Kennedy Nzechukwu – Page 4 – Syndication Server

UFC Fight Night 215: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Ion Cutelaba odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 215 odds and lines between Kennedy Nzechukwu and Ion Cutelaba, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a light heavyweight bout on the main card, Kennedy Nzechukwu and Ion Cutelaba meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 215 at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the UFC Fight Night 215: Nzechukwu vs. Cutelaba odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+, and the main card starts at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Nzechukwu lost 2 in a row against Da-Un Jung and Nicolae Negumereanu, but he picked up the Round 2 KO/TKO win over Karl Roberson last time out in July. He has finished inside the distance in 4 of the past 5 fights, all via KO/TKO, with 3 wins. His only fight to go the distance was a split-decision loss at UFC 272 to Negumereanu.

Cutelaba limps in on a 2-bout losing streak, getting submitted in the 1st round in each fight. His last victory was against Devin Clark via unanimous decision in mid-Sept. 2021.

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UFC Fight Night 215: Nzechukwu vs. Cutelaba odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:59 a.m. ET.

Fight result (2-way line): Nzechukwu -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Cutelaba +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over -140 | Under -102)
Fight to go distance: Yes (+210) | No (-320)

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UFC Fight Night 215: Nzechukwu vs. Cutelaba picks and predictions

Records: Nzechukwu (10-3-0) | Cutelaba (18-6-1)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

NZECHUKWU (-175) is a moderate favorite, and a little pricey, but he is a strong play on the 2-way line since Cutelaba has struggled lately.

Cutelaba heads into this bout on a 1-4-1 skid across his past 6 fights, including 2 submission losses and 2 KO/TKO setbacks. His only win was against Clark, with a draw against Justin Jacoby.

The 30-year-old Nzechukwu has been a little more consistent, going 4-2 across the past 6 fights. He holds an 8-inch reach advantage, so he’ll be able to hold Cutelaba at a distance, moving in and out at his leisure, picking and choosing his spots, while avoiding the big shots from the challenger.

NZECHUKWU BY KO/TKO (+120) at plus money is also a good value, as Cutelaba just cannot be trusted to pull out of his nosedive.

Over/Under (O/U)

No (-320): Fight to go the distance will cost you more than 3 times your potential return. That’s terribly costly.

I do like OVER 1.5 ROUNDS (-140), as I think Cutelaba is veteran enough to where he’ll be able to hang around and make Nzechukwu work for it. Eventually, though, this fight ends with Cutelaba on his back, shaking off the cobwebs after another knockout loss.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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UFC Fight Night 215 predictions: Derrick Lewis or Serghei Spivac in heavyweight clash?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 215 main card in Las Vegas.

	Lewis vs. Spivac	Cutelaba vs. Nzechukwu	Cortes-Acosta vs. Sherman	Fialho vs. Salikhov	Maddalena vs. Roberts
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 180-106	Lewis (54%)	Nzechukwu (59%)	Cortes-Acosta (78%)	Salikhov (55%)	Maddalena (87%)
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 190-101 2018 Champion	Lewis	Nzechukwu	Cortes-Acosta	Salikhov	Maddalena
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 182-109	Spivac	Cutelaba	Cortes-Acosta	Salikhov	Maddalena
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 182-109	Spivac	Cutelaba	Cortes-Acosta	Salikhov	Maddalena
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 179-112	Lewis	Cutelaba	Cortes-Acosta	Salikhov	Maddalena
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 178-113 2014 Champion	Spivac	Nzechukwu	Cortes-Acosta	Filaho	Maddalena
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 176-115	Lewis	Nzechukwu	Cortes-Acosta	Salikhov	Maddalena
Simon Samano @SJSamano 175-116	Lewis	Cutelaba	Cortes-Acosta	Filaho	Maddalena
Nolan King @mma_kings 170-121	Lewis	Cutelaba	Cortes-Acosta	Filaho	Maddalena
Brian Garcia @thegoze 169-122 2017 Champion	Lewis	Cutelaba	Cortes-Acosta	Salikhov	Maddalena
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 157-134	Lewis	Nzechukwu	Cortes-Acosta	Salikhov	Maddalena
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 142-149	Lewis	Cutelaba	Cortes-Acosta	Filaho	Maddalena

The UFC is back home in Las Vegas this week, and three sets of heavy hitters are atop the card.

