Brando Pericic

Picked to win, though the analyst is explicitly less confident than in a prior, similar matchup for the same fighter, calling this one close.

A solid striker who marches forward behind good combinations and a stiff jab -- a legitimately accomplished kickboxer at his core. He'll throw a rolling, spinning attack that draws criticism as a tactical choice, since a miss leaves him badly out of position, though against a heavyweight a clean landing can end things outright; it's better used sparingly late in a round than as a repeated weapon. His grappling is passable, anchored by punishing ground strikes, a genuinely strong cage push, and dirty boxing in the clinch that makes him difficult to take down specifically while pinned there. Grappling as a whole, though, is still the weaker half of his game.

Picked confidently on a clear striking advantage, expecting a comfortable win on the feet.

Pericic's kickboxing roots stand out — a stiff jab, heavy foot pressure, and combinations that blend punches and kicks about as well as anyone in the heavyweight division. The recurring issue is his fondness for a jumping, spinning attack that, when it misses, leaves him flat and exposed; it hasn't cost him yet, but it's a live risk every time out. His grappling is largely unproven given how few professional MMA bouts he actually has, though what's shown so far — heavy ground-and-pound and good clinch work off the cage — looks solid.