Billy Elekana

He states the pick plainly but rests it entirely on the possibility that Elekana chooses to wrestle, invites criticism if he is wrong, and concedes the opponent should win standing.

A good but overly patient striker whose path to victory is the one he rarely takes — shooting takedowns and leaning on his top pressure against an opponent who struggles to get back up.

Stated plainly ('I like Billy here... he's on the verge of a 3-1 UFC mark') with a clear mechanism (Tafa's grappling called essentially absent), though a realistic Tafa brawl path is acknowledged.

A good striker who throws long straights and good kicks to all levels off either leg who picks his shots -- though that selectivity can tip into being too patient, and he is willing to back up rather than push pace. His grappling is decent: good takedown defense and an urgent scramble back to his feet, though he can get stuck against the cage doing it, plus good top pressure when on top, but he rarely wrestles offensively himself. The analyst defends his record, noting his only loss came on very short notice against a largely undefeated opponent.

He calls Christian "completely outmatched" on the feet, doubts he can land a submission consistently, and reassures viewers the steep price "is safe" before committing to Elekana.

A good striker with long, clean straight punches and a kicking arsenal that reaches every level off either leg, who picks his shots well but can be too patient doing it -- he coasted in his last win rather than pressing an advantage. Good knees up the middle, though willing to back himself up at times. His grappling is just decent, but his takedown defense is quite solid and he is urgent about standing back up once taken down, though that same urgency can get him pinned and controlled against the cage; he rarely wrestles, so rarely ends up on top, but has pretty good top pressure when he does. As of 2025-10-28.

picked as 'a shot', explicitly contingent on Elekana choosing to take Aslan down ('I hope he... does it'), and he grants Aslan 'a real path to victory'

A good, technical striker now in his sophomore UFC outing. He throws long straights and can kick off either leg to all levels without switching stance, picking his shots well and mixing in knees up the middle. That shot selection can also mean low volume, and he is willing to back up, which is a risk against a forward-moving opponent. His grappling is decent: good takedown defense and urgency to return to his feet, though that same urgency leaves him getting cage-pushed, and he rarely wrestles himself.

Names Guskov as the pick, then immediately undercuts it by pointing to how unpredictable short-notice fights are and saying he'd rather not have money on it -- a direct hedge on the matchup itself, not just a betting-strategy aside.

A capable striker with long, extended straight punches -- he rotates his torso to stretch his reach -- plus kicks off either stance without switching, giving him real variety to all levels. Solid knees up the middle, and he's selective with his shots, which the analyst says can leave him lower-output depending on what the opponent gives him; he's also willing to retreat while doing it, both flagged as specific problems in this particular matchup. His takedown defense is rated solidly, and he's quick to scramble back upright, though that habit of using the fence to rise often leaves him stuck against it; he brings decent top pressure when he lands there, though he isn't an offensive wrestler himself.