UFC on ESPN 14 Prelims Undercard Betting Odds and Predictions

The UFC closes out its Fight Island Series this weekend with UFC on ESPN 14 featuring Robert Whitaker and Darren Till. Before the main card, the UFC has put together an exciting prelims undercard that is loaded with veterans and up and coming stars.

Veteran Francisco Trinaldo headlines the prelims as he takes on England’s Jai Herbert who will be making his octagon debut in Yas Island. The prelims also feature former women’s bantamweight challenger Bethe Correia who will take on former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion Pannie Kianzad.

Let’s take a look at the full prelims undercard and pick our winners:

Francisco Trinaldo vs Jai Herbert

Francisco Trinaldo is the former Jungle Fight lightweight champion who was a competitor at The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. The 41-year old is also a three-time Brasilia State Kickboxing champion. He stands 5-9 tall with a reach of 70 inches and is a southpaw fighter. Trinaldo has a record of 25-7 with eight knockouts and five wins via submission. He is coming off back to back wins over Bobby Green and John Makdessi.

Jai Herbert fought for BAMMA and Cage Warriors before joining the UFC earlier this year. This 32-year old from Wolverhampton in England worked full-time as a scaffolder while starting his MMA career. Herbert is an orthodox fighter who stands 6-1 tall with a reach of 77 inches. He has a record of 10-1 with eight knockouts and one win via submission.

Herbert’s height and reach could be problematic for Trinaldo who tends to struggle closing the distance against longer fighters. He also has a very good gas tank which could prove to be a factor against a 41-year old opponent. However, Trinaldo looks like he still has good conditioning. He also has the experience and stylistically, he can force Herbert to the mat and win by staying on top control.

Prediction: Francisco Trinaldo (-131)

Nicolas Dalby vs Jesse Ronson

Nicolas Dalby is a former interim and welterweight champion at the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship promotion. This 35-year old from Copenhagen in Denmark was also the European MMA welterweight champion. Dalby had a rough start in the UFC with three losses and a draw in his first four assignments. He returned to Cage Warriors and went unbeaten in four bouts before beating Alex Oliveira last September in his UFC return. Dalby is 18-3 with six knockouts and four wins via submission. He stands 5-11 tall with a reach of 74 inches while fighting as an orthodox fighter.

Jesse Ronson fought for Score Fighting Series and Canadian Fighting Championship before a winless three-fight stint with the UFC in 2014. He went back to Canada and became the TKO MMA lightweight champion and earned a second stint in the UFC. Ronson is 21-10 with 10 knockouts and seven submissions. He is a southpaw who stands 5-10 with a reach of 70 inches.

These fighters are evenly matched when it comes to skill although I think that Ronson has more power in his fists. However, he is taking this fight on short notice and this will be his first UFC bout in six years. Dalby is the naturally bigger man here and although he has power, I don’t think that Ronson can change this fight with one punch. That said, Dalby should pick up the pace in round two and earn the last two rounds to earn a victory on points.

Prediction: Nicolas Dalby (-240)

Tom Aspinall vs Jake Collier

Tom Aspinall fought for Cage Warriors and BAMMA before getting the call to fight for the UFC. This heavyweight fighter from Great Manchester in England has a record of 7-2 with five knockouts and two wins via submission. He stands 6-5 tall with a reach of 78 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance.

Jake Collier is a former RFA middleweight champion who fought mostly for Rumble Time Promotions and Cage Championships. This 31-year old from Missouri has a record of 11-4 with five knockouts and three wins via submission. He stands 6-3 tall with a reach of 78 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. Collier is 3-3 inside the Octagon but he has not fought since November 2017.

Aspinall has legit skills. He has knockout power and good submission moves, even on his back. He also enters this fight as the naturally bigger fighter. Collier isn’t just fighting a bigger man here, he is ending a three-year layoff against a man bigger and more talented than him. That’s tough to ask.

Prediction: Tom Aspinall (-220)

Movsar Evloev vs Mike Grundy

Movsar Evloev is an undefeated Russian prospect who has won his first two UFC assignments. The 26-year old Russian fought for M-1 Challenge before joining the UFC. He stands 5-7 tall with a reach of 72 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. Evloev has a record of 12-0 with three knockouts and four wins via submission. In his last bout, Evloev defeated Enrique Barzola at UFC Fight Night 162.

Mike Grundy is a former freestyle wrestler who competed for the United World Wrestling ( FILA). This 33-year old from Wigan, England fought for BAMMA, ICE Fighting Championship, and Aspera FC before knocking out Nad Narimani at UFC Fight Night: Till vs Masvidal last year. Grundy stands 5-7 tall with a reach of 72 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. He has a record of 12-1 with one knockout and eight wins via submission.

