UFC Fight Night 245 – Page 4 – Syndication Server

UFC Fight Night 245 predictions: We’re split on Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira

Check out our staff members’ picks and analysis for UFC Fight Night 245 in Las Vegas.

The UFC stays put on its home turf this week with a pair of ranked middleweights at the top of the bill.

UFC Fight Night 245 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda

Records: Elkins (28-11 MMA, 18-10 UFC), Pineda (28-16 MMA, 5-7 UFC)
Past five: Elkins 3-2, Pineda 1-2-2
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Elkins -120, Pineda +100
Junkie pick results: Pineda 6, Elkins 5

Jake Hadley vs. Cameron Smotherman

Records: Hadley (11-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Smotherman (11-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Hadley 3-2, Smotherman 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Hadley -500, Smotherman +380
Junkie pick results: Hadley 10, Smotherman 1

Charles Johnson vs. Su Mudaerji

Records: Johnson (16-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC), Mudaerji (16-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Past five: Johnson 3-2, Mudaerji 3-2
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Johnson honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Johnson -245, Mudaerji +200
Junkie pick results: Johnson 10, Mudaerji 1

Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips

Records: Font (20-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC), Kyler (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Past five: Font 1-4, Phillips 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Phillips honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Font +400, Phillips -535
Junkie pick results: Phillips 7, Font 4

Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira

Records: Hernandez (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Pereira (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC)
Past five: Hernandez 5-0, Pereira 5-0
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Hernandez honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.19.24): Hernandez -140, Pereira +120
Junkie pick results: Hernandez 6, Pereira 5

Preliminary card picks

Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:

Asu Almabayev vs. Matheus Nicolau: Almabayev 7, Nicolau 4
Brad Katona vs. Jean Matsumoto: Matsumoto 10, Katona 1
Joselyne Edwards vs. Tamires Vidal: Edwards 8, VIdal 3
Jessica Penne vs. Elise Reed: Reed 8, Penne 3
Alice Ardelean vs. Melissa Martinez: Martinez 11, Ardelean 0
Robelis Despaigne vs. Austen Lane: Despaigne 11, Lane 0

Check out all the main card picks below.

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

	Hernandez vs. Pereira	Font vs. Phillips	Johnson vs. Mudaerji	Hadley vs. Smotherman	Elkins vs. Pineda
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 168-94	Pereira (69%)	Phillips (73%)	Johnson (83%)	Hadley (79%)	Elkins (66%)
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 173-89 2017, 2022 Champion	Pereira	Phillips	Johnson	Hadley	Pineda
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 171-91	Hernandez	Phillips	Johnson	Hadley	Elkins
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 166-96 2014 Champion	Hernandez	Font	Johnson	Hadley	Pineda
Nolan King @mma_kings 163-99 2023 Champion	Hernandez	Phillips	Johnson	Hadley	Pineda
Matt Erickson @MattE 161-101	Pereira	Phillips	Mudaerji	Smotherman	Elkins
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 160-102	Pereira	Phillips	Johnson	Hadley	Elkins
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 157-105	Hernandez	Font	Johnson	Hadley	Pineda
Simon Samano @SJSamano 157-105	Pereira	Font	Johnson	Hadley	Pineda
Brian Garcia @thegoze 156-106 2017 Champion	Hernandez	Font	Johnson	Hadley	Elkins
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 151-111	Pereira	Phillips	Johnson	Hadley	Pineda
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 143-119	Hernandez	Phillips	Johnson	Hadley	Elkins

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

UFC’s Joselyne Edwards wants to work her way to eventual Ailin Perez rematch: ‘I’m coming for her’

Joselyne Edwards says things aren’t fully settled with former rival Ailin Perez.

The beef wasn’t fully settled between [autotag]Joselyne Edwards[/autotag] and [autotag]Ailin Perez[/autotag].

Although Perez and Edwards hugged it out after their women’s bantamweight bout at UFC 302 in June, the two aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye. Edwards, who lost by unanimous decision, had a buildup with Perez that involved weeks of trash talk, which stemmed from an altercation at the UFC Performance Institute.

All that bad history can’t be put away by a simple hug, at least according to “La Pantera.”

“She’s the one that asked for the hug, she can say whatever she wants, but it’s on camera,” Edwards told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “She asked for it, and then told me that everything that she did was for show, that this was just for show, everything that happened outside the octagon, all the trash talk. So she said let’s be cool, and asked me if she could hug me, and I said OK.

