Tag: UFC on ESPN 58

Adam Fugitt vs. Josh Quinlan prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 58

Welterweights Adam Fugitt and Josh Quinlan open the UFC on ESPN 58 main card. Who will get back to .500 in the UFC?

[autotag]Adam Fugitt[/autotag] and [autotag]Josh Quinlan[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 58 from UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.  

Adam Fugitt vs. Josh Quinlan UFC on ESPN 58 preview

Fugitt (9-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will hope to continue his recent trend of trading wins and losses, at least for this fight, considering he’s coming off a submission loss to Mike Malott last year. A win would not only continue his trend, but get him back to .500 in the UFC. … Quinlan (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will also be fighting to get back to .500 in the UFC, but enters as a loser of two straight fights. His lone UFC win came in his debut against Jason Witt in August 2022.

Adam Fugitt vs. Josh Quinlan UFC on ESPN 58 expert pick, prediction

Considering that this is the only fight on the card north of 155 pounds, I can only conclude that the UFC matchmakers are trying to passive-aggressively stick it to their former overlord Joe Silva and his surefire method of opening main cards with lightweights or featherweights.

Nevertheless, in Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby’s defense, this welterweight matchup between Fugitt and Quinlan should be all action for as long as it lasts.

Quinlan stormed onto the scene with an emphatic knockout of Jason Witt in his UFC debut. Since then, Quinlan has struggled to get a win in the octagon, recently losing to southpaw Danny Barlow.

Standing in Quinlan’s way this Saturday is another UFC-level southpaw in Fugitt.

Despite typically coming in as the underdog for his janky style and unassuming demeanor, Fugitt is a deceptively well-rounded fighter who is often better than given credit for. That said, Fugitt’s traditionally porous defense could spell disaster against a power hitter like Quinlan.

For that reason, I’ll semi-reluctantly side with Quinlan to win by knockout in Round 1.

Adam Fugitt vs. Josh Quinlan UFC on ESPN 58 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are slightly favoring the Nevada-based fighter, listing Quinlan as a slight favorite at -125 and Fugitt slightly better than even money at -102, via FanDuel.

Adam Fugitt vs. Josh Quinlan UFC on ESPN 58 start time, how to watch

As the main card opening bout, Fugitt and Quinlan are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 10:05 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

Asu Almabaev vs. Jose Johnson prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 58

Flyweights Asu Almabaev and Jose Johnson meet on the UFC on ESPN 58 main card. Who will keep their momentum going?

[autotag]Asu Almabaev[/autotag] and [autotag]Jose Johnson[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 58 from UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.  

Asu Almabaev vs. Jose Johnson UFC on ESPN 58 preview

Almabaev (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has won 15 straight fights, having not suffered defeat since 2017. He made his UFC debut in August 2023, where he submitted Ode Osbourne. In his second appearance, Almabaev won a decision against CJ Vergara. … Johnson (16-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) enters on the heels of his first UFC victory, which was a submission of Chad Anheliger in November. After dropping his promotional debut last August, Johnson will look to stop Almabaev’s lengthy streak and get above .500 in the UFC.

Asu Almabaev vs. Jose Johnson UFC on ESPN 58 expert pick, prediction

Filling out the main card is an interesting flyweight affair between Almabayev and Johnson.

Despite standing 6-foot tall, Johnson will be looking for a change of scenery as he drops down to 125 pounds for the first time in his career. That said, the Michigan native will have a tough hurdle to get past this Saturday.

Unbeaten in the last 7 years, Almabayev is a well-rounded fighter with a solid wrestling base.

Although Almabayev appears talented enough to stand with Johnson, I suspect that the American’s height and the smaller octagon of the Apex force Almabayev into another grapple-heavy affair.

For that reason, I’ll side with the Kazak fighter to wear down Johnson by the third frame for a submission win.

Asu Almabaev vs. Jose Johnson UFC on ESPN 58 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the more natural flyweight, listing Almabayev as a heavy -650 favorite, with Johnson a big underdog at +440, via FanDuel.

Asu Almabaev vs. Jose Johnson UFC on ESPN 58 start time, how to watch

As the second main card bout, Almabaev and Johnson are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 10:35 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

Lucas Almeida vs. Timmy Cuamba prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 58

Featherweight Lucas Almeida and Timmy Cuamba meet in the UFC on ESPN 58 feature bout. Who returns to the win column?

[autotag]Lucas Almeida[/autotag] and [autotag]Timmy Cuamba[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 58 from UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.  

Lucas Almeida vs. Timmy Cuamba UFC on ESPN 58 preview

Almeida (14-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will look to end a two-fight skid. His last victory was a TKO stoppage of Michael Trizano in June 2022, but was then stopped by Pat Sabatini and Andre Fili in back-to-back fights. … Cuamba (8-2 UFC, 0-1 UFC) will enter the UFC’s octagon for the second time and is in search of his first victory with the promotion. He stumbled in his February debut, losing a split decision to Bolaji Oki.

