Vlasto Cepo vs. Gilbert Urbina prediction, odds, pick for UFC Belgrade

The UFC Belgrade Essential Card continues to roll as we present one other prediction and pick for this next bout within the Middleweight (185) Division. Serbia’s own Vlasto Cepo will tackle Gilbert Urbina of Texas in a scrap you will not wish to miss! Check our UFC Belgrade odds series for the Cepo-Urbina prediction and pick.

Vlasto Cepo (14-3) will make his UFC debut after back-to-back knockout wins within the Oktagon MMA promotion leading into this. Earning each wins in the primary round, Cepo is 6-2 under Oktagon as he heads into his UFC debut the strict betting favorite trying to make a powerful impression. Cepo stands 6-foot-1.

Gilbert Urbina (7-4) is 1-3 contained in the UFC since appearing on The Ultimate Fighter 29. Urbina has dropped back-to-back knockout losses by the hands of Charles Radtke and Uros Medic, hoping to bounce back on foreign soil as he searches for his first win since 2023. Urbina stands 6-foot-3 with a 75-inch reach.

UFC Belgrade Odds, courtesy of DraftKings. 

UFC Belgrade Odds: Vlasto Cepo-Gilbert Urbina Odds

Vlasto Cepo: -355

Gilbert Urbina: +280

Over 1.5 rounds: +220

Under 1.5 rounds: -298

Why Vlasto Cepo Will Win

• Last Fight: (W) Daniel Schwindt – KO (right hook, R1)
• Last 5: 4-1
• Finishes: 10 KO/TKO, 12 SUB

Vlasto Cepo ended his most up-to-date bout in typical fashion by landing a looping right hook to knock his opponent out in the primary round. Of Cepo’s 14 pro MMA wins, nine have ended by first-round knockout because the prospect fights with an unmistakable style. Fans will immediately grow keen on Cepo’s walk-down “terminator” variety of striking, having no regard for his own safety while solely being focused on the knockout.

Cepo is amazingly physically imposing and doesn’t have a ton of respect on the subject of his opponent’s offense. He’s more concerned with earning his own knockout than he’s with the optics of the fight and whatever damage he may absorb on his end. Don’t expect him to have much regard for Urbina’s style or previous experience within the UFC.

While Vlasto Cepo often is the most dangerous fighter within one round, we’re still waiting to see how he fares under the pressure of a full three rounds. His cardio seems to carry up well when he’s redlining through the primary five minutes, but putting together a full quarter-hour is something he’ll need to learn quickly if he wants a probability against solid UFC opponents.

Why Gilbert Urbina Will Win

• Last Fight: (L) Uros Medic – KO (straight left, R1)
• Last 5: 1-4
• Finishes: 2 KO/TKO, 2 SUB

Gilbert Urbina bumped into two left hands during his consecutive knockouts, committing to an all-out brawl in the primary round and coming up short on each occasions. His opponents Charles Radtke and Uros Medic feature the same nose for the knockout to Urbina’s current opponent, so specializing in defense and advancing out of the primary round will probably be his focus on this underdog spot.

Gilbert Urbina is amazingly game to brawl in his own right, but he’s much better working his jab at range and establishing the low leg kick. Damaging Cepo’s legs early could possibly be the important thing to his success and limiting his opponent’s relentless forward pressure. If Urbina can damage the legs and force Cepo into the second and third round, he could have a probability to outlast him with output in a three-round decision.

Still, it’s value noting Urbina last saw the gap in 2019 and hasn’t done so since joining the UFC. His chin has already been compromised and defensive improvements can have to be on the forefront of his game plan, but Urbina actually stands a probability to weather the early storm and drag his debuting opponent into deep waters where he isn’t comfortable.

Final Vlasto Cepo-Gilbert Urbina Prediction & Pick

This ought to be a fun fight for so long as it lasts but given the track record of those two fighters, we should always expect to see this one go the gap. Vlasto Cepo will probably be at his most dangerous throughout the opening round of this fight, consistently blitzing forward and threatening the knockout. The further Gilbert Urbina can drag this fight out, the more it should favor him in testing Cepo’s cardio over three rounds.

While Gilbert Urbina should arrive as an improved version of himself, he’ll have a really difficult time avoiding the looping and blitzing punches of Vlasto Cepo. Even when he chooses to play the primary round conservatively, it won’t deter Cepo from relentlessly closing the gap and hunting the knockout.

I expect this berserker style from Vlasto Cepo to be too dangerous for Urbina early on as he earns the knockout in the primary round. Still, be looking out for a comeback from Urbina if he’s capable of extend this fight into the later rounds.

Final Vlasto Cepo-Gilbert Urbina Prediction & Pick: Vlasto Cepo (-355); UNDER 1.5 Rounds (-298)