage that aspect of MMA offensively and should find more success in the clinch given his experience and strength advantage. Lastly, Oleksiejczuk’s pressure and pace should push Njokuani’s sometimes questionable gas tank into a risky place. Outside of Njokuani catching him coming in, which is a real possibility, I like Oleksiejczuk to win this fight everywhere else.

Best Bet: Oleksiejczuk to win (-112)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get an exclusive sign-up offer worth up to $2,500

The post Chidi Njokuani vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk prediction | UFC Singapore appeared first on The Body Lock.

Chikadze’s hype has died down some over the last year or two after he lost unanimously to Calvin Kattar to begin 2022. Caceres has found more success with two straight wins, including a highlight-reel knockout of Julian Erosa.

How to watch: Get ESPN+ and watch every fight live this Saturday, including Max Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie.

How to bet: Sign up to BetUS and cash in our special sign-up offer of up to $2,500.

Betting Odds

Chikadze is a hefty favorite coming into this one against Bruce Leeroy:

• Giga Chikadze: -250 (BetUS)
• Alex Caceres: +200 (BetUS)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get an exclusive sign-up offer worth up to $2,500

Fight Breakdown

Alex Caceres will be making the walk to the UFC octagon for the 29th time this weekend. Caceres, 35, is 21-13 overall as a pro and has a well rounded game of unorthodox striking and grappling. On the feet, he’s a southpaw with a sideways, karate-style stance that he uses to stay light and dip out of range when his opponent throws. He likes his kicks from both sides but mainly utilizes the round kick with the back leg and the sidekick with the front. His hands are quick and he strings together good boxing combinations even though he isn’t the most powerful puncher. His power often comes from his lower body in his kicks. His knockout victory over Julian Erosa shows how technically sharp he is offensively where he uses his straight left hand to hide a delayed left high kick that Erosa never saw.

Similar to his flashy striking style, his jiu jitsu is very unorthodox and predicated around movement. He likes to flow from one position to the next and is very good at taking the back this way, even from the standing clinch. He does get caught in submission attempts himself in these exchanges so it seems he’s much more offensively minded here.

With his striking defense being so reliant on his movement, he becomes much easier to hit as he’s immobilized. This can happen when he’s backed up to the fence and forced to shorten his stance, square his shoulders and be ready to counter with his boxing. His movement is also slowed by the leg kicks to his lead leg. He’s had three straight fights where his opponent has found success both early on and late in the fight targeting his front leg, making it hard to maneuver in the way he wants. When he’s put in these situations, his low guard and not being able to effectively throw kicks makes him susceptible to striking flurries. He hasn’t eaten the right hand well, he’s gotten caught by it a lot and has been dropped because of it so we’ll see if Chikadze can find the openings with it.

His opponent, Giga Chikadze is returning to the octagon after 18 months off. The former Glory kickboxer is 14-3 in MMA with his most recent fight being a unanimous decision loss to Calvin Kattar at the beginning of 2022. Giga, 34 years old, is a striker with an impressive arsenal of explosive, technical kicks. He likes to switch stances and fire offense from both sides but he’s famous (or infamous if you’re his opponent) for his left round kick to the liver from southpaw.

In the striking department, Giga is a kick specialist, but his hands shouldn’t be slept on. He’s explosive in his combinations and when he’s able to create space and set his feet, he’s one of the most dangerous strikers in the featherweight division. He throws devastating leg kicks to accompany his fight ending techniques like the round kicks to the liver and head. He uses these kicks to set up one another and with his flow between stances, he batters both sides of his opponent at all three levels. He has a bad tendency of retreating and using a lot of movement around the cage to try and get space. Too often, he’s tracked down by his opponent (especially later in the fight) and is caught with the boxing combos as he keeps his hands low and relies mostly on head movement and consistent footwork.

Though the grappling department isn’t his strength, he’s shown impressive takedown defense to keep the fight off the ground. He fights off attempts along the cage well and has shown that he’s well-versed in the right technique to defend a multitude of positions when pressed against the fence. He was controlled for the majority of the first round by Kattar after he slipped and found himself in the bottom position, so if his opponent is able to get him down, this may be an area where they can rack up control time and wear on the gas tank of the Georgian product.

Giga’s striking is powerful and explosive. Pair that with the miles he accumulates running around the octagon trying to gain space to threaten with his kicks, his gas tank depletes a bit too quickly. His output won’t necessarily drop, but he’s much less technical and his movement slows significantly towards the end of round two. I’d like to see him be more aggressive with his boxing and throw out more feints with the kicks like he did against Omar Morales to keep his opponent off of him.

Caceres, the southpaw, poses a unique challenge to Giga thus far in the UFC as he loves to target the open side of orthodox opponents with his left kicks from southpaw. That liver kick likely won’t be found against Caceres so if he wants to work the body, it’ll be from orthodox. Given the striking experience of the Georgian, I don’t expect Giga to struggle with this but Kattar found some success in limiting the left kick in their matchup last January. Chikadze has a lot of power in his hands and he’s shown to be very effective with the left straight and overhand from the lefty stance which could catch Caceres over the ear on his lead side.

