Farid Basharat

Picked against, with the analyst explicitly calling this a tough, close fight between two very skilled fighters before landing on the other side.

A solid striker whose good forward pressure and faints create real confusion, good combinations built off those faints, and good head movement -- notable because it means he isn't just durable, he's actually avoiding a lot of clean shots. Good power that hasn't produced UFC knockouts yet given the level of competition, but the analyst is clear the power is real and does real damage. Good grappler who sets up takedowns off his striking, with good top control and good takedown defense; expected to be the fighter more willing to initiate the takedown as the fight moves into boxing range.

The analyst calls this a genuinely close fight and pushes back on how heavily the odds favor Basharat, even while ultimately picking him to win a tight decision.

Basharat is presented as a complete fighter befitting his unbeaten record and wins over solid UFC competition. He mixes kicks to every level with good footwork and sharp counters, stays durable throughout, and backs it up with a strong wrestling game -- setting up takedowns off his strikes, defending well, and controlling from top position on good cardio. The pick hinges on him banking enough control time on top of Matsumoto to edge out a close decision.