Lucas Almeida vs. Timmy Cuamba UFC on ESPN 58 expert pick, prediction

Serving as the lone featherweight offering on the main card is a battle between Almeida and Timothy Cuamba.

Despite many in my area of Las Vegas being high on Cuamba, I’m having a hard time justifying the local fighter as a favorite in this spot.

Aside from the fact that Cuamba is the less-proven competitor, Almeida holds superior on-paper accolades in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and muay Thai.

Cuamba will likely be the quicker fighter with more active footwork on fight night, but I suspect that the smaller octagon of the UFC Apex will limit the 25-year-old American’s movement and feed the action into Almeida’s wheelhouse.

Even though I think Cuamba has a bright future down the road, this could be a case of too much too soon as far as the big stage is concerned.

I’ll officially pick Almeida to score a club-and-sub in Round 1.

Lucas Almeida vs. Timmy Cuamba UFC on ESPN 58 odds

The oddsmakers are favoring the younger fighter, listing Cuamba as a -192 favorite and Almeida as a +154 underdog, via FanDuel.

Lucas Almeida vs. Timmy Cuamba UFC on ESPN 58 start time, how to watch

As the main card feature bout, Almeida and Cuamba are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 11:35 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

Garrett Armfield vs. Brady Hiestand prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 58

Winners of two straight, bantamweights Garrett Armfield and Brady Hiestand clash on the UFC on ESPN 58 main card. Who will keep it going?

[autotag]Garrett Armfield[/autotag] and [autotag]Brady Hiestand[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 58 from UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.  

Garrett Armfield vs. Brady Hiestand UFC on ESPN 58 preview

In this battle between bantamweights with identical UFC records, Armfield (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) enters as a winner of back-to-back fights; last August, he knocked out Toshiomi Kazma and followed up with a unanimous decision win over Brad Katona in January. … Hiestand (7-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) also enters as a winner of two straight, but has not competed since last April. On his current run he won a decision over Fernie Garcia followed by a TKO of Batgerel Danaa.

Garrett Armfield vs. Brady Hiestand UFC on ESPN 58 expert pick, prediction

Getting an impromptu bump up from the prelims is a bantamweight fight between Armfield and Hiestand.

Armfield appears to be coming into his own since moving shop to train with Trey Ogden and company at Marathon MMA.

A well-rounded fighter by nature, Armfield now fights with more focus and process than before (likely a byproduct of a camp with solid game planning). That said, Armfield will have a tough challenge to figure out this weekend in the form of Hiestand.

It’s been over a year since we’ve seen Hiestand in action due to his struggles to stay healthy, but the Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt is still young and looks to improve each time out.

I expect this fight to play out closer than the odds indicate, but I’ll side with Armfield to notch the scorecards as the more damaging combatant.

Garrett Armfield vs. Brady Hiestand UFC on ESPN 58 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the more active fighter, listing Armfield as a -194 favorite and Hiestand an underdog at +150, via FanDuel.

Garrett Armfield vs. Brady Hiestand UFC on ESPN 58 start time, how to watch

As the third main card bout, Armfield and Hiestand are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 11:05 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

Miles Johns vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 58

Miles Johns and Douglas Silva de Andrade compete in the new UFC on ESPN 58 co-feature. Will striking or grappling win the day?

[autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag] and [autotag]Douglas Silva de Andrade[/autotag] meet Saturday in the co-feature of UFC on ESPN 58 from UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.  

Miles Johns vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade UFC on ESPN 58 preview

Johns (14-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) enters on the heels of a unanimous decision win over Cody Gibson in March. Prior to a no contest against Dan Argueta in September, Johns, 30, defeated Vince Morales by decision. His last loss preceded that outing, a submission setback vs. John Castaneda in February 2022. … De Andrade (29-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) enters off a decision win over Cody Stamann last May. The 38-year-old lost the fight prior, dropping a decision to Said Nurmagomedov in July 2022.

Miles Johns vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade UFC on ESPN 58 expert pick, prediction

The impromptu co-main event in Las Vegas features a potential banger at bantamweight between Johns and de Andrade.

Despite Johns arguably being on a three-fight winning streak heading into this bout, I’m not sure I like this matchup for the fighter from the Midwest.

Johns is a respectable power puncher for the division, but de Andrade is arguably a bigger and more athletic version of the American and is difficult to put away.

Although Johns has been leaning more on his wrestling as of late, he doesn’t exactly score much from his positional work – typically spending large portions of entanglements fending off submissions.

For that reason, I suspect that Johns’ offensive wrestling will only open him up to opportunistic submissions opposite a fighter like de Andrade (who will also offer potent hooks and knees standing).

The pick is de Andrade by club-and-sub in Round 2.

