by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/5/2026 Photo Credits to Jeff Bottari via Getty Images Natalia Silva vs Alexa Grasso Woman's Flyweight Championship Zak Drapeau - With Valentina out until reportedly Q3 of 2027, Natalia Silva will likely defend her belt sometime in Summer of next year and Alexa Grasso is absolutely up next. Silva had a closer fight with Wang Cong than she would've liked especially for a #8 contender but nonetheless she earned her title this weekend and now mov

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/2/2026 In our UFC 331 Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 4-2 in picks with 2 methods for 6 points. Matt went 2-4 in picks with 0 methos for 3 points. Points To Date: Zak: 194 (128-74) Matt: 169 (113-83) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 10/2 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Graphic Credits to UFC via bloodyelbow.com 1Natalia Silva vs 8Wang Cong Woman's Flyweight Championship (Silva -210) Zak Drapeau - In the

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 9/28/2026 Photo Credits to Jeff Bottari via Zuffa LLC 12Raul Rosas Jr. vs Marlon Vera Matt Hylen - Wow, what an absolute war Raul Rosas Jr just initiated. I did say that whoever wins this fight likely won’t get the jump up people expect, and I still believe that now, but Rosas Jr’s grit and improved striking definitely has him on the right path. I think a big challenge for Rosas Jr would be Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. Chito is coming off a nice win of

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 9/25/2026 Graphic Credits to IMAGO via ZUMA Press Wire In our UFC 331 Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 2-4 in picks with 1 methods for 3 points. Matt went 3-3 in picks with 0 methos for 3 points. Points To Date: Zak: 185 (124-72) Matt: 167 (111-79) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 9/22 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 12Raul Rosas Jr vs 13Raoni Barcelos (Rosas Jr -175) Zak Drapeau - This fi

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 9/22/2026 Photo Credits to Luke Hales via Getty Images Joshua Van vs Manel Kape Zak Drapeau - I believe with his latest victory over Alexandre Pantoja, Joshua Van is already on a shortlist of GOAT Flyweights at just 24-years old and thus, has earned himself a layoff before his next fight. I don't know how long that will be, maybe until the end of 2027 but when he does decide to come back, he should be fighting Kape next. Another boxer to throw d

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 9/18/2026 In our FN Noche Silva v Delgado Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 4-2 in picks with 3 methods for 7 points. Matt went 4-2 in picks with 0 methos for 4 points. Points To Date: Zak: 185 (122-68) Matt: 164 (108-76) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 9/18 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Graphic by ufc via sports.yahoo.com Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja 2 Flyweight Championship (Van -140) Zak

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 9/14/2026 Photo Credits to @ufc on Instagram Jean Silva vs Aljamain Sterling Matt Hylen - I understand that a lot of the media believes Silva deserves a title shot next, but I still think he's a fight away from proving he deserves one. This win doesn't move him up in my eyes, plus he has lost to the only top-ranked guy he has faced in Diego Lopes. This may be a hot take for some, but Silva hasn't accomplished more than what I thin

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 9/11/2026 In our FN Paris Hooker v Parnasse Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 4-2 in picks with 4 method for 8 points. Matt went 3-3 in picks with 2 method for 5 points. Points To Date: Zak: 178 (118-66) Matt: 160 (104-74) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 9/11 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Photo Credits to Cooper Neill/ Zuffa LLC via Getty Images 6Jean Silva vs Jose Delgado (Silva -420) Zak Dra

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 9/8/2026 Photo Credits to Jeff Bottari via Zuffa LLC Salahdine Parnasse vs 6Benoit Saint Denis Zak Drapeau - Welcome to the UFC Salahdine Parnasse! We were expecting a lot from the French superstar in his UFC debut and a brutal sub-3 minute knockout of Dan Hooker was exactly what we wanted. Parnasse debuts in the Lightweight rankings at #9 and should definitely get a fight up in the rankings next. Saint Denis makes a lot of sense

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 9/4/2026 In our FN Nurmagomedov v Yadong Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 5-1 in picks with 4 method for 9 points. Matt went 4-2 in picks with 3 method for 7 points. Points To Date: Zak: 170 (114-64) Matt: 155 (101-71) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 9/3 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Graphic Credit to UFC via UFC.com 10Dan Hooker vs Salahdine Parnasse (Parnasse -600) Zak Drapeau - Truth be to

