Fight Night Emmett v Valejos Predictions

Zak Drapeau
3 minutes ago
6 min read

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen

Sportz Nation - 3/13/2026

In our UFC 326 Predictions from last week which you can find here,

Zak went 3-3 with 2 methods for 5 points.

Matt went 2-4 with 2 methods for 4 points.

Points to Date:

Zak: 41 (27-11)

Matt: 37 (24-14)

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*All odds are courtesy of Ceasar's Sportsbook as of 3/13

Graphic by UFC via Official Poster of Fight Night Emmett v Vallejos

11 Josh Emmett vs

14 Kevin Vallejos

(Vallejos - 600)

Zak Drapeau -

This fight is intriguing because of how much the odds favor Vallejos. Don't get me wrong, I do believe he will beat him, but Josh Emmett should NOT be +430. In a 5-round fight, I think it's likely Emmett gasses out, but he's gone the distance before against guys like Lerone Murphy and Ilia Topuria. It's also worth mentioning that the 24-year-old Vallejos has never fought someone as good as Emmett. I'm going to take Vallejos officially, even though I want to take the number so badly, and I'll go with a UD, which is still +200.

Prediction: Vallejos by Decision

Matt Hylen -

Josh Emmett and Kevin Vallejos are two powerful brawlers that make for what could be a very interesting main event. This not only is Emmett's last chance to get back on track but also Vallejos' opportunity to show the world he is a legitimate threat in the division.

For Emmett, he is basically a punching bag at this point in his career but still has insane one-punch KO power. He is the kind of fighter to be losing all the way until he lands one big punch that puts his opponent out. His overhand is arguably the most dangerous in the entire sport, but that is about all he offers in terms of skill.

As for Vallejos, he is a top-5 prospect the UFC has to offer in my opinion. He reminds me a lot of Ilia Topuria in terms of style and balance. He has amazing hands and will pressure his opponent for the entire fight, backing them up all fight long. Not only that, but he is a fantastic combination striker with serious power as well.

This is a relatively easy pick for me. Emmett is past his prime with Vallejos possibly holding just as much power. It's Vallejos' time, and he proves it on Saturday.

Prediction: Vallejos by TKO/KO

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5 Amanda Lemos vs

8 Gillian Robertson

(Robertson -195)

Zak Drapeau -

Robertson is coming for the Strawweight title scene, and I think Lemos is the perfect prove-it fight for her. The former title challenger has stated that her plan is to keep Robertson off her and trade shots where she believes she has the advantage. In my eyes, Robertson will control the tempo either on the ground or in the clinch and increase her win streak to 5, after an albeit boring grappling match necessary to get past Lemos.

Prediction: Robertson by Decision

Matt Hylen -

Another interesting fight that I think could be a dominant one either way. Lemos is a high-volume striker with very notable power. She has turned into more of a wrestler recently, with her biggest flaw being her inability to defend takedowns. As for Robertson, she is one of WMMA's best grapplers in my eyes. Her ground game is among the elite of the elite, with damaging ground-and-pound and submission ability.

This is a stylistic nightmare for Lemos. I see this either ending early or Robertson controlling the fight the entire time.

Prediction: Robertson by Submission

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Andre Fili vs

Jose Delgado

(Delgado -440)

Zak Drapeau -

After a very controversial loss in his last outing, Jose Delgado is out for blood tomorrow. His opponent, Andre Fili, has won 2 of his last 3 fights, both by split decision, and will need to fend off the initial output common in Delgado's fights. If Fili can survive the first round, either fighter has a real shot at getting their hand raised, but I have to go with Delgado for his superior striking and much more momentum.

Prediction: Delgado by TKO/KO

Matt Hylen -

This is the fight I am most looking forward to on this card. Two evenly matched fighters that I think will put on an absolute scrap. Fili is one of those UFC veterans that has always had good hands. His chin is questionable, but he is a fun, decent-level journeyman who won't be ranked but definitely possesses solid talent. As for Delgado, he is an extremely high-volume Muay Thai fighter, with his game being walking forward and throwing bombs. He has great knees up the middle to complement his dangerous overall striking.

This fight will be closer than people think, but the youth in this fight should prevail.

Prediction: Delgado by Decision

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Ion Cutelaba vs

Oumar Sy

(Sy - 265)

Zak Drapeau -

Oumar Sy has an 8" reach advantage, and Cutelaba has a HUGE experience advantage. Cutelaba also has pretty good takedown defense, which I think could be a big factor in this one, as Sy likes to control his opponents. When these two stand and bang, I think it gets dirty quickly, and either man could knock down the other with a haymaker. For this reason and his length, I'm going to go with Sy in the first round, but it could just as easily be countered by a great game plan from the savvy veteran Cutelaba.

Prediction: Sy by TKO/KO

Matt Hylen -

I was definitely on the Omar Sy hype train when it took off, but that train has paused entirely. This is a huge prove-it fight for him against a worthy opponent in Ion Cutelaba.

Cutelaba has improved drastically since his start in the UFC. He is very heavy-handed, but has average grappling skills. What makes him dangerous is his experience with some pretty talented fighters. As for Sy, he's predominantly a grappler that wants to take his opponents down and find a finish on the ground. He is low volume in terms of striking, barely throwing anything, which has been his downfall in the past.

Another fight that'll be closer than people think, but one I think will go in the favor of Sy. His style and ground ability should push him over the edge against a guy like Cutelaba.

Prediction: Sy by Decision

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Chris Curtis vs

Myktybek Orolbai

(Orolbai -340)

Zak Drapeau -

Chris Curtis is 3-4 in his last 7 and is facing a guy much younger who's coming off 2 impressive first-round finishes. Myktybek Orolbai should be 5-0 in the UFC if not for a contentious split decision loss 2 years ago but has gotten back on the path to a welterweight ranking, and as much as I like Curtis, he doesn't appear ready to slow down at all.

Prediction: Orolbai by TKO/KO

Matt Hylen -

Chris Curtis is essentially a boxer who used to have great Tae Kwon Do, but his skill is fading. His offensive boxing is pretty good, but he can get caught defensively very often. As for Orolbai, he is next up in this division. He is a mauler with relentless wrestling as well as submission ability. His power has improved over the years as well, making him a very balanced and dangerous fighter.

I think this has an Orolbai dominant performance written all over it. He is better than Curtis just about anywhere the fight goes.

Prediction: Orolbai by Submission

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Bea Mesquita vs

Montse Rendon

(Mesquita -700)

Zak Drapeau -

I know that Matt is very much on the Bea Mesquita train as one of the better Bantamweight prospects, and I can't disagree. Legitimately one of the best women Jiu-Jitsu artists ever, let's see how far she can get in the UFC. Rendon's only shot is to keep Bea off of her (good luck) and make this fight dirty.

Prediction: Mesquita by Submission

Matt Hylen -

Like Zak said, I am very much on the Bia Mesquita hype train. She is the best prospect in the UFC in my opinion, with future champion written all over her. She is already one of the best submission artists and overall grapplers in the division, she just does not have the UFC experience yet for her to be fast-tracked. Her grappling is incredible, with a nasty ground-and-pound and BJJ ability. As for Randon, he is just about as average as it gets. He is a forward striker who likes to throw down, but faces a stylistic nightmare in Mesquita. I think this fight is dominated by Mesquita and ends quickly.

Prediction: Mesquita by Submission