UFC Vegas 61 Prelims Predictions, Odds and Results: Dern vs Yan
UFC Vegas 61 Prelims Pintsized Background
So has Mark Zuckerberg bought out the UFC Apex or what? Come on MMA journalists, pokes stick, do something for once. Regardless, UFC Vegas 61 is a strange melting pot of bouts.
Our featured preliminary for UFC Vegas 61 sees the corpse of Aleksei Oleinik tussle with the human fridge, Ilir Latifi. Possibly one of the greatest meme fights to be had at Heavyweight – so props to the UFC for pushing such a mess. Deeper down, Brendan Allen and Krzysztof Jotko face off in a somewhat meaningful Middleweight fight – with a loss for either potentially knocking on the ‘exit door’.
Where/When is UFC Vegas 61 Prelims taking place:
October 1, 2022. UFC Apex. Nevada, United States.
What time does UFC Vegas 61 Prelims start:
🇬🇧 UK: 9pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 4pm
What channel is UFC Vegas 61 Prelims on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
Pintsized MMA content from the week before:
🚀 Preview: UFC Vegas 57 Predictions, Odds and Results: Tsarukyan vs Gamrot
💰 PI’s Recommended Fight: Gregory Rodrigues vs Chidi Njokuani
Travel down the Pintsized rabbit hole:
🥊 UFC Vegas 61 Main Card | 🌟 UFC Vegas 61 Full Card | 📺 YouTube
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UFC Vegas 61 Prelims Picks & Odds
| UFC Vegas 61 Prelims Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aleksei Oleinik (+160) Ilir Latifi (-190) | Latifi | TKO | 2 |
| Joaquim Silva (-145) Jesse Ronson (+125) | Silva | TKO | 3 |
| Brendan Allen (+105) Krzysztof Jotko (-125) | Jotko | Decision | / |
| Maxim Grishin (-170) Philipe Lins (+145) | Grishin | Decision | / |
| Julija Stoliarenko (-120) Chelsea Chandler (+100) | Stoliarenko | Submission | 1 |
| Randy Costa (-305) Guido Cannetti (+255) | Costa | TKO | 1 |
UFC Vegas 61: Preliminary Card
Aleksei Oleinik vs Ilir Latifi
Heavyweight (265)
Aleksei Oleinik (60-16-1)
This is nothing more than a meme. A deep dive into how far the UFC can torture their fans. Beating Jared Vanderaa is as valuable as British Sterling these days, but Ilir Latifi hasn’t really looked himself since 2016. Oleinik remains a fantastic one-round submission artist, with hilarious sloppy power-punching to boot.
Ilir Latifi (15-8)
By all accounts, Ilir Latifi should not lose this fight. The Swede’s controlling top game should be kept in the locket, at least in the first round, so as not to allow Oleinik a sniff of a submission. Not that Latifi’s hands are anything to write home about. Through having a gas tank longer than five minutes, however, Latifi should crank out enough output outside of the opening round to claim this.
Oleinik vs Latifi Prediction: Latifi TKO Round 2
The Swede’s controlling top game should be kept in the locket, at least in the first round, so as not to allow Oleinik a sniff of a submission. Not that Latifi’s hands are anything to write home about – Oleinik has hilariously sloppy power-punching in his locker. Through having a gas tank longer than five minutes, however, Latifi should crank out enough output outside of the opening round to claim this.
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Joaquim Silva vs Jesse Ronson
Lightweight (155)
Joaquim Silva (11-3)
Taking a year out from his shock first-round starching to Ricky Glenn, Silva returns to a vastly different Lightweight landscape. The Brazilian owns heavy hands but it feels like an eternity from the mid-2010s when Silva’s athleticism and power carried him through fights. Jesse Ronson is an equally messy striker though, and punch-for-punch, Silva vastly outguns the Canadian.
Jesse Ronson (21-11)
A waning chin, off of the PEDs and vastly undergunned in a firefight, Ronson could be in for a tough night. The awkwardness of the Canadian’s style could create timing issues for Silva, but the fight will likely descend into a brawl in the pocket. At which point, Silva’s power will shine.
