Alexa Grasso is heavily favored against Ji Yeon Kim at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakic on Saturday, August 29 in Las Vegas Nevada. This event is one of five fights on the main card on ESPN+. Grasso is 11-3 in her career, while Kim is 9-2-2 in her career. There are a total of five fights on the main card on UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakic, with the headliner a bout between Anthony Smith and Aleksandar Rakic. There are also a total of seven fights on the preliminary card on ESPN+. Let’s look at the bout between Grasso and Kim and UFC picks.
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Alexa Grasso (11-3, 3-3 UFC)
Grasso came into the UFC with a record of 8-0 and she has three wins and three losses in the UFC. She defeated Heather Jo Clark by unanimous decision, Randa Markos by split decision, and Karolina Kowalkiewicz by unanimous decision; while losing to Felice Herrig by unanimous decision, Tatiana Suarez by rear-naked choke submission, and Carla Esparza by majority decision. Grasso has been a pro since 2012 and she has four wins by TKO/KO. She has four first round finishes.
Ji Yeon Kim (9-2-2, 3-2 UFC)
Kim came into the UFC with a record of 6-0-2 and she has three wins and two losses in the UFC. She defeated Justine Kish by split decision, Melinda Fábián by split decision, and Nadia Kassem by KO; while losing to Lucie Pudilová by unanimous decision and Antonina Shevchenko by unanimous decision. Kim has been a pro since 2013 and she has two wins by TKO/KO and three by submission. She has one first round finish.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Grasso 4.49/ Kim 5.25
Striking Accuracy: Grasso 33% / Kim 41%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Grasso 4.74/ Kim 3.61
Defense: Grasso 59% / Kim 63%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Grasso 0.00/ Kim 0.19
Takedown Accuracy: Grasso 0% / Kim 33%
Takedowns defended: Grasso 40% / Kim 63%
Submission average: Grasso 0.0/ Kim 0.6
UFC Picks
Grasso and Kim have not fought in almost a year, so it is all about who shakes off the rust and avoids making critical mistakes. Grasso is heavily favored but should she be? I would lean with Grasso, as she has a bit more experience, but both of these two fighters have similar standup skills and I just can’t see Grasso being a 3-1 favorite. I think Kim has a legitimate chance to pull off the upset and we are getting around +200. I don’t take a ton of underdogs and when I do take when I want a good price and in this case we get a good price with a live dog. I’ll take a shot with Kim and also play the rounds to go over the total.
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakic Card & Odds
Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith +243 vs. Aleksandar Rakic -303
Light Heavyweight: Ion Cutelaba +277 vs. Magomed Ankalaev -352
Welterweight: Christian Aguilera +297 vs. Sean Brady -381
Middleweight: Alessio Di Chirico -117 vs. Zak Cummings -107
Women’s Flyweight: Emily Whitmire -117 vs. Polyana Viana -107
Women’s Flyweight: Ji Yeon Kim +243 vs. Alexa Grasso -303
Women’s Strawweight: Hannah Cifers +257 vs. Mallory Martin -323
Welterweight: Robbie Lawler +213 vs. Neil Magny -264
Featherweight: Bill Algeo +219 vs. Ricardo Lamas -272
Middleweight: Maki Pitolo +113 vs Impa Kasanganay -137
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