Nikolay Veretennikov

Picked as a root-beer fight -- the analyst says a clear takedown path exists for the opponent but doubts he'll actually use it, and recommends staying away from betting it.

Pretty good striker with good power and good combinations, mainly built around two-three and three-two variations. Also gets pulled into brawls, a shared trait with the opponent that raises the odds of a wild standing battle. Decent grappler on top with good top pressure, but has nothing off his back -- a real, stark weakness the analyst flags emphatically. Generally rated as more of a good regional or entry-level UFC talent, with real holes in the overall game.

The analyst says he isn't fully confident in Veretennikov given his rocky UFC record, but likes his power and willingness to trade in a firefight against this particular opponent.

Veretennikov steps in on short notice off a rough UFC stretch, but the analyst still likes his chances here. He's a heavy-handed boxer who throws good combinations and tends to get pulled into wars -- usually a double-edged trait, but one the analyst thinks favors him given his edge in raw power. His grappling is lopsided: solid enough on top, but he has essentially nothing to offer off his back.