UFC Vegas 62 Predictions, Odds and Results: Grasso vs Araújo
UFC Vegas 62 Pintsized Background
Alas, UFC Vegas 62 was not destined to have such a strange headliner. Rather, Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland should have battled in a top-end Middleweight showdown. If not for Strickland pulling out due to a finger infection, of course. An injury that Strickland undoubtedly would have endlessly trolled an opponent for using such an excuse.
Our UFC Vegas 62 main event now features Women Flyweight’s Alexa Grasso and Viviane Araujo. Hardly the most inspired matchmaking, like the rest of the card, but it’s nice to see back-to-back Women headliners. Lord knows the divisions need to grow.
The UFC Vegas 62 Featured Prelim see Mana Martinez and Brandon Davis battle for a scrap of the limelight. It feels like terrible scheduling when the fight before features former top-10, Raphael Assunção, and the high-flying, Victor Henry.
Where/When is UFC Vegas 62 taking place:
October 15, 2022. UFC Apex. Nevada, United States.
What time does UFC Vegas 62 start:
🇬🇧 UK: 9pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 4pm
What channel is UFC Vegas 62 on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
Pintsized MMA content from the week before:
🚀 Preview: UFC Vegas 61 Predictions, Odds and Results: Dern vs Yan
💰 PI’s Recommended Fight: Daniel Santos vs John Castaneda
Travel down the Pintsized rabbit hole:
🥊 UFC Vegas 62 Main Card | 🌟 UFC Vegas 62 Prelims | 📺 YouTube
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UFC Vegas 62 Picks & Odds
| UFC Vegas 62 Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexa Grasso (-225) Viviane Araujo (+190) | Grasso | Decision | / |
| Jonathan Martinez Cub Swanson | Swanson | Decision | / |
| Duško Todorović Jordan Wright | Todorović | TKO | 2 |
| Misha Cirkunov Alonzo Menifield | Menifield | TKO | 1 |
| Mana Martinez Brandon Davis | Martinez | Decision | / |
| Raphael Assunção Victor Henry | Henry | Decision | / |
| Nick Maximov Jacob Malkoun | Malkoun | Decision | / |
| Joanderson Brito Lucas Alexander | Brito | TKO | 1 |
| Piera Rodriguez Sam Hughes | Rodriguez | Decision | / |
| C.J. Vergara Tatsuro Taira | Taira | Decision | / |
| Mike Jackson Pete Rodriguez | Rodriguez | TKO | 2 |
UFC Vegas 62: Main Event
Alexa Grasso vs Viviane Araujo
Women’s Flyweight (125)
Alexa Grasso (14-3)
Sitting on a perfect three-fight Flyweight streak, Alexa Grasso has looked vastly more comfortable at 125lbs. While the Mexican remains an exhausting pressure-volume boxer, she also showcased her grappling chops with a first-round rear naked choke over Joanne Wood last time out. As long as the fight remains on the feet, Grasso is far too slick at a mid-range and in the pocket to ever lose total control.
Grasso’s struggles have stemmed against wrestlers, a worry against Araujo’s plethora of trips and throws. Grasso dealt with Barber’s tenacity and physical strength in the clinch and on the mat, yet Araujo is technically superior.
Viviane Araujo (11-3)
Araujo’s porous striking defence will leave her consistently dropping rounds on scorecards unless she can impose her wrestling-centric game plan. Grasso isn’t heavy-handed, allowing Araujo to attempt to walk down the Mexican in a similar manner to Maycee Barber.
Even in her twilight years, Araujo remains a physical beast at Flyweight and could certainly find a way to out-muscle Alexa Grasso. Considering that Araujo was happy to control Andrea Lee on the ground, rather than take risks, suggests that the Brazilian could create a real headache for the judges.
Grasso vs Araujo Prediction: Grasso Decision
As long as the fight remains on the feet, Grasso is far too slick at a mid-range and in the pocket to ever lose total control. Still, even considering Araujo’s porous striking defence, Grasso lacks the heavy hands to prevent Araujo from walking her down.