Silva vs Ronson Prediction: Silva TKO Round 3
The Brazilian owns heavy hands but it feels like an eternity from the mid-2010s when Silva’s athleticism and power carried him through fights. Jesse Ronson is an equally messy striker though, and punch-for-punch, Silva vastly outguns the Canadian. Especially when you add in Ronson’s waning chin over the past couple of years.
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Brendan Allen vs Krzysztof Jotko
Middleweight (185)
Brendan Allen (19-5)
To be fair to Brendan Allen, despite his ceiling being clearly around the top-15 mark, the Middleweight remains extremely active. Issues surround Allen’s chin, especially when he begins to tire in high-paced fights. Jacob Malkoun deserved the nod against Allen last time out, and with such a shock, we can only hope that the American focuses his energies back on his grappling.
Krzysztof Jotko (24-5)
I dislike everything about Jotko’s game. Low-risk, pitter-patter striking on the outside with never any intent to push for a finish. If an opponent closes the distance, the Pole immediately latches onto the clinch. Considering how hard Jotko is to takedown, there is a real possibility that Jotko stops a gassed Allen late – but it will take much more than that to win me back as a fan.
Allen vs Jotko Prediction: Jotko Decision
Considering how hard Jotko is to takedown, there is a real possibility that Jotko stops a gassed Allen late – but it will take much more than that to win me back as a fan. On the other hand, Sean Strickland was able to walk Jotko with a similar pressure that Allen can provide. The Pole’s no-risk policy will see him land the cleaner work and likely sweep the scorecards.
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Maxim Grishin vs Philipe Lins
Light Heavyweight (205)
Maxim Grishin (32-9-2)
What on Earth is the UFC doing with Grishin? The 38-year-old veteran isn’t getting any younger and it felt like they were feeding him to Jailton Almeida before he pulled out. Why then is he facing the very tame Philipe Lins? Grishin is schooled enough on the feet to drown Lins on the feet, while it’s difficult to see how the Brazilian takes Grishin down.
Philipe Lins (15-5)
It was good to see Lins’ body transformation after a dreadful time at Heavyweight, but Grishin represents a huge step-up in quality after Marcin Prachnio. Grishin is technically sparkling but he lacks the athletic edge that made him so potent in the PFL. It’s doubtful whether Lins owns anything that will catch the vastly experienced Russian by surprise.
Grishin vs Lins Prediction: Grishin Decision
Grishin is technically sparkling but he lacks the athletic edge that made him so potent in the PFL. Still, it’s doubtful whether Lins owns anything that will catch the vastly experienced Russian by surprise.
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Julija Stoliarenko vs Chelsea Chandler
Women’s Catchweight (140)
Julija Stoliarenko (10-6-1)
The armbar merchant did it once again against Jessica-Rose Clark. Chandler is a very raw fighter who could well walk herself onto an armbar – such is Women’s checks notes Catchweight.
Chelsea Chandler (4-1)
UFC debutant, Chelsea Chandler, seems to have joined the premier organisation far too early in her journey. Chandler has the athletic foundation to mould into a solid fighter, but her lack of experience is a red flag against a one-trick opponent.
Stoliarenko vs Chandler Prediction: Stoliarenko Submission Round 1
The armbar merchant did it once again against Jessica-Rose Clark. Chandler has the athletic foundation to mould into a solid fighter, but as of yet, the Cesar Gracie product remains very raw. Expecting Chandler to walk herself onto an armbar – such is Women’s checks notes Catchweight.
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Randy Costa vs Guido Cannetti
Bantamweight (135)
Randy Costa (6-3)
The UFC couldn’t make this clearer that they want a bloody finish to kick off the fight night. Both men look for the kill in the first round before falling off a cliff by the second round. Costa is younger, faster and fresher, not to mention more dynamic behind an extremely underrated jab.
Guido Cannetti (9-6)
The Argentinian 42-year-old continues to ply his one-round trade in the UFC but this is a tall order. Costa is equally as potent in the first five minutes, with the old vet unlikely to survive Costa’s lethal head kicks.
Costa vs Cannetti Prediction: Costa TKO Round 1
The UFC couldn’t make this clearer that they want a bloody finish to kick off the fight night. Both men look for the kill in the first round before falling off a cliff by the second round. Costa is younger, faster and fresher, not to mention more dynamic behind an extremely underrated jab. Cannetti to be welcomed to head kick city.
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