Dan Tom, an MMA Junkie analyst, has Gilbert Urbina favored to edge Vlasto Cepo in their UFC Fight Night 283 showdown on Saturday at Belgrade Arena in Serbia.
Cepo (14-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his debut after winning back-to-back fights under the OKTAGON banner. Those fights ended in the first round. When Cepo wins, he stops his opponent, as he has a 100-percent finish rate.
Urbina (7-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) looks to get back on track after losing his last two fights against Charles Radtke and headliner Uros Medic by opening-round stoppage. His last win was a second-round finish of Orion Cosce in May 2023.
Despite Urbina being a career welterweight, the UFC appears to be giving the American another chance in a different division. The official pick is for Cepo to find a knockout by the beginning of Round 2, according to MMA Junkie.
The oddsmakers and the public favor the Serbian fighter, listing Cepo -360 and Urbina +285 via FanDuel. The odds indicate that Cepo is heavily favored to win the fight.
Urbina's recent performances have been a concern, with only one win in his last four fights. His lack of a jab will make him livelier than the current betting odds indicate, according to MMA Junkie.
Cepo is expected to walk to the cage at approximately 1:40 p.m. ET. The fight streams live on Paramount+. This will be a significant test for both fighters, with Cepo looking to make a strong impression in his UFC debut and Urbina seeking to bounce back from consecutive losses.
Source: Yahoo Sports