Featherweights
Doo Ho Choi (14-4-1) vs. Bill Algeo (18-8)Odds: Algeo (-166), Choi (+140)
It's now been nearly a decade since Choi took the UFC by storm, starting his Octagon campaign with three straight knockouts and gaining a ton of notice in the process, in part thanks to the contrast between Choi's youthful baby face and the violence that he brought to the cage. A 2016 fight against Cub Swanson figured to be the stepping stone win for "The Korean Superboy" to launch into some big things, and that didn't exactly happen; it was a three-round war that's reached legendary status and elevated Choi's profile in the process, but it also ended in a Swanson win -- and as a result, it's now been over eight years since Choi last won a fight. Injuries and Choi's military service have slowed down his career, but there was cause for concern even before his hiatus between 2019 and 2023; Choi's aggressive and defensively void style wound up getting him knocked out by Jeremy Stephens and a then-unknown Charles Jourdain. Choi came back a different fighter for his fight against Kyle Nelson early last year, though it's still hard to tell how things are going to shake out; he wasn't nearly as dynamic, but showed a well-rounded game and mixed in some wrestling, putting in a workmanlike performance that ended in a draw after a late point deduction for Choi due to a foul. It's now a year and a half later, and hopefully some questions get answered here against Algeo, who might need to prove some things himself.
There's a class of featherweights that are subpar athletes but get by through durability and aggression, and that group certainly includes Algeo; a rangy fighter that doesn't make much use of his frame, "Senor Perfecto" typically marches forward and keeps trying to make things happen with the knowledge that his chin and gas tank will outlast his opponents. That's usually been a safe bet, as Algeo has even banked a win over Joanderson Brito that's aged well in the two and a half years since, but his last showing was a bit concerning; the aforementioned Kyle Nelson was able to quickly crack Algeo and earn a stoppage victory that was a bit early, but still saw Algeo get just about as wobbled as he's ever been in his mixed martial arts career. Algeo's been at this since 2012, so that could be the first sign that his approach is nearing its expiration date -- or it could just be another feather in the cap for Nelson, who's in the midst of a career renaissance. If Algeo's durability is fading, this certainly could go south for the American in spectacular fashion, though it's still hard not to favor his track record against someone with as many questions as the 2024 version of Choi; the pick is Algeo via decision.
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Lemos vs. Jandiroba
Tavares vs. Park
Garcia vs. Choi
Holobaugh vs. Kruschewsky
Durden vs. Silva
Choi vs. Algeo
The Prelims