UFC Fight Night 215 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) takes on [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC). Spivac is a 2-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Lewis is +165. But our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are bucking the betting odds and have Lewis with a big 8-3 lead.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] (16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) at light heavyweight. Nzechukwu is the favorite at the betting window at -170, but like in the main event, our pickers have underdog Cutelaba with the lead at 7-4.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is back for a quick turnaround at heavyweight against [autotag]Chase Sherman[/autotag] (16-10 MMA, 4-9 UFC). Cortes-Acosta is more than a 2-1 favorite and is one of two unanimous picks on the main card at 11-0.

[autotag]Andre Fialho[/autotag] (16-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in a welterweight fight that nearly is a pick’em at the sportsbook. Salikhov is just a -115 favorite, but he’s up 7-4 in the picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is our second unanimous pick at 11-0 in his welterweight fight against [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag] (18-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC). Maddalena is by far the biggest favorite on the card at -600.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Lewis (54 percent), Nzechukwu (59 percent), Cortes-Acosta (78 percent), Salikhov (55 percent) and Maddalena (87 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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Kennedy Nzechukwu not afraid by potential antics from Ion Cutelaba: ‘I’m Nigerian’

Kennedy Nzechukwu has seen it all.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] is unfazed by what may come in the lead up to fight his fight against Ion Cutelaba.

The UFC light heavyweight says he’s not worried about Cutelaba’s customary pre-fight antics ahead of their clash in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 215. Cutelaba (16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) is known for trying to agitate his opponents in the build up to a fight, as he’s shoved and yelled at opponents, among other things during pre-fight faceoffs.

Nzechukwu (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) isn’t worried about what Cutelaba may or may not do before they step into the octagon.

“No, not really, I’m Nigerian,” Nzechukwu said at the UFC Fight Night 215 media day on Wednesday when asked about any potential concerns with Cutelaba’s antics. “I’ve been scared since I was a toddler, so nothing can really scare me or spook me.

“Regardless of what happens, there’s no ill will towards him. He’s just doing him. He’s just being himself. The main thing is about fight night on Saturday. Both of us are going to be locked in that cage, and we’re going to have to fight. I’m ready.”

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Cutelaba has had a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to his results in the UFC. “The Hulk” has won in quick finishes, gone to the distance, been submitted, drawn, you name it.

Nzechukwu will be fighting for the third time in 2022. He started his year off with a split decision loss to Nicolae Negumereanu in March, but rebounded very nicely with a third-round TKO finish of Karl Roberson in July.

Whatever may come on Saturday, Nzechukwu is ready.

“Whether it’s tough or easy, I’m ready to fight,” Nzechukwu said. “I’m prepared mentally, physically, and I just want to show my skill set, display what I’m made of. I know Ion Cutelaba is a tough fight, so I’m expecting the toughest version of him to show up. I’m ready, I’m prepared.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.

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UFC Fight Night 215 pre-event facts: Andre Fialho first to five UFC fights in 2022

Check out the numbers behind UFC Fight Night 215, where Derrick Lewis can add to his knockout record and Andre Fialho keeps busy.

The UFC returns to its home base of Las Vegas on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 215, which takes place at the UFC Apex and streams on ESPN+.

A heavyweight headliner serves atop the card. The most decorated knockout artist in UFC history returns to competition as [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) looks to buck his losing skid against the streaking [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 215.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Oct. 24-30)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Oct. 24-30.

Ion Cutelaba vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu added to UFC Fight Night 215 on Nov. 19

A light heavyweight matchup between Ion Cutelaba vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu had been added to the lineup for UFC Fight Night 215.