Miles Johns vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade UFC on ESPN 58 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are slightly favoring the younger fighter, listing Johns as a slight favorite at -140 and de Andrade a small underdog at +110, via FanDuel.

Miles Johns vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade UFC on ESPN 58 start time, how to watch

As the co-feature bout, Johns and de Andrade are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 12:05 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

UFC on ESPN 58 predictions: Alex Perez or Tatsuro Taira in Las Vegas?

Check out our staff members’ picks and analysis for UFC on ESPN 58 in Las Vegas.

The UFC is back on its home turf after a week off, and a pair of flyweight contenders is at the top of the lineup.

UFC on ESPN 58 (ESPN2/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

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

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

Adam Fugitt thinks UFC on ESPN 58 fight with Quinlan is ‘winner stays, loser goes home’

At 1-2 in the UFC, Adam Fugitt thinks he and Josh Quinlan are in a precarious spot when they fight Saturday.

LAS VEGAS – Adam Fugitt met the media Thursday ahead of his fight at UFC on ESPN 58.

Fugitt (9-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) takes on Josh Quinlan (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in a welterweight fight on the ESPN main card at the UFC Apex. At the event’s media day, Fugitt took questions from media members before his fight.

Fugitt said his unassuming demeanor, including glasses like he was wearing at media day, made him seem like perhaps a pushover in his formative years – and that allowed him to build a second “dark character” personality that he brings with him to fights.

“When you look at me and you see the glasses, you don’t really see that dark character inside,” Fugitt said. “That’s something that formulated way back when, being the often overlooked, the guy with the punchable face, the one that a lot of people wanted, in my early years, wanted to test. That’s where that developed – always looking over your shoulder, going into any sport, I was essentially the bench guy. I had to prove myself, having to overcome the odds. That’s where that dark character was formulated and where I’ve really honed it.”

Fugitt credited UFC broadcast analyst, host and commentator Laura Sanko with the “dark character” term, From the sounds of his mindset going into the fight with Quinlan, he might want to summon that darker, more dangerous side of himself Saturday.

Fugitt thinks a loss for him or Quinlan could lead to their UFC pink slips. He’s coming off a submission loss to Mike Malott a year ago. Quinlan has back-to-back setbacks.

“I know he’s going to be in there from start to finish looking to put my lights out, and I’m going to be in there from start to finish trying to put him out,” Fugitt said.
We’re both in the same boat: We’re both 1-2 (in the UFC), which doesn’t look good on paper. I’ve been saying it most interviews: I really believe that this is a winner stays and loser goes home – winner gets that next contract. So this is it, Any fight could be your last fight, and that’s how I look at this one.”

Check out Fugitt’s full media day interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

Josh Quinlan’s plan for being present, free and happy at UFC on ESPN 58

Josh Quinlan is hoping he’s honed in on the right frame of mind ahead of his welterweight fight against Adam Fugitt.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Josh Quinlan[/autotag] met the media Thursday ahead of his fight at UFC on ESPN 58.

Quinlan (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) takes on Adam Fugitt (9-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in a welterweight fight on the ESPN main card at the UFC Apex. At the event’s media day, Quinlan took questions from media members before his fight.

“It’s not about having a good right hand. It’s not about having certain techniques, but using them at the right time,” Quinlan said. “I believe that comes with maturity. That comes with fighting a little more intelligently rather than just going off instinct, going off reaction.

“I believe what’s important, in life or in a fight, is to be present in the moment, not be worried about what happened before or what’s going to happen in the future. I’m going in there being present, being more free and more happy, and I believe that’s going to be part of my victory.”

Check out Quinlan’s full media day interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

Asu Almabayev wants to be in GSP mold, not concerned with well-rounded Jose Johnson at UFC on ESPN 58

Asu Almabayev thinks his style is evocative of one particular UFC Hall of Famer.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Asu Almabayev[/autotag] met the media Thursday ahead of his fight at UFC on ESPN 58.

Almabayev (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) takes on Jose Johnson (16-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a flyweight fight on the ESPN main card at the UFC Apex. At the event’s media day, Almabayev took questions from media members before his fight.

“I have good emotions,” Almabayev, who compared himself to Georges St-Pierre, told MMA Junkie. “It’s my third fight (in the UFC). But I’ll show all my emotions after the fight. I’m happy I’m on the main card and I believe in my abilities, but after this fight I hope I can fight someone from the top 10.

“(Johnson is) a good fighter. He has good striking and good wrestling, but I’ve been in this sport a long time and I always have a strategy for whoever I fight against.”

Check out Almabayev’s full media day interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.

UFC on ESPN 58 ceremonial weigh-in faceoff highlights video, photo gallery

UFC on ESPN 58 ceremonial weigh-ins are complete, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 58 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 (ESPN2/ESPN+). Check out the video above to see the athletes from all 12 scheduled matchups come face-to-face, and don’t miss the photo gallery below.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 58.