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Heavyweights

Karl Williams (10-1, 3-0 UFC) vs. Jhonata Diniz (7-0, 1-0 UFC)

ODDS: Williams (-205), Diniz (+170)

A clash of styles could result in a statement win for one of these heavyweights. Williams didn’t seem like a standout prospect ahead of his 2022 shot on Dana White’s Contender Series, but a victory there has given way to a three-fight winning streak once he was under the UFC banner. If nothing else, Williams knows his strengths. He quickly looks to fight behind a control-heavy wrestling game that isn’t particularly dynamic, but it’s also hard to argue with the results. Williams’ striking has been a mixed bag thus far, with him both showing some solid flashes and getting rocked. As such, given this matchup against Diniz, it’s not hard to figure out what Williams’ game plan should be. Brazil’s Diniz is one of the more recent kickboxing converts to land in the UFC, and he’s dangerous enough to carve out a niche for himself. Diniz can be a bit plodding, but he has proven to be an opportunistic finisher and his UFC debut in April showed he can stage at least a bit of a comeback, as he scored a second-round knockout after being outwrestled by Austen Lane. Diniz will probably have to hope for a similar comeback here, but Williams is a much more practiced and consistent wrestler than Lane, which could make that a tough ask. While Williams’ cardio can be a bit spotty, there’s also nothing to suggest that Diniz won’t also be exhausted by the time his counterpart starts to run out of gas. The pick is Williams via decision.

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