Chris Padilla

Calls it a close, competitive fight and hedges by repeating the word "probably" before naming Padilla.

A technically disciplined striker who works behind his jab while keeping his rear hand up by his chin at all times, snapping it back into guard after every punch. His real weapon is cutting opponents open with elbows as they crash the pocket, a path the analyst thinks could win him the fight even if he's behind on output. His grappling is good too: cage pushes into ground-and-pound, body-lock takedowns, and elbows from top control, mostly out of half guard.

repeats the pick twice, no hedge

An underdog-story fighter who has out-performed his regional pedigree every time he's stepped into the UFC. Works a good jab with the rear hand kept up defensively, and detonates heavy elbows whenever an opponent crashes the pocket. Not the most varied arsenal but dangerous within it. A good grappler: cage pressure, ground-and-pound straight to elbows, strong top control off half guard, and a bodylock takedown. Described as very opportunistic on submissions.

names Padilla as the pick, then directly disclaims it when he asks himself: "Absolutely not"

An undefeated-in-the-UFC underdog the analyst calls a good striker built around a disciplined jab, a rear hand that stays home except when thrown, and hard elbows whenever an opponent crashes the pocket. Also a good grappler who the analyst says does nothing special but does many things right: good cage pressure, good ground and pound straight to elbows, a good bodylock takedown and a preference for controlling half guard. The analyst's whole case for him is fight IQ and toughness rather than being the more skilled man.

Direct: 'I'm taking Chris Padilla.' He names a mechanism - Padilla turning to wrestling once the feet get difficult for him - rather than a bare pick.

As of 2025-03-16, not his newest read. A good jab-first striker who keeps his rear hand home and meets a crashing opponent with elbows. His wrestling is his stated path to the win: a good bodylock, cage pressure, and especially effective ground and pound from top position and half guard.

wrestling advantage, Rongzhu's TD defense unproven

A workmanlike striker whose main discipline is keeping his rear hand pinned to his jaw while working the jab -- a detail specifically useful against a heavy-handed opponent. His real identity is the grappling: pressuring toward the fence, converting body-lock attempts into takedowns, and very strong control once on top, going directly to elbows rather than hammerfists. Picked to win on that grappling path against a foe whose own takedown defense is not trusted.

Calls Llontop 'the better Striker' then commits outright, naming him as the pick for this fight.

A safety-first striker who works a long jab behind a high rear hand, protecting against knockouts while setting up his real game: a good cage push into bodylock top control, working from half guard and hunting elbows that cut opponents up. His submissions come off scrambles when given rather than hunted. Taking the fight on short notice against a fully-camped opponent is treated as a real disadvantage.