Eric McConico

He picks McConico to do just enough to win on the scorecards, likely by split decision, and notes he expects almost nobody else to pick him. A contrarian lean, not a confident call.

The analyst's summary is that he is good everywhere, exceptional nowhere, and poor nowhere -- with one exception that costs him fights. The striking includes a good kicking arsenal, a front kick the analyst rates highly and wishes he threw more, a head kick he can sneak in against shorter opponents, and solid body work. He also recovers unusually fast when hurt, regaining his senses almost immediately after being dropped. His defining flaw is temperamental rather than technical: he is too patient, and patience taken far enough becomes passivity and low output. On the mat his best trick is catching kicks and converting them straight into takedowns, which buys him position for a fraction of the usual effort. His takedown defence holds up against the fence but breaks down in open space, where he fails to get his hips back and gets put down, though he generally works back up.

says the fight 'could go either way' and admits his lean could 'bite me'

Technically sound, patient striker whose performances often look unconvincing relative to his output, since his patience can read as inaction even when shots land. A solid grappler who gets takedowns off catching kicks and controls well up against the cage, but whose open-space takedown defense is not good without that cage support.

Says he flipped the pick several times, lacks enough information on McConico, and sides with Ruziboev 'in a very cautious spot' while staying far away from the fight.

A UFC debutant, 5-0 in his last five, training with strong partners. Good everywhere: a good striker with an accurate, well-disguised front kick, combinations, body work and a sneaky head kick, and a wrestling background he now uses less. As a grappler he catches kicks and uses the cage to mix in takedowns, with good top pressure. His takedown defense is mixed: not great on the open mat but pretty good against the cage, and he works back to his feet well. The unknown is how good he is, since his best regional win was over a good regional-level man.