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 9/1/2026 Photo Credits to Xinhua via IMAGO Song Yadong vs Merab Dvalishvili Matt Hylen - After a knockout like that against an opponent like Umar Nurmagomedov, Song Yadong has officially solidified himself as one of the top-2 contenders in the division, alongside Sean O'Malley. His performance on Saturday night was absolutely spectacular; he did not let anything get to him, stayed composed, and ultimately sent Umar Nurmagomedov in

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/29/2026 Aidan Lambert will be the first to tell you he's not a normal fighter. In fact in his own words he's "nerdy." When the Fall River native traveled to Chile in August for the WAKO Pan American Championships, they weren't calling him a "nerd". They called him "Gold Medal Champion". Aidan with his Gold Medal and Team USA teammates When he's not in school, in Massachusetts state police academy, or working on cars, Aidan Lambert is one of th

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/28/2026 In our FN Hernandez v Rodrigues Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 3-3 in picks with 0 method for 3 points. Matt went 2-4 in picks with 1 method for 3 points. Points To Date: Zak: 161 (109-63) Matt: 148 (97-69) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 8/27 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Graphic Credit to UFC via fighting.dk 3Umar Nurmagomedov vs 6Song Yadong (Nurmagomedov -600) Zak Drapeau - The craz

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/24/2026 Photo Credits to Jeff Bottari via Zuffa LLC Gregory Rodrigues vs Brendan Allen Zak Drapeau - Hell yeah, RoboCop is gonna be Top-7 in the Middleweight division this week. I'm stoked! Rodrigues had a great display of power and striking this weekend and now has 4 wins in a row and in 7 of his last 8. His next fight doesn't necessarily have to be a Top-5 guy, but Brendan Allen is also not active enough for his #4 ranking either. If the t

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/21/2026 In our FN Gamrot vs Salkilld Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 3-3 in picks with 2 method for 5 points. Matt went 3-3 in picks with 2 method for 5 points. Points To Date: Zak: 158 (106-60) Matt: 145 (95-65) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 8/ Photo Credits to Uselyis on Youtube.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6Anthony Hernandez vs 11Gregory Rodrigues (Hernandez -165) Zak Drapeau - T

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/17/2026 Photo Credits to Derik Hamilton via Associated Press Islam Makhachev vs Carlos Prates Matt Hylen - There's only one man, now that Ian Machado Garry got his shot, that deserves a shot at the title and that's Carlos Prates. Sure, Michael Morales was the backup fighter for the Makhachev/Garry fight, but his resume still needs one more top contender before getting a shot over Prates. Now, do I think Prates is stylistically t

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/14/2026 In our FN Gamrot vs Salkilld Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 3-3 in picks with 1 method for 4 points. Matt went 4-2 in picks with 1 method for 5 points. Points To Date: Zak: 153 (103-57) Matt: 140 (92-62) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 8/11 Graphic Credits to UFC via eventbrite.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Islam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry Welterweight Championship (Makhac

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/10/2026 Quilan Salkilld vs Diego Lopes Zak Drapeau - Salkilld has been one of the biggest rising stars of the division because of his violence and striking. The test he had against Gamrot was to see if he could keep himself up against a relentless wrestler and instead, he showed us that he may be just as dangerous on the ground and COMPLETELY altered his prospect status to contender... and a strong one at that. At the same time

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 8/11/2026 When I made this list in 2022 which you can find here, I had Shavkat, Du Plessis, Chimaev, Pereira and Topuria, so I can't wait to see where this group of prospects will climb to by 2030. Honorable Mentions: - Ion Baraniewski - Mairon Santos - Ethyn Ewing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Photo Credits to Jeff Bottari via Zuffa LLC #10 Tommy McMillen Division Lightweight Age 28y, 239d UFC Record 2-0 Finishes 2 McMillen j

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 8/8/2026 In our FN Du Medic v Rodriguez Predictions, which you can find here Zak went 4-2 in picks with 3 methods for 7 points. Matt went 5-1 in picks with 2 methods for 7 points. Points To Date: Zak: 149 (100-54) Matt: 135 (88-60) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 8/7 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Graphic by UFC via UFC.com 8Mateusz Gamrot vs 12Quillan Salkilld (Salkilld -150) Zak Drapeau - I was talking to fr