Two UFC newcomers, Noah Gugnon and Milos Janicic, are set to face off in the main card opener of UFC Fight Night 283 at the Belgrade Arena in Serbia.
The fight is expected to be an exciting one, with both fighters boasting impressive winning streaks. Gugnon has won four of his last five fights via stoppage, with four of those wins coming in the first round. Janicic, on the other hand, has won his last eight MMA fights, and has also competed in kickboxing, bareknuckle boxing, and other custom rules fights in recent years.
UFC analyst Dan Tom has been following the matchup closely, and believes that Gugnon's superior wrestling and grappling skills will give him an edge over Janicic. "So long as Gugnon can avoid being sucked into a dogfight on the feet, I believe that the Frenchman has superior wrestling and grappling," Tom said. "Should Gugnon get on top, the 25-year-old possesses solid ground and pound that can produce fight-ending damage."
Despite the oddsmakers initially opening Janicic as a big favorite, public money has pushed the fight to nearly pick'em odds. The current odds list Gugnon at -120 and Janicic at +102 via FanDuel.
The fight is scheduled to take place at approximately 1:10 p.m. ET, and will stream live on Paramount+. UFC fans in Serbia can watch the fight live at the Belgrade Arena, while those in other countries can tune in online.
According to Tom, the key to Gugnon's success will be avoiding getting caught up in a dogfight on the feet. "I suspect that Janicic's grappling will be tested by a more process-driven fighter like Gugnon," Tom said. "Should Gugnon get on top, he has the skills to finish the fight via ground and pound."
Fans are eagerly anticipating the fight, and many believe that it has the potential to be an exciting one. The official pick, according to Tom, is for Gugnon to force a stoppage via strikes in Round 2.
The outcome of the fight will have significant implications for both Gugnon and Janicic, who are both looking to make a statement in their UFC debuts.
Source: Yahoo Sports