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Talented grapplers collide at UFC Vegas 102 when former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Rodolfo Vieira (10-2) meets Andre Petroski (12-3). It’s time to proceed our UFC odds series with a Vieira-Petroski prediction and pick.
Vieira, among the finest submission grapplers to transition to MMA, has largely flexed his muscles within the UFC. He has gone 5-2 within the Octagon and enters UFC Vegas 102 off consecutive victories. Most recently, he submitted Armen Petrosyan in the primary round in February 2024.
Petroski also enters the matchup on a two-fight win streak, each by decision. He last fought Dylan Budka at UFC Vegas 97, picking up his seventh win within the Octagon since entering the promotion through season 29 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
Listed here are the UFC Vegas 102 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Vegas 102 Odds: Rodolfo Vieira-Andre Petroski Odds
Rodolfo Vieira: -278
Andre Petroski: +225
Over 1.5 rounds: -195
Under 1.5 rounds: +150
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Why Rodolfo Vieira Will Win
In a battle between two grapple-heavy fighters, Vieira is the higher fighter on the mat. If this was a pure grappling match, Vieira would win in a landslide. In fact, that shouldn’t be the case, but Petroski lands just 2.77 significant strikes per minute and has not landed greater than 23 in his last 4 fights. He simply doesn’t win without his grappling.
Against other grappling-based fighters, Vieira is 3-1 within the UFC, along with his only loss to No. 12-ranked contender Anthony Hernandez. His second loss within the UFC got here against Chris Curtis, who stuffed all 20 of his takedown attempts. Not only does Petroski lack the identical form of takedown defense, but he shall be willing to go to the bottom with Vieira. Petroski continues to insist he’s the perfect grappler within the division, landing a takedown in seven of his nine UFC fights.
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The last time Vieira faced an opponent willing to grapple with him, he submitted Cody Brundage within the second round at UFC Vegas 72. Brundage had him severely compromised and pulled guard to aim a guillotine choke, only to tap out to an arm triangle just minutes later. It was definitely a case of poor fight IQ, but Petroski appears to be approaching this matchup in an identical manner.
Why Andre Petroski Will Win
At any time when two grapplers face one another within the UFC, the fight tends to show right into a striking match. If that’s the case, Petroski is the younger, faster, and more athletic fighter with a substantial power advantage. In such matchups, that may often be enough, as was the case when he beat Gerald Meerschaert at UFC 292.
Pretty much as good of a grappler as Vieira is, he shouldn’t be the perfect wrestler. The Brazilian has accomplished just 30 percent of his takedown attempts within the UFC. Against fighters with higher than a 60 percent takedown defense, he’s only a combined 5-of-37 on his shots. Most of that features his 0-for-20 goose egg against Curtis, but he also went just 1-for-7 against Brundage and 4-for-10 against Hernandez. Petroski’s 80 percent takedown defense is one in all the best he’ll face.
Petroski’s instinct might want him to grapple, but he has a transparent striking advantage. Working with head coach John Marquez and teammate Joe Pyfer, Petroski’s striking has step by step improved each outing. Each of Petroski’s three profession losses got here by knockout, while Vieira has only one knockout win in his 12 skilled fights.
Final Rodolfo Vieira-Andre Petroski Prediction & Pick
The lasting images most fans have of Petroski usually are not great. Before laying on his two most up-to-date opponents to choose up uneventful wins, he ran head-first into Jacob Malkoun’s hip to cause one in all the weirdest fight endings in UFC history. Conversely, Vieira looked phenomenal in his last fight, handing Armen Petrosyan the primary submission lack of his profession.
Each scenarios concurrently create a sell-high moment on Vieira and a buy-low opportunity on Petroski. Now 35, Vieira has notably slowed as a long time of combat sports weigh on him. Since his last fight, Vieira experienced the birth of his son and endured wrist surgery, resulting in a year-long layoff. He could have looked good against Petrosyan, however it was clear from the start that the previous kickboxer had nothing for him on the bottom.
If Petroski shouldn’t be careful, Vieira can truly submit anybody. Yet, Petroski still has a sizeable strength, power and speed advantage with more tools on the feet to out-work a one-dimensional fighter. Neither man has great cardio, but Vieira has roughly seven good minutes in him before he falls off a cliff.
Final Rodolfo Vieira-Andre Petroski Prediction & Pick: Andre Petroski (+225), Over 1.5 Rounds (-195)
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