For Alex to pull off the upset, he’s going to need to crowd Giga. Caceres’s striking is predicated mainly around kicks as well, so whoever can keep their opponent backed up to the cage will hold a major advantage. Caceres in particular will have more options in this position as he loves to clinch and drag his opponent down to the mat. Even if he’s not successful in getting Chikadze down, it’d be a good idea to test him early and wear on his motor. He looked very tired heading into round two against Calvin Katter largely due to the amount of defending he had to do from the bottom. He still came out with power and solid combinations so he’s still dangerous offensively, but he becomes easier to track down and hit.

Prediction

Caceres is a fun striker with great movement of his own but I don’t think he has the power to back Giga down and take control on the feet. Giga will have the power advantage but it’s hard to determine who will be faster in the striking as well as movement as both guys are very quick. Caceres needs to be the quicker guy if he’s not going to be able to match the power to stand any chance on the feet. In regards to grappling, Giga has been very good at defending the takedowns from the clinch so I don’t see Caceres being super successful (say that three times fast) in these grappling scenarios.

One bad position defensively for Caceres is one of Giga’s biggest strengths: leg kicks. Caceres has gotten his lead leg beaten down and if he didn’t figure out how to defend them effectively after the Yusuff fight, I don’t see why we should expect him to have improved here. Giga has massive power in his kicks and he fires them off faster than anyone Caceres has faced since maybe Yair back in 2016. These kicks will kill the movement of Caceres early and he leaves a lot of openings for strikes once he’s slowed down. If Caceres is unable to take this fight to the ground and control or submit Chikadze over three rounds, I don’t see him pulling off the upset. Alex has only been knocked out once in his career, but the +210 odds on Chikadze by knockout is too good to pass on.

• Prediction: Giga Chikadze to win -250 (BetUS)
• Best Bet: Giga Chikadze to win inside the distance +210 (BetUS)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get an exclusive sign-up offer worth up to $2,500

The post Alex Caceres vs. Giga Chikadze prediction | UFC Singapore appeared first on The Body Lock.

His opponent, Jarno Errens, is a former BRAVE and UAE Warriors fighter. He made his UFC debut in September of 2022, losing a very close decision to William Gomis. Regardless, Errens is considered one of the most promising up-and-comers out of the Netherlands as he looks to earn his first UFC victory.

How to watch: Get ESPN+ and watch every fight live this Saturday night, including Max Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie.

How to bet: Sign up to BetUS and cash in our special sign-up offer of up to $2,50

Betting Odds

Errens will come into his second UFC fight as the underdog.

• Seung Woo Choi: –158 (BetUS)
• Jarno Errens: +128 (BetUS)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get an exclusive sign-up offer worth up to $2,500

Fight Breakdown

Seung Woo Choi is a long and tall striker. He stands 6 feet tall with 74.5 inches of reach, one and a half more than Errens. He stands conventional and likes to mostly box from the outside, throwing in low and high kicks to end the odd combination. he will maintain his range by hand-fighting the lead hand and feinting and using this to open up the centre with a laser-like right cross.

However, the best weapon in his arsenal is his left hook, which he can throw short, long and does a good job of angling out with to avoid counters. He will also use the left hook to side step and set up the right high kick, or go to the body with the hook to set up the overhand right.

Jarno Errens is also a very good striker, but with a more balanced game than Choi. He also stands conventional with a high guard and good fundamentals, he typically has a more kickboxing approach than Choi’s, electing to throw kicks more consistently. His best strike is his right cross to the body, which is a major weapon if he can get a read on Choi’s left hook. The double-edged sword of Choi, is because the left hook has brought him so much success, he has become predictable in it’s use, and if he does this against Errens, look for Errens to roll underneath and work the body. On the other side, if Errens throws too wide, Choi is also great and countering up the pipe.

Errens is also a brown belt and a long-time practitioner of Judo. watch for potential hip tosses if Choi gets over-excited and finds himself over-extending into a clinch, or gets complacent holding Errens against the cage. Errens likes the whizzer and brings the leg all the way across the hip to create high elevation in his throws and usually ends up in side control if he can maintain top position after the momentum. In top position he allows his opponents to give up their back as they look to escaper, and has an extremely tight body triangle.

This is where he poses the most threat to Choi, who although improving drastically in the grappling department, has shown to hesitate in positions where his opponents can lock down positions. If Errens finds himself fighting from his back, he favours a high guard, looking to attack triangles and armbars so if Choi is looking to earn control time he has to do it against the cage. By stuffing Errens against the fence he takes away the space the Dutch fighter needs to play a high guard and if unable to submit, Errens has given up time on the mat due to lack of urgency.

Prediction

Both men definitely have opportunities to win this. Choi should look to keep the fight standing as much as he possibly can, he does enjoy a slight reach advantage and should have more finishing power from both sides. He is a little bit sharper with more explosive hand speed. Errens has good enough striking to make it a difficult fight but the easiest route to victory I believe would be to hunt a submission.

The hard part is taking Choi down, but if he can gain some respect on the feet and draw Choi into overcommitting, other opponents have been able to slip into a back take or crash into a clinch with Choi. I do think that Errens has the diversity in submission attack to chain his grappling together a few steps ahead of what Choi can keep up with, and as the underdog it’s pretty good value.

Pick: Jarno Errens to win (+128)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get an exclusive sign-up offer worth up to $2,500

The post Seung Woo Choi vs. Jarno Errens prediction | UFC Singapore appeared first on The Body Lock.