UFC on ESPN 9 Prelims Undercard Betting Odds and Predictions

The UFC returns to action on Saturday night for UFC on ESPN 9 at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will take on Gilbert Burns, the 6th ranked welterweight in the promotion, in the main event. In the co-main event, Blagoy Ivanov faces Augusto Sakai in a three-round heavyweight bout. Before the main card, an interesting prelims undercard will open the show.

Let’s take a look at the six prelims undercard bouts and make our fearless predictions:

Katlyn Chookagian vs Antonina Shevchenko

Chookagian is the former CFFC women’s bantamweight champion who challenged for the UFC women’s flyweight title and lost to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 247. The 31-year old from Pennsylvania has a record of 13-3 with two knockouts and one victory via submission. She stands 5-9 tall with a reach of 68 inches and is an orthodox fighter.

Antonina is the older sister of flyweight champion Valentina and she is the 12th ranked flyweight in the UFC. After taking a 12-year break from MMA, she returned to the sport in 2017 and appeared in Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018. She stands 5-8 tall and has a reach of 67 inches while fighting out of the southpaw stance. Shevchenko has a record of 8-1 with two knockouts and one win via submission.

Chookagian lost to the “other” Shevchenko because she couldn’t match Valentina’s wrestling. But she won’t have to worry about Antonina’s wrestling or lack of it. That said, I think this one goes down to who controls the distance. If Chookagian maintains her kicking distance, she has the edge here. However, we’ve seen fighters shorter than Shevchenko successfully get inside Chookagian’s range. I think Antonina breaks that barrier too and wins this bout with her in-fighting.

Prediction: Antonina Shevchenko (-135)

Billy Quarantillo vs Spike Carlyle

Quarantillo fought for RFC, SOFC, and KOTC before he knocked out Kamuela Kirk at Dana White’s Contender Series Season 3. He made his UFC debut last December where he defeated Jacob Kilborn via submission. Quarantillo stands 5-10 with a reach of 70 inches and is an orthodox fighter. His record is 13-2 with five knockouts and five wins via submission.

Spike Carlyle is also coming off an auspicious UFC debut. Carlyle knocked out Aalon Cruz at UFC Fight Night 169 last February. The former CCW, LFA, and LXF fighter only has one loss in 10 professional fights with 5 knockouts and 3 wins via submission. Alpha Ginger stands 5-8 with a reach of 71 inches and is a switch-hitter.

Carlyle is a terrific grappler who struggles when he’s against an out-fighter. However, Quarantillo is a pressure fighter who likes to strike in front of his opponents so it might not be hard for Carlyle to put his hands on him and take him to the ground. I think this ends in a stoppage with Carlyle pounding out Quarantillo or forcing him to submit.

Prediction: Spike Carlyle (+122)

Jamahal Hill vs Klidson Abreu

Hill is an undefeated fighter who used ply his trade at the LOP and Lights Out Championship organizations. He joined the UFC via the Contender Series and made his octagon last January, defeating Darko Stosic via decision. This southpaw stands 6-4 tall with a reach of 79 inches. He is 7-0 as a pro with three knockouts.

Abreu is a 27-year old Brazilian who used to fight for Jungle Fights and Brave CF. The White Bear is 1-2 inside the octagon and is coming off a loss to Samil Gamzatov last November. He is 6-0 tall with a reach of 74 inches and is an orthodox fighter. Abreu is 15-4 with 4 knockouts and 10 wins by way of submission.

Hill is a rangy fighter who is versatile on his feet but has an underdeveloped wrestling game. Abreu is a mediocre striker who has top-level grappling and unless Hill has improved his wrestling skills since his last fight, I think Abreu will take this fight to the ground where he chokes out Hill for the victory.

Prediction: Klidson Abreu (+110)

Tim Elliott vs Brandon Royval

Tim Elliott is the 7th ranked UFC flyweight and the former Titan FC flyweight champion. He is in his second tenure with the UFC and has lost four out of his last six bouts. Elliott challenged Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight title at the finale of TUF 24. The southpaw stands 5-7 tall with a reach of 66 inches. He has a record of 15-10 with three knockouts and six wins by submission.

Brandon Royval was supposed to appear at Dana White’s Contender Series after his win at LFA 79. However, he got a call to fight Tim Elliott instead and he immediately took the offer. Royval was 5-2 at LFA before getting signed by the UFC. His overall record is 10-4 with three knockouts and six wins by submission. Raw Dawg stands 5-7 tall and has a reach of 70 inches while fighting out of the southpaw stance.

This has Fight of the Night potential. Elliott and Royval should deliver a fun fight on the feet. However, we’ve seen Royval get dominated on the mat before while Elliott has a good takedown game. Royval may have more submission moves but Elliott’s wrestling will be the key here. I think this will be a good grappling battle and Elliott will out-scramble and out-wrestle Royval after three rounds.

Prediction: Tim Elliott (-183)

Louis Smolka vs Casey Kenney

Casey Kenney is a former Tachi Palace Fights flyweight champion and Legacy Fighting Alliance flyweight and bantamweight champion. The 29-year old is also an alumnus of Dana White’s Contender Series. Kenney defeated Ray Borg in his octagon debut, winning the bout despite taking the fight on six days’ notice. The Southpaw stands 5-7 tall with a reach of 68 inches. He has a record of 13-2 with two knockouts and four wins by submission.

Louis Smolka is the former flyweight champion of both California Xtreme Fighting and Pacific Xtreme Combat. The 28-year old stands 5-9 tall with a reach of 68 inches and is an orthodox fighter. He has a record of 16-6 with seven knockouts and seven submission victories. He is 2-1 in his second octagon tour of duty and is coming off a first-round TKO of Ryan McDonald.

Smolka boasts of a free-flowing striking and dangerous submission moves. However, Kenney’s boxing will control the standup and he has the ability to put Smolka on his back. I think that Kenney will be too powerful for Smolka on the feet and he will land multiple takedowns as well. I see Kenney dominating this fight wherever it goes. Given me Kenney here.

Prediction: Casey Kenney (-280)

Chris Gutierrez vs Vince Morales

Chris Gutierrez fought for various promotions like the World Series of Fighting and Legacy Fighting Alliance before heading to the UFC in 2018. He made his debut at the finale of The Ultimate Fighter 28, losing to Raoni Barcelos via submission. Since then, he’s won back to back fights, both on points. Gutierez is an orthodox fighter who stands 5-9 tall with a reach of 67 inches. His record is 14-4 with six knockouts and one win via submission.

Vince Morales fought mainly for Front Street Fights before joining Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018 where he lost to Domingo Pilarte via submission. He next fought at Bellator 205 before heading to the UFC. Morales is 1-2 inside the octagon and he has a 9-4 record with five knockouts and two submissions.

Morales is heavy-handed with half of his wins coming by knockout. However, he won’t be able to get in range without Gutierrez punishing his lead leg. Sure, he will always be dangerous with his punching power but once his leg gets compromised, he won’t be able to load up. I think Gutierrez picks him apart from a distance and wins this fight by decision.

Prediction: Chris Gutierez (-110)

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