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Featherweights

Dennis Buzukja (11-4, 0-2 UFC) vs. Connor Matthews (7-1, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Buzukja (-130), Matthews (+110)

Two featherweight prospects look for their long-awaited first UFC win in this pairing. A two-time Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Buzukja was on the verge of a UFC contract for years before finally getting the late-notice call in August, though “The Great” has not gotten much of a chance to show off his wares in the two fights since. Buzukja is a dogged if fairly straightforward pressure fighter who was built to outlast opposition on the regional scene, but he got a tough draw for his UFC debut against Sean Woodson; and after putting in three rounds of solid work in a loss there, it was a shock when he got knocked out just 49 seconds into his last bout against Jamall Emmers. He gets a softer matchmaking touch against a UFC newcomer in Matthews, even if this shapes up to be a must-win situation. Massachusetts’ Matthews has had a similar path to a UFC contract, losing in his first Contender Series fight back in 2022 before earning a contract in a return visit in August. “The Controller” is a similar fighter. He is a more creative grappler than Buzukja but similarly likes to plug forward and see what shakes out. This is essentially a coinflip, but Buzukja looks to have the better gas tank and Matthews does not seem potent enough to spark him early like Emmers did. The pick is Buzukja via decision.

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