Edson Barboza is slightly favored against Dan Ige at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris on Saturday, May 16 in Jacksonville, Florida. This event is one of five fights on the main card on ESPN. Barboza is 20-8 in his career, while Ige is 13-2 in his career. There are a total of five fights on the main card on UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris, with the headliner a bout between Alistair Overeem and Walt Harris. There are also a total of six fights on the preliminary card on ESPN/ESPN+. Let’s look at the bout between Barboza and Ige and UFC picks.
Edson Barboza 20-8, 14-8 UFC
Barboza came into the UFC with a record of 6-0 and he has 14 wins and eight losses in the UFC. In his last six fights, he has two wins and four losses. He defeated Beneil Dariush by KO and Dan Hooker by TKO; while losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision, Kevin Lee by TKO, Justin Gaethje by KO, and Paul Felder by split decision. Barboza has been a pro since 2009 and he has 12 wins by TKO/KO and one by submission. He has seven first round finishes.
Barboza said this to bjpenn.com about his upcoming fight against Ige, “I’m still in the ranks at 155 and I’m one of the best in the world. I wanted to test myself against the top guys of 145. He’s a tough guy, one of the best. I’ve watched his last couple of fights. He’s in the rankings for a reason. I will win this fight, that’s it. I think he may strike with me but he believes he has the ground advantage. I think Ige won’t try to fight at a distance as Dan Hooker did. He’s going to try and wrestle me and push me against the fence. I’m ready, man. So, wherever this fight goes I’m ready, it will be a great fight.”
Dan Ige 13-2, 5-1 UFC
Ige came into the UFC with a record of 8-1 and he has five wins and one loss in the UFC. He defeated Mike Santiago by TKO, Jordan Griffin by unanimous decision, Danny Henry by rear-naked choke submission, Kevin Aguilar by unanimous decision, and Mirsad Bektic by split decision; while losing to Julio Arce by unanimous decision. Ige has been a pro since 2014 and he has three wins by
TKO/KO and five by submission. He has five first round finishes.
Ige said this to khon2.com about his upcoming fight against Barboza, “He’s a guy that’s been top-10, top-5 in the world for the last ten years, so to go in there and actually get to fight a guy like that, I’m super excited because, it’s like that quote, when your idols become your rivals. This is a guy that I need to beat to really establish myself. I know I’ve gone out there and I’ve proven myself but I have to do it again. I have to keep proving myself and keep proving myself to show that I belong. I belong in there with the champion.”
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Barboza 4.01/ Ige 3.89
Striking Accuracy: Barboza 43% / Ige 49%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Barboza 4.16/ Ige 2.69
Defense: Barboza 60% / Ige 62%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Barboza 0.49/ Ige 2.38
Takedown Accuracy: Barboza 44% / Ige 35%
Takedowns defended: Barboza 80% / Ige 61%
Submission average: Barboza 0.1 / Ige 0.8
I am a little surprised that Barboza is listed as the favorite as he has won just two of his last six fights. Ige has the edge on the ground in this fight and that is where I think it will be determined. I will take Ige to get the win, also play him to win by submission and take the rounds go under the total.
UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, May 16, with five fights on the main card on ESPN, headlined by Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris and six preliminary bouts on ESPN/ESPN+.
Main card ESPN
Heavyweight - Walt Harris -160 vs. Alistair Overeem
Women’s Strawweight - Cláudia Gadelha -190 vs. Angela Hill
Featherweight - Edson Barboza -135 vs. Dan Ige
Middleweight - Krzysztof Jotko -165 vs. Eryk Anders
Featherweight - Song Yadong -200 vs. Marlon Vera
Preliminary Card ESPN/ESPN+
Welterweight - Miguel Baeza -200 vs. Matt Brown
Middleweight - Anthony Hernandez -115 vs. Kevin Holland
Featherweight Mike Davis -205 vs. Giga Chikadze
Women's Flyweight - Cortney Casey -165 vs. Mara Romero Borella
Featherweight - Darren Elkins -120 vs. Nate Landwehr
Heavyweight - Don’Tale Mayes -129 vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
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