“Look, this is the fight game, we have to hit each other, but I don’t think you have to be on bad terms outside the octagon. However, with her, things are different. To be honest, I can’t say never, but I don’t think things will ever be good between us. If I see her, I’ll say hi from afar, but I don’t want to have communication or a friendship with her. I think she has bad vibes, and I don’t like being around those people. She did beat me in a decision. I can’t change that, but that’s it. She’s got her life, I got mine, and I don’t want to know anything about that girl.”

Edwards (13-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) returns to the octagon at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 245 against Tamires Vidal (7-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC). The fight was originally scheduled for bantamweight, but Edwards missed weight by three pounds Friday morning.

Edwards is focused on Vidal, but she wants to eventually run things back with Perez. She knows she has work to do, as Perez is on a streak and recently entered the UFC official rankings, but she’s confident she’ll eventually be back in a position where the fight makes sense.

“One hundred percent,” Edwards said about wanting a rematch with Perez. “Look, I’m focused on my things. I’m going to win my fight and then the next one. I see she’s doing well, and I’m glad she’s doing well because I want to fight with her again.

“It’s better for me that she wins all her fights, that she enters the rankings, that people have her as a title contender, because I’m coming for her. Out of all the people who I’ve lost to, the only one I want a rematch with, it’s her. I’m coming for her.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

Robelis Despaigne promises improvement in wrestling ahead of UFC return: ‘We’ve dedicated a lot of time to it’

Robelis Despaigne wants to show improvement in his wrestling for his return at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 245.

Wrestling. That’s what caused [autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag] to suffer his first professional defeat in MMA.

The Olympic karate bronze medalist got his momentum halted in May when Waldo Cortes-Acosta handed him his first loss. Despaigne (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), who entered the promotion earlier this year with a ton of hype, was beaten in a unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 56 and was heavily criticized by many for his defensive wrestling or better yet, lack thereof.

Now, five months later, the Cuban knockout artist promises he addressed that deficiency ahead of his return at UFC Fight Night 245.

“Oh, we’ve put in so much work (in the wrestling),” Despaigne told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “We’ve dedicated a lot of time to it, almost 50-50. Wrestling involves a different distance, and different type of cardio. It’s completely different, so we’ve dedicated a lot of time to it. I’ve received a ton of support from the fighters at American Top Team. It’s almost a family, and they’ve helped me out a ton.”

Following his dominant defeat, Despaigne attended part of his training camp at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., which he describes as very formative in his MMA journey.

“We’re in collaboration with American Top Team,” Despaigne explained. “I go and train there because I have more training partners my size. It’s been very satisfactory. I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve had many trainings and sparring with great athletes, and it’s benefited me a ton.”

Despaigne returns to the octagon this Saturday in the opening bout of UFC Fight Night 245. He takes on Austen Lane (12-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) in an exciting heavyweight clash. Despaigne understands some of the criticism surrounding his potential, but he also feels a lot of it is not coming from the right place.

“The critics are normal, it’s a normal thing,” Despaigne said. “Sometimes I win, and I even get criticism, so that’s a part of the sport. You just have to take the constructive criticism, and everything else, the ones that are aimed to destroy, those I don’t pay attention to.”

Despaigne is looking to pick up a first-round finish in his return to the octagon. He sees Lane as a dangerous opponent, given they’re both in must-win situations.

“We’re coming out with everything,” Despaine said. “I’m coming from a loss, he’s coming from a loss, and we’re going to try to win at all costs. I’m going to give it my all, and I’m ready for it.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

UFC Fight Night 245 ceremonial weigh-in faceoff highlights video, photo gallery

UFC Fight Night 245 ceremonial weigh-ins are complete, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 245 weigh-ins took place Friday, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.

The weigh-ins took place at the UFC Apex, which hosts Saturday’s event (ESPN+). Check out the video above to see the athletes from all 11 scheduled matchups come face-to-face, and don’t miss the photo gallery below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

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Photos: UFC Fight Night 245 weigh-ins, faceoffs

Check out these photos of the UFC Fight Night 245 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Check out these photos of the UFC Fight Night 245 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (Photos by Ken Hathaway, MMA Junkie)

UFC Fight Night 245 weigh-in results: Joselyne Edwards has third miss in five fights

Check out the UFC Fight Night 245 weigh-in results from Las Vegas, featuring Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira.

