[autotag]Kaan Ofli[/autotag] and [autotag]Mairon Santos[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 62 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas for “The Ultimate Fighter 32” featherweight finale. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
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Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos UFC on ESPN 62 preview
Ofli (11-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) started off his TUF season with a decision win over Nathan Fletcher. In the semifinals, he stopped Roedie Roets by first-round submission. … Santos (13-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) picked up a pair of decision wins in the TUF house. In his first fight, he beat Edwin Cooper Jr., followed by a semifinal win over Guillermo Torres.
Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos UFC on ESPN 62 expert pick, prediction
This Saturday’s card features two finales from this season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” and Ofli will take on Santos for the featherweight portion of the show.
Both of these fighters are incredibly tough and deceptively well-rounded, so I’m curious to see how they’ll show out on the big stage now that they’re off the reality show and back with their original camps and corners.
I’ll be a bit biased toward Santos since he’s been training in my backyard of Xtreme Couture here in Las Vegas since departing the show, working with noted MMA coach Eric Nicksick. That said, Ofli can be a difficult fighter to look good against and the smaller cage should assist his grinding style.
I’m not sure if Santos can produce a stoppage in this spot, but I believe that his camp will have him well-prepared for the grind that’s coming his way.
I’ll pick Santos to win a competitive decision by landing the more meaningful blows in space and in closed quarters.
Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos UFC on ESPN 62 odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Brazilian fighter, listing Santos -192 and Ofli +154 via FanDuel.
Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos UFC on ESPN 62 start time, how to watch
As the third fight on the main card, Ofli and Santos are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 11:05 p.m. ET. The fight will air on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.