UFC Vegas 62 Prelims Predictions, Odds and Results: Grasso vs Araújo
UFC Vegas 62 Prelims Pintsized Background
The UFC Vegas 62 Prelims featured fight sees 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 Prelims taking place:
October 15, 2022. UFC Apex. Nevada, United States.
What time does UFC Vegas 62 Prelims start:
🇬🇧 UK: 9pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 4pm
What channel is UFC Vegas 62 Prelims 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 Full Card | 🌟 UFC Vegas 62 Main Card | 📺 YouTube
TIPPING JAR
Pintsized Interests is just a baby finding its first steps in the big, bad world of sports journalism. If you enjoy the content that is regularly uploaded then please consider donating via the link below. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and will go towards ensuring the survival of Pintsized Interests in the long-term.
UFC Vegas 62 Prelims Picks & Odds
| UFC Vegas 62 Prelims Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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: 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.
Return to UFC Vegas 62 Prelims
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.
Return to UFC Vegas 62 Prelims
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.
Return to UFC Vegas 62 Prelims
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.
Return to UFC Vegas 62 Prelims
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.
Return to UFC Vegas 62 Prelims
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.
Return to UFC Vegas 62 Prelims
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.
Return to UFC Vegas 62 Prelims
TIPPING JAR
Pintsized Interests is just a baby finding its first steps in the big, bad world of sports journalism. If you enjoy the content that is regularly uploaded then please consider donating via the link below. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and will go towards ensuring the survival of Pintsized Interests in the long-term.