Even in her twilight years, Araujo remains a physical beast at Flyweight and could certainly find a way to out-muscle Alexa Grasso. Grasso struggled against wrestling-heavy gameplans at Strawweight, yet has looked far more comfortable in her keeping herself on her feet at Flyweight. Over the five rounds, it feels safer to back Grasso’s high-volume striking to clean the scorecards.
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UFC Vegas 62: Co-Main Event
Jonathan Martinez vs Cub Swanson
Bantamweight (135)
Jonathan Martinez (16-4)
Since the shock second-round starching to Davey Grant, Martinez has rebuilt himself with a backwards three-fight streak. Comfortably handling the undefeated Zviad Lazishvili, before peppering Alejandro Perez and Vince Morales, Martinez has more than proven himself ready for another step up at Bantamweight. Against a veteran who is draining himself to 135lbs, Martinez’s leg kicks will work well to blunt Swanson’s creative combinations.
Cub Swanson (28-12)
Breathing life into his career with a weight change, Swanson still continues to struggle with range striking. Martinez will consistently launch leg kicks and sharp boxing combinations that will create a real hurdle for Swanson to work with at distance. If Martinez allows Swanson onto the inside, considering his lacklustre athleticism, we will witness vintage Cub flurries once again.
Martinez vs Swanson Prediction: Swanson Decision
Breathing life into his career with a weight change, Swanson still continues to struggle with range striking. Martinez will consistently launch leg kicks and sharp boxing combinations that will create a real hurdle for Swanson to work with at distance. My heart is letting me trust Cub in his twilight years to expose Martinez’s lacklustre athleticism and difficulty dealing with dynamic trades on the inside.
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UFC Vegas 62: Main Card
Duško Todorović vs Jordan Wright
Middleweight (185)
Duško Todorović (11-3)
Todorović is bouncing back early after a brutal first-round knockout to Chidi Njokuani. There isn’t any shame in losing in such a fashion this early into Todorović’s career, but he will be facing an equally potent early-round opponent. If there is any hangover from the manner of Todorović’s loss, it will be violently exposed by Jordan Wright. Technically, however, Todorović is far more competent in every area of the fight game than Wright, as well as being able to fight beyond the first round.
Jordan Wright (12-3)
The Beverly Hills Ninja is a fun fighter to have on the roster as a one-trick pony, but we are yet to see any noticeable improvements to his game since his debut in 2020. Wright has an array of powerful kicks, but he will struggle to keep the distance against an opponent looking to create messy scrambles. Todorović is very hittable while he tries to close the distance, but his chin was able to hold up to a decent amount of punishment against Njokuani.
Todorović vs Wright Prediction: Todorović TKO Round 2
Wright has an array of powerful kicks, but he will struggle to keep the distance against an opponent looking to create messy scrambles. Todorović is very hittable while he tries to close the distance, but his chin was able to hold up to a decent amount of punishment against Njokuani. Expecting a mess with an early stoppage – if there are any hangovers from Todorović’s KO loss, we could see an amusing Beverly Hills Ninja highlight reel.
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Misha Cirkunov vs Alonzo Menifield
Light Heavyweight (205)
Misha Cirkunov (15-8)
Well, Misha Cirkunov’s 0-2 foray into Middleweight ended disastrously. I expected the Latvian to find success at 185lbs but somehow managed to lose a grappling battle to Wellington Turman. Back at Light-Heavyweight, a division largely devoid of technical talent, Cirkunov will be able to stand out once again.
Alonzo Menifield (12-3)
Menifield remains a technically limited yet exceptionally talented athletic specimen. In fairness to Menifield, he has experimented over his short UFC career and attempted to add more strings to his bow. Deep down, however, Menifield is at his best with lightning-fast early flurries for early stoppages or falling back onto horrifically boring grinding against the cage.
