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UFC Vegas 116: Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal continues on the important card with a fight between Marcus Buchecha and Ryan Spann within the heavyweight division on Saturday. Try our UFC odds series for our Buchecha-Spann prediction and pick.
Marcus Buchecha (5-2-1) is looking for his first official UFC victory, recently fighting to a hard-fought draw against Kennedy Nzechukwu after dropping a call to Martin Buday, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Ryan Spann.
Ryan Spann (23-11) recently rebounded from a troublesome knockout loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta by securing a formidable first-round guillotine choke victory over Lukasz Brzeski, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Marcus Buchecha.
UFC Vegas 116 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Vegas 116 Odds: Marcus Buchecha-Ryan Spann Odds
Marcus Buchecha: -155
Ryan Spann: +130
Over 1.5 rounds: +135
Under 1.5 rounds: -175
Why Marcus Buchecha Will Win
Marcus Buchecha is primed to defeat Ryan Spann this weekend because his legendary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pedigree presents an unsolvable problem. While Spann possesses dangerous power and decent submission skills, he has never faced a grappler with Buchecha’s generational talent.
Spann recently moved as much as the heavyweight division, but stepping in on short notice against a world-class specialist is an enormous mistake. With no full training camp to arrange his defensive wrestling, Spann will eventually find himself dragged to the canvas.
Once the fight inevitably hits the bottom, the pure grappling disparity will quickly change into a suffocating nightmare for the American. Spann often relies on his signature guillotine choke during transitions, but attempting that technique against Buchecha is basically handing over position.
Buchecha possesses the heavy top control and systematic guard-passing ability to completely neutralize any scrambling efforts from the underside. As an alternative of rushing his work, the Brazilian will methodically isolate a limb or expose Spann’s neck while slowly draining his energy.
If the striking exchanges remain temporary, Almeida will easily avoid the heavy right hand and utilize his powerful takedown entries. Expect Buchecha to use Spann’s short-notice conditioning and secure a dominant submission to finally claim his first UFC victory.
Why Ryan Spann Will Win
Ryan Spann is primed to defeat Marcus Buchecha this weekend because his devastating knockout power can be the good equalizer on this heavyweight matchup. While Buchecha is a generational grappler, he has historically struggled against opponents who can impose physical striking dominance early within the fight.
Spann possesses immense size and explosive speed, allowing him to maintain the Brazilian always guessing on the feet. By utilizing a stiff jab and maintaining distance, the American can systematically punish every desperate takedown attempt before the space closes.
Bettors should recognize that Spann’s heavy hands make him a highly useful asset against a pure submission specialist. Buchecha tends to depart his chin exposed when shooting from the surface, which is a catastrophic mistake against a natural finisher.
Even when the fight briefly hits the canvas, Spann has showcased highly underrated defensive grappling and a lethal guillotine choke. He possesses the vital athleticism to force chaotic scrambles and immediately create the space needed to get right back to his feet.
Ultimately, this classic striker versus grappler matchup strongly favors the person who can end the competition with a single, perfectly placed shot. Expect Spann to weather the early grappling storm and secure a violent, first-round knockout to successfully money an enormous ticket.
Final Marcus Buchecha-Ryan Spann Prediction & Pick
It is a textbook grappler-versus-striker clash, and the important thing query is straightforward: can Buchecha close the gap against a 6-foot-5 knockout artist with a 79-inch reach?
Spann stepped in on roughly two weeks’ notice, which matters — preparation gaps at heavyweight will be costly. Nonetheless, Buchecha (5-2-1) remains to be hunting his first official UFC victory and has looked raw on the feet, telegraphing takedowns and leaving himself exposed to counters.
Spann (23-11) carries real one-punch power and the octagon experience to use Buchecha’s striking deficiencies. If he controls range with calf kicks and stays disciplined off the cage, Spann can land the clean shot that ends this early.
Ryan Spann gets the win by KO, Round 2. His veteran savvy, size advantage, and power are an excessive amount of for a still-developing Buchecha MMA game.
Final Marcus Buchecha-Ryan Spann Prediction & Pick: Ryan Spann (+130), Under 1.5 Rounds (-175)
UFC Vegas 116: Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal continues on the important card with a fight between Marcus Buchecha and Ryan Spann within the heavyweight division on Saturday. Try our UFC odds series for our Buchecha-Spann prediction and pick.