Merab Dvalishvili is favored against Brad Katona at UFC Fight Night 151 on Saturday, May 4 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This event is one of six fights on the main card on ESPN+. Katona is 8-0 in his career, while Dvalishvili is 8-4 in his career. There are a total of six fights on the main card on ESPN+ at UFC Fight Night 151, with the headliner a bout between Al Iaquinta and Donald Cerrone. There are also a total of six fights on the preliminary card all on ESPN+. Let’s look at the bout between Katona and Dvalishvili and UFC picks.
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Brad Katona (8-0, 2-0 UFC)
Katona came into the UFC with a record of 6-0 and he has two wins and no losses in the UFC. He defeated Jay Cucciniello by unanimous decision and Matthew Lopez by unanimous decision. Katona has been a pro since 2014 and he has one win by KO and two by submission. He has two first round finishes.
Katona said this to mmanews.com about his upcoming fight against Dvalishvili, “Man it’s hard to really imagine a finish on Merab because he is so gritty. Now [saying that] I have the best possibility I think of anybody he’s fought to finish him anywhere. I think with the hands, especially how everything has been going. I’ve been finding other tools to compliment my striking. So I could catch him on the feet. But he is gritty so it would be hard to say it will be quick. If I do, it will be a small error he made. So that would be on him. Like I said he pushes a hard pace, but I think it has potential to be “Fight of the Night” just because of what type of fighter he is.”
Merab Dvalishvili (8-4, 1-2 UFC)
Dvalishvili came into the UFC with a record of 7-2 and he has one win and two losses in the UFC. He defeated Terrion Ware by unanimous decision; while losing to Frankie Saenz by split decision and Ricky Simon by technical submission. Dvalishvili has been a pro since 2014 and he has two wins by TKO/KO and one by submission. He has one first round finish.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Katona 4.90/ Dvalishvili 3.78
Accuracy: Katona 54% / Dvalishvili 34%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Katona 2.77/ Dvalishvili 2.22
Defense: Katona 59% / Dvalishvili 58%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Katona 1.00/ Dvalishvili 7.33
Accuracy: Katona 20% / Dvalishvili 41%
Takedowns defended: Katona 42% / Dvalishvili 80%
Submission average: Katona 0.0/ Dvalishvili 0.0
UFC Picks
I am a little bit surprised that Dvalishvili is favored, at Katona has yet to lose in his career. What has Dvalishvili done in his career to be listed as a favorite against anyone? He has lost four times overall and he is just 1-2 in the UFC. Katona looked good in winning both of his UFC bouts and I think he can win this one as well. I will take the price and go with Katona in this one. I also noted what Katona said about how hard it would be to finish Dvalishvili, so I think this fight will go the distance and that means over the rounds total.
UFC Fight Night 151 takes place at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Saturday, May 4, with six fights on the main card on ESPN+, headlined by Al Iaquinta vs. Donald Cerrone and six preliminary bouts on ESPN+.
Main Card (ESPN+)
Lightweight - Al Iaquinta -140 vs. Donald Cerrone
Middleweight - Derek Brunson -120 vs. Elias Theodorou
Featherweight - Shane Burgos -170 vs. Cub Swanson
Bantamweight - Merab Dvalishvili -150 vs. Brad Katona
Heavyweight - Walt Harris -145 vs. Sergey Spivak
Middleweight - Andrew Sanchez -140 vs. Marc-André Barriault
Preliminary Card (ESPN+)
Women's Bantamweight - Macy Chiasson -600 vs. Sarah Moras
Bantamweight - Aiemann Zahabi -170 vs. Vince Morales
Welterweight - Nordine Taleb -425 vs. Kyle Prepolec
Featherweight - Matt Sayles -220 vs. Kyle Nelson
Heavyweight - Juan Adams -140 vs. Arjan Bhullar
Bantamweight - Mitch Gagnon -140 vs. Cole Smith
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