LAS VEGAS – Friday’s official UFC Fight Night 245 (ESPN+) weigh-ins are in the books, and it was another less-than-perfect scale session in “Sin City.”

For the third time in five fights, Joselyne Edwards (13-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) missed her mark when she came in at 139.5 pounds for her fight against Tamires Vidal (7-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC). Edwards came back to the scale about 20 minutes later, stripped down and was 139 pounds, officially. Vidal was 135.5 without issue when she stepped on the scale.

If the fight is approved by Vidal and the commission, Edwards will be fined a percentage of her purse – likely 30 percent.

In an oddity, though Matheus Nicolau (19-5-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC) weighed in more than 25 minutes after the one-hour window had expired, because he was confirmed to be on the way to the session in time, his weight was allowed. He was 125.5 pounds with no consequence other than it extended everyone’s weigh-in work day by 30 minutes.

In the main event, middleweights Anthony Hernandez (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and Michel Pereira (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC) each came in at 185.5 pounds to make their fight official.

The full UFC Fight Night 245 weigh-in results included:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

Anthony Hernandez (185.5) vs. Michel Pereira (185.5)
Rob Font (135.5) vs. Kyler Phillips (135.5)
Charles Johnson (126) vs. Su Mudaerji (126)
Jake Hadley (135.5) vs. Cameron Smotherman (135.5)
Darren Elkins (144.5) vs. Daniel Pineda (145.5)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

Asu Almabayev (125.5) vs. Matheus Nicolau (125.5)
Brad Katona (135.5) vs. Jean Matsumoto (135.5)
Joselyne Edwards (139)* vs. Tamires Vidal (135.5)
Jessica Penne (115.5) vs. Elise Reed (115)
Alice Ardelean (115) vs. Melissa Martinez (115.5)
Robelis Despaigne (264) vs. Austen Lane (251)

*Edwards missed the women’s bantamweight non-title limit on her first attempt. She returned and was 139, officially, on her second try.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

UFC Fight Night 245 video: Anthony Hernandez, Michel Pereira make weight in Las Vegas

The main event for the UFC’s latest home show is official after the headliners made weight Friday.

LAS VEGAS – The main event for the UFC’s latest home show is official after the headliners made weight Friday.

Ahead of UFC Fight Night 245 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex, middleweight contenders [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins.

Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

There Will Be Blood: Darren Elkins’ bloodiest, goriest UFC photos

UFC featherweight Darren Elkins hay have spilled more blood than any fighter in company history.

Check out these photos highlighting UFC featherweight [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]’ career through the years – a UFC run that has featured arguably more spilled blood than any fighter in company history.

Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) is assisted off the field by team medical staff after suffering an unknown injury in the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Oct 5, 2019; Lawrence, KS, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

UFC Fight Night 245: How to watch Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira, start time, Las Vegas fight card, odds, more

Here’s what you need to know to watch UFC Fight Night 245 on ESPN+.

The UFC stays put for another home show this week with a pair of middleweight standouts at the top of a card that features nine bouts at featherweight or lighter.

Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 245 with 185-pounders in the headlining spot, plus bantamweights in the co-feature.

Broadcast and streaming info

UFC Fight Night 245 has a main card that starts at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET.

Veteran broadcaster [autotag]Karyn Bryant[/autotag] serves as desk anchor and host at UFC Fight Night 245.

“The Ultimate Fighter 15′ winner [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] and retired welterweight veteran [autotag]Alan Jouban[/autotag] join her as analysts at the desk.

[autotag]Brendan Fitzgerald[/autotag] will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC Fight Night 245.

He’ll command play-by-play and be joined in the booth by lightweight veteran [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag], as well as former UFC/WEC bantamweight champion [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag].

(Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie)

Main event: Anthony Hernandez

Record: 12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC
Opponent: Michel Pereira (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Roman Kopylov, Edmen Shahbazyan, Marc-Andre Barriault, JunYong Park, Brendan Allen
Misc.: “Fluffy” has a five-fight winning streak, four of which have been by stoppage – and two of which have gotten him post-fight bonuses.

Main event: Michel Pereira

Record: 31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC
Opponent: Anthony Hernandez (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Ihor Potieria, Michał Oleksiejczuk, Andre Petroski, Santiago Ponzinibbio, Andre Fialho
Misc.: Brazilian has an eight-fight winning streak and hasn’t lost since before the pandemic, when he landed an illegal knee on Diego Sanchez.

