Two middleweights are looking to get back in the win column this weekend at UFC Fight Night, with divisional main-stays Jamie Pickett and Eryk Anders set to close out the prelims.
The two have been on rocky roads since joining the UFC, accruing spotty records against some of the toughest names in the division.
For Jamie Pickett, this could be make or break, with his four-fight losing streak presenting questions about whether he could hang with the rest of such a talented division.
Anders, on the other hand, has proven himself time and time again as a great test for rising contenders, shutting down hype trains with his victories and only losing to legitimate contenders in his defeats since joining the UFC in 2017.
Regardless, it’s clear that both men need to make a statement to stay in their respective weight class this weekend, making what would normally be an underwhelming fight an exhilarating scrap with high stakes at play.
Betting Odds
With Pickett losing his past four fights (three of which by finish), it’s no surprise he comes into this bout as a significant underdog.
Fight Breakdown
Formerly playing linebacker for Alabama, Anders started his MMA career fairly late, but quickly made waves by taking the legendary Lyoto Machida through a competitive five-round scrap in just his 11th professional fight. Since then, however, he’s seemed to have lost much of his momentum, frequently coming up short in some of the biggest fights of his career.
His explosive wrestling style has been both beneficial and detrimental to his career, frequently relying on his strength and athleticism to muscle through takedowns and aggressively wear his opponents out on the ground, often at the expense of his own gas tank.
Conversely, Pickett has also had a long, spotty career in mixed martial arts. He came up short in not just one, but two Dana White Contender Series opportunities. The third time’s the charm, however, as he made a statement in his third outing by knocking Jhonoven Pati out in the second round. Since then, he’s had an underwhelming 2-6 run since getting signed to the UFC, losing to strong competition and struggling against less experienced fighters.
Despite flashes of potential, Pickett has struggled to find consistency in the octagon, often falling short in critical moments. Although he has an extremely lanky frame and usually comes into his fights in solid shape, he begins to crumble if he can’t land his left hand. Once he does, however, he’s never afraid to unload on his opponents, making him a solid finisher when he finds the right opportunities.
Prediction and Betting Guide
I’m going with Anders here, simply because he’s had a longer career against deeper competition. I really just don’t see any aspect in the game, aside from a reach advantage, that Pickett outshines him in.
I’m light on it, though, as this just seems to be a case of picking one bad fighter over a worse fighter. Although Anders has great natural athleticism, he came into the fray of MMA a little too late in life to actually stand out as a legitimate contender.
Meanwhile, Pickett has proven time and time again that he can’t hang with explosive or well-rounded opponents, two things that Anders has in abundance. I’m going to go with Anders via KO, likely by ground-and-pound or a well-placed overhand against the cage, but it really could get done in any way he likes.
Pick: Anders via KO/TKO (+180) or Anders Moneyline (-485) at BetUS
Lines to Watch: Anders via Decision (+110 at BetUS)