Preview: UFC Fight Night 188 ‘Font vs. Garbrandt’

Flyweights

#11 FLW | David Dvorak (19-3, 2-0 UFC) vs. #12 FLW | Raulian Paiva (20-3, 2-2 UFC)

ODDS: Dvorak (-145), Paiva (+125)

This should be an entertaining scrap between two of the UFC’s more underrated flyweights. Paiva had some hard luck to start his UFC career. A nip-tuck debut against Kai Kara France went against him on the scorecards, and a cut stoppage ended his night quickly against Rogerio Bontorin.

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However, the Brazilian was able to turn things around with two wins in as many bouts in 2020, showing off his wares as an offensively focused and violent striker. He will look to make it three straight against the Czech Republic’s Dvorak, who is also looking for his third straight UFC win. Dvorak made his UFC debut against Bruno Silva in March 2020 and has impressed since, showing an effective and counter-heavy striking game. After his subsequent win over Jordan Espinosa, it is also clear that Dvorak can make his style work against better athletes. This is a ridiculously close fight on paper. Both men look to strike first but can hold their own on the mat as needed, and they are evenly matched in a lot of statistical categories. Paiva is the harder hitter, but Dvorak is a bit more varied in his attack and more defensively evasive, which should get him the victory if this goes three rounds. The pick is Dvorak via decision.

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