Lightweights
Frank Camacho (22-9) vs. Brok Weaver (15-5)ODDS: Camacho (-225), Weaver (+185)
Camacho’s flaws on paper really should outweigh his strengths. The UFC’s lone representative from the Northern Mariana Islands, “The Crank” is not much of an overpowering athlete and he is more than content to rely on his striking despite coming from a grappling background. However, even that striking approach comes with its flaws. Camacho takes a while to get going and has a tendency to get finished early. Worse still, his cardio tends to flag by the time he finds a groove late in his fights. Even so, it all works since Camacho is a born fighter who is more than willing to scrap through all of it. Win or lose, Camacho’s fights are generally shoo-ins for “Fight of the Night” honors if they go any length of time. He will get a willing dance partner here against Weaver, who is looking to prove that he is a UFC-level fighter. Weaver has exactly the type of aggressive and relentless style for which the UFC looks when signing fighters off of Dana White’s Contender Series, but while he certainly has the willingness to wear out opponents and turns things into a mess, the concern is that he has neither the skills nor the physicality to actually turn that into any wins. Camacho is no physical marvel, so this may actually be a fight Weaver can control, but “The Crank” is simply the much better and more effective fighter when it comes to actual offense. The pick is Camacho via decision.
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