Evloev has proven grappling but Grundy has good wrestling and owns the faster hands. This may be the closest bout in the undercard and I think both fighters have a legit chance of winning this. The difference-maker for me is Evloev’s jab which should counter Grundy’s stand up game. The Russian is also the better submission artist and is a better scrambler. Evloev wins this with better work on the mat.

Prediction: Movsar Evloev (-200)

Tanner Boser vs Raphael Pessoa

Tanner Boser is a two-time Unified MMA heavyweight champion who also competed for M-1 Global and King of the Cage. This 28-year old Canadian known as the Bulldozer joined the UFC in 2019 and is 2-1 inside the octagon. He has a record of 18-6 with nine knockouts and two wins via submission. Boser is coming off a knockout win over Philippe Lins. He stands 6-2 with a 75-inch reach while fighting out of the orthodox stance.

Raphael Pessoa fought for NCE, and LFA before joining the UFC in 2019. After losing his octagon debut to Ciryl Gane, he defeated Jeff Hughes at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs Askren last October. Pessoa is 10-1 with six knockouts and one win via submission. Pessoa stands 6-3 tall with a reach of 78 inches and is an orthodox fighter.

Boser’s victory over Lins was a surprising one. He uses a lot of movement and variety. With his footwork and gas tank, he could be a heavyweight that you should watch for. Pessoa did better than expected when he fought Hughes but between him and Boser, Boser is more active and has more output. I think Boser fights from a distance and wins by decision.

Prediction: Tanner Boser (-260)

Bethe Correia vs Pannie Kianzad

Bethe Correia is the 13th ranked female bantamweight in the UFC. The 37 year old Brazilian challenged Ronda Rousey at UFC 190 for the title but lost via 1st round knockout. She is 2-4-1 in her last seven bouts but is coming off a win over Sijara Eubanks. Correia is 5-5 tall with a reach of 64 inches and is an orthodox fighter. She has a record of 11-4 with two knockouts.

Pannie Kinzad is the former Cage Warriors bantamweight title who also fought for Invicta FC. The 28-year old Iranian-born Swedish mixed martial artist joined the UFC in 2019 and is 1-1 inside the octagon. She stands 5-7 tall with a reach of 66 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. She is 12-5 with three knockouts and is coming off a win over Jessica-Rose Clark.

Kianzad is a very good boxer and she has advantages in height and reach over Correia. Her size advantage will prevent Correia from getting close and turning this to a brawl. We’ve also shown her display volume so it’s unlikely that Correia will outwork her. Kianzad controls this fight with her jab and beats Correia by decision.

Prediction: Pannie Kianzad (-149)

Ramazan Emeev vs Niklas Stolze

Ramazan Emeev is a former M-1 Global middleweight champion. The 33-year old from Dagestan also fought for Global Battle and ProFC. Emeev won his first three UFC bouts but lost to Anthony Rocco Martin in his last bout. He has a record of 18-4 with three knockouts and seven wins via submission. Emeev is a southpaw who stands 5-10 tall with a reach of 76 inches.

Niklas Stolze fought for IFC, BAMMA, and most recently, Nova FC. This 27-year old from Germany stands 6-1 tall with a reach of 74 inches and is a switch hitter. Stolze has a record of 12-3 with four knockouts and five submissions. In his last bout, Stolze defeated Omar Jesus Santana via decision last August 13, 2019.

Stolze has an offbeat style and a good stand up that can put Emeev in trouble if he can turn this to a kickboxing contest. However, no matter what pace Stolze brings to this bout, Emeev has the skillset to turn this to a boring contest that will favor him. He will punish Stolze by taking him down to the mat and grinding an ugly victory. I like Emeev to take Stolze to the ground and tire him out.

Prediction: Ramazan Emeev (-385)

Nathaniel Wood vs John Castaneda

Nathaniel Wood is the former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion A competitor since 2012, he also fought for BAMMA and Fusion Fighting Championship. He won his first three UFC bouts before losing to Jon Dodson in his most recent bout. Wood stands 5-6 tall with a reach of 69 inches and is an orthodox fighter. His record stands at 16-4 with nine knockouts and five wins via submission.

John Castaneda is Driller Promotions and Combate Americas before signing with the UFC recently. The 28-year old from Minnesota has a record of 17-4 with six knockouts and six submission wins. Castaneda stands 5-6 tall with a reach of 71 inches and is a switch hitter. Castaneda is coming off a submission win over Marcelo Rojo.

Wood seems to have inherited coach Brad Pickett’s weakness with his striking defense. But Castaneda is also easy to hit and can be easily taken down if forced to fight on his back foot. Likewise, Castaneda is vulnerable against an opponent who is a volume striker. Wood’s aggressive striking and effective takedowns are going to win this fight here. The only way Castaneda wins this is if he forces Wood to retreat, which I don’t think he can.

Prediction: Nathaniel Wood (-410)

Place Your Bets Here