Marc Diakiese

odds are described as roughly even; his language stays soft throughout ('I think' repeated several times) and he frames the projected grappling edge as only slight

Marc Diakiese's best weapon is his speed and kicking, backed by solid footwork, but the analyst says his volume is inconsistent and he can get outstruck by less technical fighters when he doesn't turn it on. He has added wrestling recently and the analyst credits him for doing a good job with it, using the striking threat to set up takedowns and good top control, but he isn't dangerous once put on his own back.

Calls Alvarez 'a pick all day' and says he's 'definitely going' with him -- repeated, unhedged; analyst discloses he has already wagered on Alvarez, a wager disclosure kept separate from, but reinforcing, the analytical pick.

Diakiese is called the better pure striker skill-for-skill -- solid striking with good power, speed, kicks and footwork, though his volume is inconsistent -- and his wrestling has improved, set up by his striking threat. The stated problem is that if he is taken down, his own defense off the back is poor, which is the deciding factor against him.

says he is pretty confident and does not think the other man wins this one

A high-level kickboxer who has added real wrestling to his game, which he sees as the key to this matchup: mixing strikes and takedowns so Johnson never gets comfortable standing and trading. He credits Diakiese with sticking to a gameplan well and says he is building real momentum right now.