UFC Cage Locks: Garcia, Onama look to maintain rising up featherweight ranks

Ranked featherweight contenders Steve Garcia and David Onama are set to compete within the first UFC foremost occasion of every of their careers Saturday at a Fight Night occasion on the UFC Apex.

No. 12-ranked Garcia has gained six in a row, whereas No. 13-ranked Onama is on a four-fight streak.

The 13-bout card additionally contains a heavyweight co-main occasion between No. 6-ranked contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta faces Ante Delija who burth into the highest 10 after thrilling in his UFC debut lower than two months in the past. Also, top-five girls’s bantamweight veterans Ketlen Vieira and Norma Dumont meet in a featured preliminary bout. 

All 26 athletes efficiently made weight at Friday’s weigh-in. Below are the projected bout order and predictions for UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama.

— Steve Garcia vs. David Onama

— Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Ante Delija

— Jeremiah Wells vs. Themba Gorimbo

— Isaac Dulgarian vs. Yadier del Valle

— Charles Radtke vs. Daniel Frunza

— Allan Nascimento vs. Rafael Estevam

— Billy Elekana vs. Kevin Christian

— Timothy Cuamba vs. Lee Chang-ho

— Donte Johnson vs. Sedriques Dumas

— Ketlen Vieira vs. Norma Dumont

— Alice Ardelean vs. Montserrat Ruiz

— Philip Rowe vs. Seok-hyun Ko

— Talita Alencar vs. Ariane Carnelossi

Ahead of every UFC occasion in 2025, UFC reporter Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter), producer Dan Fernandes (@DanFernandes__) and author/editor Mike Johnston (@MikeyJ_MMA) will peruse the chances and make 4 betting predictions utilizing fantasy {dollars}: one greatest guess, one favorite, one underdog and one dart throw wager. REMINDER: Sportsnet is dedicated to selling and educating audiences in regards to the significance of betting responsibly. Sources for accountable playing might be discovered HERE.

Cage Lock: Dumas vs. Johnson ends inside the gap -800

Favourite: Norma Dumont -180

Underdog: Cody Durden +240

Dart Throw: Ariane Carnelossi by resolution +400

Dumas and Johnson are each kill or be killed fighters and I count on that their battle finds a end sooner or later. … Dumont is extra well-rounded than Vieira and has a number of benefits. I consider that she beats Vieira as a rule. … Alan Nascimento could be very takedown-dependent in relation to his profitable circumstances and Durden shall be stingy in that division. I feel that Durden will maintain this battle on the toes and outpoint Nascimento. … Carnelossi has a excessive ending fee, however I don’t count on her to attempt to grapple with the harmful Alencar. On the toes, she has higher approach and energy, which, in my estimation, makes her greatest profitable situation a choice.

Cage Lock: Donte Johnson -350

Favourite: Allan Nascimento -250

Underdog: Ketlen Vieira +150

Dart Throw: Kevin Christian by submission +600

Donte Johnson was knocking out the competitors on the regional scene previous to becoming a member of UFC. A debut within the group often means a step up in competitors, however with the whole lot occurring behind the scenes with Sedriques Dumas it is a very beneficial matchup for the newcomer. Johnson probably wins inside the gap, however -350 for the outright win is as protected because it will get on this tough card. … It could possibly be a great evening for Brazilian blended martial artists. I feel Allan Nascimento grinds out a win over Cody Durden together with his relentless pursuit of a submission. Ketlen Vieira within the underdog function is at all times an awesome play whatever the opponent. Her battle with Norma Dumont probably goes the gap and Vieira probably wins at the least one spherical which suggests if the judges give her a second Vieira will get again within the win column after two straight losses. Kevin Christian proved on Dana White’s Contender Series that the hype round his submission recreation is actual. Billy Elekana is a expertise fighter who has proven an inclination to ignore his opponent’s strengths to execute his gameplan. This was evident when he was KO’d by Bogdan Guskov at UFC 311. If he enters this battle with that sort of reckless abandon, Christian may presumably snatch a limb and end this battle.

Cage Lock: Vieira vs. Dumont goes the gap -385

Favourite: Steve Garcia -133

Underdog: Jeremiah Wells +120

Dart Throw: Phil Rowe KO/TKO/DQ +400

I’ve been extra impressed with Garcia’s present run than Onama’s however this ought to be a tightly contested foremost occasion. Garcia is extra aggressive and has extra energy so, identical to the oddsmakers have, I give Garcia the slight edge right here. … Norma Dumont has gone the gap in her final 9 fights and Ketlen Vieira has seen the scorecards in eight straight, so in idea that is comparatively a protected guess (first-round end upcoming!). … The Rowe vs. Ko bout ought to be a enjoyable one which I view as a canine or go sort of matchup. If Rowe can maintain it standing his size and attain benefit will come into play. … Also going with outdated man Wells who celebrated his thirty ninth birthday earlier this week to humble Gorimbo who’s been speaking quite a bit within the leadup to this 170-pound matchup.

Three legs: Johnson vs. Dumas inside the gap + Johnson + Vieira vs. Dumont goes the gap

Parlay odds: -122 (to win: $82.21)

2025 STANDINGS AFTER 36 EVENTS

2025 report: 19-16-1 (coming off UFC 321 push)

2025 winnings: +$193.91 (on $100 bets)

AARON’S RECORDS/TOTALS (75-66-3, +25.01 items)

Cage Lock: 28-6-2 (-$14.71)

Favourite: 20-16 (-$489.07)

Underdog: 18-17-1 (+$1,255.24)

Dart throw: 9-27 (+$1,750)

DAN’S RECORDS/TOTALS (75-64-5, -4.68 items)

Cage Lock: 31-5 (+$101.67)

Favourite: 22-13-1 (-$230.01)

Underdog: 19-16-1 (+$850.24)

Dart throw: 3-30-3 (-$1,190)

MIKE’S RECORDS/TOTALS (56-82-6, -32.76 items)

Cage Lock: 24-11-1 (-$315.84)

Favourite: 18-18 (-$545.89)

Underdog: 13-21-2 (+$320)

Dart throw: 1-32-3 (-$2,735)

Cage Lock: The choose deemed to be the wager almost definitely to win no matter what the chances seem like. The Cage Locks parlay will mix Aaron’s, Dan’s and Mike’s respective greatest guess for every occasion.

Favourite: A fighter with profitable odds shorter than -300 however not longer than -110. On chalkier playing cards with a dearth of obtainable moneyline favourites that meet these standards, prop bets are allowed to be chosen.

Underdog: Any fighter with longer odds than their opponent’s.

Dart Throw: Any prop guess or moneyline wager with odds of +400 or longer.

(Betting odds above are by way of BetMGM, submitted at numerous occasions all through week, and topic to alter previous to the fights)