Cirkunov vs Menifield Prediction: Menifield TKO Round 1
Misha Cirkunov is no longer the bright prospect with title ambitions from 2016. Rather, Cirkunov returns to Light Heavyweight as broken goods against a technically limited yet exceptionally talented athletic specimen in Menifield. The Latvian will struggle to takedown Menifield, eventually offering the opportunity for the American to land flush during one of his clubbing flurries.
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UFC Vegas 62: Preliminary Card
Mana Martinez vs Brandon Davis
Bantamweight (135)
Mana Martinez (9-3)
It’s still difficult to see a path forwards for Mana Martinez. The Texan is young, athletic and very early into his career, but there is a lack of natural fluidity to his game. Martinez will struggle to handle Davis’ penchant for brawling if they meet toe-to-toe, but thankfully the younger man is more than willing to buy time against the cage.
Brandon Davis (14-9)
Tall, rangey and always down for a slobber knocker, Davis is an enjoyable heavy-handed brawler who is well out of his depth at the UFC. Davis still has a puncher’s chance as Martinez is far from the finished product, will struggle to handle Davis’ jab and finds himself the smaller man. Shoddy decision-making has plagued Davis’ career, however, making it difficult to back Killer B.
Martinez vs Davis Prediction: Martinez Decision
Martinez will struggle to handle Davis’ penchant for brawling if they meet toe-to-toe, but thankfully the younger man is more than willing to buy time against the cage. There is also a fire deep in Martinez, as shown against Ronnie Lawrence, that can be tapped into to create a messy war if required. Davis is a limited fighter out of his depth at the UFC, but he is tall, rangey and capable of winning rounds off his jab and strong chin.
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Raphael Assunção vs Victor Henry
Bantamweight (135)
Raphael Assunção (27-9)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Sat on a four-fight slide, including three finishes of increasingly worrying fashion. There was once a time that T.J. Dillashaw was given fits by Assunção. Nowadays, Assunção cannot stop Ricky Simon from icing him on his feet. Without the athletic foundation to maintain his stifling jab and pressure footwork, Assunção looks all but lost to the MMA Gods.
Victor Henry (22-5)
I am still stunned by how easily Victor Henry handled Raoni Barcelos. Henry ate whatever Barcelos threw at him, aggressively throwing volume that always kept the Brazilian on the back foot. Assunção rose close to the top off of the back of his striking defence, but as seen over the past few torrid years, Assunção is a sitting duck.
Assunção vs Henry Prediction: Henry Decision
Assunção rose close to the top off of the back of his striking defence, but as seen over the past few torrid years, Assunção is a sitting duck. Without the athletic foundation to maintain his stifling jab and pressure footwork, Assunção looks all but lost to the MMA Gods. Victor Henry may be unable to replicate his career performance against Raoni Barcelos, but his aggression alone should still be enough to beat the trigger-shy Assunção.
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Nick Maximov vs Jacob Malkoun
Middleweight (185)
Nick Maximov (8-1)
Diaz-trained, Nick Maximov, will likely remain kicking about in the UFC due to his entertaining cornermen. To give Maximov credit, he is a solid wrestling prospect who has earned decent scalps of Cody Brundage and Puanhele Soriano. His striking still requires work, yet as the physically superior opponent against Malkoun, there is a chance that Maximov keeps Malkoun on his back.
Jacob Malkoun (6-2)
Mr well-rounded, Jacob Malkoun, unfortunately, found himself on the losing end of a decision against Brendan Allen. An accurate counter-puncher, Malkoun is also solid in the clinch and was able to match Allen at his own game on the mat. Without any notable athletic edge, Malkoun will find himself struggling to climb the ladder, but the Aussie has a doggedness that leaves him as a sticky gatekeeper.
Maximov vs Malkoun Prediction: Malkoun Decision
Malkoun is a very well-rounded, jack-of-all-trades fighter. The main issue is a lack of athletic edge that will likely keep the Aussie pigeonholed as a sticky gatekeeper. Maximov is physically superior, so there is a that the Diaz-protegee can keep Malkoun on his back, but it will torch the gas tank.
