Ignacio Bahamondes

Picked more for the sake of making a pick than genuine conviction -- the analyst explicitly says the opponent carries the real betting value and there's a real chance he bets that side instead.

A legitimately talented fighter whose last outing ended in a decision loss that looks more like a rough night than any real slide in ability. On the feet he's accurate, hits with real power, and counters capably, and his height for the weight class gives him a genuine reach edge that makes him tough to hit cleanly. He works at good volume, is comfortable switching stances, and moves his head well. Because of his length, kicks to any level -- including the head -- cost him less effort than they would a shorter fighter, which makes that kicking game a real weapon. The grappling is mostly a plus: takedown defense is adequate, he finishes a sprawl into a front choke at a high level, and his submission game overall is solid, though he's increasingly comfortable fighting off his back, a habit the analyst views as a mildly worrying new pattern.