Co-main event: Rob Font

Record: 20-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC
Opponent: Kyler Phillips (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Key wins: Adrian Yanez, Cody Garbrandt, Marlon Moraes, Ricky Simon, Sergio Pettis
Misc.: Font will be looking to snap the second two-fight skid of his career. He’s dropped fur of his past five, but those losses have been decisions to the division’s elite: Jose Aldo, Marlon Vera, Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo.

Co-main event: Kyler Phillips

Record: 12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC
Opponent: Rob Font (20-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Key wins: Pedro Munhoz, Raoni Barcelos, Song Yadong
Misc.: “The Matrix” has three straight wins since the lone setback of his UFC career.

UFC Fight Night 245 main card betting odds

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

Anthony Hernandez (-150) vs. Michel Pereira (+125)
Rob Font (+300) vs. Kyler Phillips (-400)
Charles Johnson (-235) vs. Su Mudaerji (+190)
Jake Hadley (+125) vs. Brady Hiestand (-150)
Darren Elkins (+105) vs. Daniel Pineda (-125)

UFC Fight Night 245 prelim betting odds

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

Asu Almabayev (-170) vs. Matheus Nicolau (+140)
Brad Katona (+220) vs. Jean Matsumoto (-270)
Joselyne Edwards (-235) vs. Tamires Vidal (+190)
Jessica Penne (+130) vs. Elise Reed (-155)
Alice Ardelean (+125) vs. Melissa Martinez (-150)
Robelis Despaigne (-450) vs. Austen Lane (+325)

UFC Fight Night 245 preview videos

UFC Fight Night 245: Make your predictions for Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira (Updated)

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 245 event in Las Vegas.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 245 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those reader consensus picks will be part of the main card staff predictions we release ahead of UFC Fight Night 245 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex.

Make your picks below.

Robelis Despaigne vs. Austen Lane

Records: Despaigne (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Lane (12-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Past five: Despaigne 4-1, Lane 3-2
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.14.24): Despaigne -450, Lane +325

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-robelis-despaigne-vs-austen-lane_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Alice Ardelean vs. Melissa Martinez

Records: Ardelean (9-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Martinez (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Past five: Ardelean 4-1, Martinez 4-1
Division: Women’s strawweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.14.24): Ardelean +125, Martinez -150

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-alice-ardelean-vs-melissa-martinez_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Jessica Penne vs. Elise Reed

Records: Penne (14-8 MMA, 3-5 UFC), Reed (7-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC)
Past five: Penne 2-3, Reed 2-3
Division: Women’s strawweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.14.24): Penne +130, Reed -155

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-jessica-penne-vs-elise-reed_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Joselyne Edwards vs. Tamires Vidal

Records: Edwards (13-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC), Vidal (7-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Past five: Edwards 3-2, Vidal 3-2
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.14.24): Edwards -235, Vidal +190

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-joselyne-edwards-vs-tamires-vidal_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Brad Katona vs. Jean Matsumoto

Records: Katona (16-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC), Matsumoto (15-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Past five: Katona 4-1, Matsumoto 5-0
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.14.24): Katona +220, Matsumoto -270

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-brad-katona-vs-jean-matsumoto_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Asu Almabayev vs. Matheus Nicolau

Records: Almabayev (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Nicolau (19-5-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC)
Past five: Almabayev 5-0, Nicolau 5-0
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Almabayev honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.14.24): Almabayev -170, Nicolau +140

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-asu-almabayev-vs-matheus-nicolau_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-darren-elkins-vs-daniel-pineda_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Jake Hadley vs. Cameron Smotherman

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-jake-hadleyvs-cameron-smotherman_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Charles Johnson vs. Su Mudaerji

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-charles-johnson-vs-su-mudaerji_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-rob-font-vs-kyler-phillips_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-anthony-hernandez-vs-michel-pereira_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

UFC Fight Night 245 fight card (as of Oct. 14, 3 p.m. ET)

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira
Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips
Charles Johnson vs. Su Mudaerji
Jake Hadley vs. Cameron Smotherman
Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

Asu Almabayev vs. Matheus Nicolau
Brad Katona vs. Jean Matsumoto
Joselyne Edwards vs. Tamires Vidal
Jessica Penne vs. Elise Reed
Alice Ardelean vs. Melissa Martinez
Robelis Despaigne vs. Austen Lane

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.