Lightweights
Nikolas Motta (12-4, 0-1 UFC) vs. Cameron VanCamp (15-6-1, 0-1 UFC)ODDS: Motta (-205), VanCamp (+175)
Entertaining lightweights look for their first UFC win in this encounter. Motta was on the UFC radar for a while before he earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020. “Iron” was already a prospect to watch by the time he appeared on “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” all the way back in 2015. However, the extra time gave Motta some time to further hone his craft, and the results have been effective. Motta is not the most varied fighter, but he is a consistent power puncher with solid cardio and a willingness to hunt for the knockout as needed. His UFC debut in February was both a big opportunity and a tough ask against Jim Miller that resulted in Motta suffering a second-round knockout, but he looks to rebound here. VanCamp made his late-notice debut in May up at welterweight, losing via first-round knockout to Andre Fialho. The Indiana native did not stick out as undersized at 170 pounds, so he should be an impressive force at lightweight. As a fighter, VanCamp’s approach is built around aggression and little else. That figures to make things interesting, but given how VanCamp’s fights have gone against his strongest opponents, that also figures to give Motta some significant opportunities at fight-ending offense. The pick is Motta via first-round knockout.