Kevin Vallejos

repeated "we'll see"; whether he "can hang on" late is left open

Solid striker whose unpredictable mix of single strikes and combinations to all levels makes him hard to counter; good movement, light on his toes, works the body well, with pretty good output/volume and solid kicks off either leg. The analyst expects him to be the quicker striker here. A decent-enough grappler who often mixes in takedowns off catching a kick (or throws a straight cross instead); pretty good takedown defense but not great top control. The analyst expects a mostly striking fight.

unhedged: states plainly he can win via striking or via grappling, and mixing both is his best path

A solid, well-rounded striker who mixes combinations and single shots to keep opponents guessing, strikes to all levels, moves well and uses footwork to offset being the smaller man, works the body, and kicks well off either leg. His grappling is decent rather than a focus, but he is a good kick-catcher who can convert a caught kick into either a takedown or a counter cross, and his takedown defense is good. His one real soft spot is that his top pressure isn't his best trait once he gets a fight down.

uses his own word for it -- says Silva's reliance on head movement is 'making me lean his side' -- expecting Vallejos's level-changing combinations to land at volume.

A solid striker who blends combinations and single strikes and fully changes levels within a combination (legs to body to head), with good movement, light feet, good volume and solid kicks off either leg without needing to switch stance. His grappling is decent: he can mix in takedowns, and his best route there is catching a kick -- from which he either takes the man down or throws a heavy cross instead. Only loss on his record was a competitive one he is said to have looked good in.

He calls the pick 'probably' done and says the opponent 'gets wrecked', a decisive call with no staking hedge attached.

Our words: a very capable, varied striker who mixes single shots with combinations to keep opponents guessing, hits all three levels in combination, and can kick off either leg without tipping his intent. He adds a decent wrestling game, mixing in takedowns mostly off caught kicks.