January 12, 2024 10: 00 pm ET
MMA Junkie expert Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s leading bouts. Today, we look at the primary card for UFC Fight Night 234.
UFC Fight Night 234 (ESPN+) takes location Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Last occasion’s outcomes: 0-0
Overall choices for UFC primary cards in 2024: 0-0
Welcome to MMA Junkie’s Quick Picks and Prognostications, where I’ll be providing short fight-day breakdowns for UFC primary cards.
With that in mind, I hope these write-ups wear’t come off as curt or dismissive, as my objective here is to deal fast selects and analysis in a absorbable format. All chances noted are offered by FanDuel.
If you’d like more detailed analysis from me, then feel totallyfree to check out my weekly program, The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.
So, without more ado…
Phil Hawes (+108) vs. Bruno Ferreira (-132)
Kicking off the primary card in Las Vegas is a middleweight match inbetween Phil Hawes and Bruno Ferreira.
Despite Hawes opening north of a 2-1 preferred, public cash hasactually come putting in on Ferreira to flip the wagering line.
Although the line motion doesn’t always surprise me, I’m not sure how positive anybody can be in either celebration.
Ferreira is less tested with a smallersized sample size, while Hawes has an indisputable tendency to self-destruct in wonderful style.
I’ll hesitantly take Ferreira to discover a first-round knockout after enduring a strong begin from Hawes.
Ricky Simon (-184) vs. Mario Bautista (+148)
Filling out the primary card is a possible banger at bantamweight inbetween Ricky Simon and Mario Bautista.
Forecasting this one can be challenging provided how videogame and well-rounded each fighter is, however I puton’t disagree with Simon being preferred from a wagering viewpoint.
Even though I think that Bautista is on his method up, his size and strength might be stymied if Simon’s on-paper benefits in the battling department permit him to determine the action.
Not just is Simon a stud wrestler who can relentlessly scramble, however the American Top Team Portland associate silently brings a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in his back pocket.
I wear’t anticipate Simon to send a John Crouch-trained brown belt with ease, however I might see Bautista on the incorrect end of takedowns and power strikes.
For that factor, I’ll side with Simon to edge out the scorecards in what I anticipate to be a competitive affair for fifteen minutes.
Jim Miller (-134) vs. Gabriel Benitez (+110)
Serving as a strong providing at light-weight is a fight inbetween southpaws, Jim Miller and Gabriel Benitez.
Although Benitez is one of my preferred fighters to come off “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America,” Miller is one of my preferred fighters of all time.
With that in mind, you’ll haveactually to forgive me for the apparent predisposition in my words provided that Miller is one of the coupleof fighters who stay from my days of enjoying this sport strictly as ‘a fan.’
Miller is plainly in the winterseason of his profession, however I still think that he has sufficient in the proverbial tank to get the task done here.
Jim Miller tweet: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1440970841718607874?s=20
Despite Miller having the spottier record versus fellow UFC-level southpaws (standing at 5-7 opposite Benitez’s 2-0), the American comports himself well in closed-stance matches.
Not just can Miller gainaccessto leg kicks and left crosses down the centerline, however the 40-year-old likewise has a propensity for capturing kicks and countering with takedowns.
Couple that with the mayhem that’s motivated by the smallersized octagon, and I’ll trip with Miller to rating another club-