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Joanderson Brito vs Lucas Alexander
Featherweight (145)
Joanderson Brito (13-3-1)
God damn, I love a Joanderson Brito fight night. The Brazilian is a wild man on the feet with ridiculous power in both hands. Ducking into hooks, throwing full-blooded head kicks and ability to carry his power late, Brito will soon be a highly avoided fighter. Brito does lack striking layers beyond initial exchanges, as exposed by Bill Algeo, resulting in the Brazilian unravelling late into fights.
Lucas Alexander (7-2)
UFC debutant, Lucas Alexander, is a vicious leg kicker – like, seriously full-blooded calf destroyer. Brito is a durable brick wall, but if Alexander can hamper Brito’s mobility early, it will offer Alexander more breathing room from dangerous overhands.
Brito vs Alexander Prediction: Brito TKO Round 1
Brito is a wild man on the feet, ducking into hooks and throwing full-blooded head kicks. Meeting him in the middle is UFC debutant, Lucas Alexander, who is a vicious leg kicker. Brito is a durable brick wall, but if Alexander can hamper Brito’s mobility early, it will offer Alexander more breathing room from dangerous overhands. This may descend into a sloppy mess in the later rounds, but I’m favouring Brito’s freakish power to make the difference early.
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Piera Rodriguez vs Sam Hughes
Women’s Strawweight (115)
Piera Rodriguez (8-0)
Undefeated, Piera Rodriguez, is still a somewhat unknown entity aside from her vicious striking on the inside. Kay Hansen already had one foot out of the door when Rodriguez met her, but La Fiera still impressed with her fluid head movement in the pocket.
Sam Hughes (7-4)
Hughes has managed to tie together her ground game with a functioning striking game. Rodriguez’s TDD didn’t look too solid against Kay Hansen, meaning there is an avenue for Hughes to shoot early. Rodriguez is a mobile striker that Hughes may struggle to tie down, but it’s a good litmus paper step-up.
Rodriguez vs Hughes Prediction: Rodriguez Decision
Hughes has managed to tie together her ground game with a functioning striking game. Rodriguez’s TDD didn’t look too solid against Kay Hansen, meaning there is an avenue for Hughes to shoot early. Still, Rodriguez is a mobile striker that Hughes may struggle to tie down, but it’s a good litmus paper step-up.
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C.J. Vergara vs Tatsuro Taira
Flyweight (125)
C.J. Vergara (10-3-1)
Vergara showed a touch more speed against Kleydson Rodriguez that was missing in his UFC debut against Ode Osbourne. Against such a low-output fighter in Taira, Vergara should be able to lead the fight with relative ease.
Tatsuro Taira (11-0)
Taira is an educated counter-puncher, but so far has been unable to show the tools necessary to maintain such a style higher up the rankings. The Japanese prospect is well-schooled and very slippery, yet lacks the power to gain the respect of his opponent.
Vergara vs Taira Prediction: Taira Decision
Taira is an educated counter-puncher, but so far has been unable to show the tools necessary to maintain such a style higher up the rankings. The Japanese prospect is well-schooled and very slippery, yet lacks the power to gain the respect of his opponent. Vergara is still likely at a level that Taira can still out-manoeuvre, but it will be dangerous to allow Vergara to lead the fight.
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Mike Jackson vs Pete Rodriguez
Welterweight (170)
Mike Jackson (1-1)
How is this dude still kicking about? Granted, Jackson had his eye damn near carved out by Dean Barry – but it wasn’t that long ago that Dana wanted to knock off Jackson following his circus show against CM Punk.
Pete Rodriguez (4-1)
Rodriguez is very green, needing a lot of time on the regional scene to iron out the many wrinkles in his entertaining striking game. Still, Mike Jackson is not a natural fighter, meaning this bar brawl-level fight should be relatively well-matched.
Jackson vs Rodriguez Prediction: Rodriguez TKO Round 2
Rodriguez is very green, needing a lot of time on the regional scene to iron out the many wrinkles in his entertaining striking game. Still, Mike Jackson is not a natural fighter, meaning this bar brawl-level fight should be relatively well-matched.
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