Alden Coria

Picked with a pointed remark about the matchmaking itself -- calling the opponent overmatched here rather than framing it as a close read.

A solid striker with good boxing combinations, good head movement, and an active jab who fights from either stance, works the body well, and counter-strikes well. Good takedown defense and gets up quickly if taken down. Undefeated in his last five with a no-contest also on the record.

He's leaning on Coria's cleaner, boxing-heavy technique to be the deciding factor after watching him out-box a step-up opponent in his pro debut.

Coria's game is rooted in a genuine boxing background rather than typical MMA striking - sharp combinations, real head movement, and a jab he keeps working from either stance while mixing in body shots. He's shown he can counter opponents mid-combination and put them down doing it. On the ground his takedown defense held up well and he scrambles back to his feet in a hurry, which matters against a grinding opponent like Gurule. The pick here leans heavily on that boxing gap being the deciding factor.