A light heavyweight matchup between [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] had been added to the lineup for UFC Fight Night 215 in November.

MMA Junkie verified with multiple people close to the situation that Cutelaba (16-8-1 MMA, 5-7-1 UFC) and Nzechukwu (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) have agreed to the fight. The people requested anonymity because the organization has yet to make an official announcement.

The UFC Fight Night 215 event takes place Nov. 19 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire event streams on ESPN+.

Cutelaba, 28, will attempt to avoid a three-fight losing skid for the first time in his career. He’s coming off a first-round submission defeat against Johnny Walker at UFC 279 in September, and has earned just one victory in his past six fights overall dating back to February 2020.

Nzechukwu, 30, meanwhile, comes in with some momentum after winning four of his past six fights. The Fortis MMA product is coming off a third-round TKO of Karl Roberson at UFC on ESPN 39 in July, and has earned all but one of his octagon victories by knockout.

The latest UFC Fight Night 215 lineup now includes:

Derrick Lewis vs. Serghei Spivac
Tereza Bleda vs. Natalia Silva
Kevin Natividad vs. Ricky Turcios
Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Maria Oliveira
Andre Fialho vs. Muslim Salikhov
Kyler Phillips vs. Jack Shore
Cody Brundage vs. Rodolfo Vieira
Charles Johnson vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
Jennifer Maia vs. Maryna Moroz
Fernie Garcia vs. Brady Hiestand
Jose Johnson vs. Vince Morales
William Knight vs. Marcin Prachnio
Jack Della Maddalena vs. Danny Roberts
Ion Cutelaba vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu

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UFC on ESPN 39 post-event facts: Ricky Turcios’ rough striking numbers enter record books

Ricky Turcios landed just 11.5 percent of his strike attempts at UFC on ESPN 39, putting him in the record books for the wrong reasons.

After International Fight Week took over the MMA world, UFC on ESPN 39 on Saturday proved to be something of a hangover card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Rafael Fiziev[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) put a highlight on the end of a long night of fights, though, when he scored a fifth-round knockout of former UFC champ [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (32-14 MMA, 20-12 UFC) to extend his winning streak in the lightweight division to six consecutive fights.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 39.

UFC on ESPN 39 video: Kennedy Nzechukwu TKOs Karl Roberson into fourth straight loss

Kennedy Nzechukwu showed off a new layer to his game in a dominant TKO win at UFC on ESPN 39.

[autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag] showed off a new layer to his game in a dominant win over [autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 39.

Nzechukwu (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) used his grappling game to wear down Roberson (9-6 MMA, 4-6 UFC) in their light heavyweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He then turned up the volume late and scored a merciful ground-and-pound stoppage win at the 2:19 mark of Round 3.

Check out the replay below (via Twitter):

WHAT A FINISH BY Kennedy Nzechukwu! 😤#UFCVegas58 pic.twitter.com/2WIGPRLCAn

— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2022

Controlled the fight from start to finish!

BIG win for Kennedy Nzechukwu!! #UFCVegas58 pic.twitter.com/aF7kJcLzyg

— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2022

Nzechukwu, the tall and lengthy knockout specialist, came into UFC on ESPN 39 with back-to-back losses on his record. He showed strides in his game against a Roberson who now has questions around his future after a fourth consecutive defeat.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 39 results include:

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UFC on ESPN 39 pre-event facts: Rafael dos Anjos on cusp of history

Check out the facts and figured behind UFC on ESPN 39, where Rafael dos Anjos near seven hours of cage time.

The UFC continues its busy July schedule Saturday with UFC on ESPN 39, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on ESPN/streams on ESPN+.

A high-stakes lightweight clash serves as the main event of the card. Former 155-pound champion [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (32-13 MMA, 20-11 UFC) continued his pursuit of gold when he takes on the surging [autotag]Rafael Fiziev[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) in a five-round contest.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 39.