I’ve spent all week coming up with my UFC on ABC 5 picks for this weekend. The fight card will start early with the prelims getting underway in the morning, so make sure you get your plays in.
There are 14 fights scheduled after the weigh-ins, but a few fighters missed weight. Loki Radzhabov, Jamall Emmers and Kleydson Rodrigues all missed weight this morning, but are expected to fight.
UFC on ABC 5 Preview
When: Saturday, June 24th 2023
Where: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida
Time: Prelims (11:30 AM ET) / Main Card (3:00 PM ET)
Watch: Prelims (ESPN/ESPN+) / Main Card (ABC)
There are a total of seven ranked fighters on the card. Two top ten featherweights will fight in the main event, as Josh Emmett (#5) will take on Ilia Topuria (#9). The co-main event is between Amanda Ribas (#9) and Maycee Barber (#11) at flyweight. The other ranked fighters on the card include Brendan Allen (#13 middleweight), Neil Magny (#11 welterweight) and Tabatha Ricci (#15 strawweight).
Like most events, there are several UFC prospects on this card as well.
Expert UFC on ABC 5 Picks
I ended up going 7-1 on my UFC predictions last weekend. I’m now 19-7 (+$643) on my UFC plays since joining Sports Hub. I’ve teased a couple of my UFC on ABC 5 picks below, but you need to sign-up for a Sports Hub account and search for my profile “SWJ Sports” to access all of my plays for Saturday.
Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria Prediction
- Fight Odds: Emmett (+270) vs. Topuria (-350)
Emmett (18-3) is in big trouble against Topuria (13-0) in the main event. Emmett recently had a five-fight win streak snapped, as he was tapped out by Yair Rodriguez at UFC 284. Topuria is 5-0 since joining the UFC in 2020. His last four wins have been by stoppage, but he hasn’t fought any big names yet.
Topuria has finished 12 of his 13 opponents in his professional career. Emmett averages more strikes (4.17 SLpM vs. 3.32 SLpM), but Topuria absorbs less shots (2.75 SApM vs. 4.43 SApM).
One of the big edges for Topuria will be his takedowns. He averages 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and Emmett only has 58% takedown defense. Topuria needs to be cautious of Emmett’s sneaky power, but that’s only a minor concern. Topuria will vault up the rankings with a stoppage win on Saturday.
Best Bet: Topuria ML (-350)
Amanda Ribas vs. Maycee Barber Prediction
- Fight Odds: Ribas (-195) vs. Barber (+165)
Ribas (11-3) is favored to defeat Barber (12-2). Barber exploded onto the UFC scene in 2018 and picked up three consecutive TKO wins. She then lost two decisions, but she’s currently on a four-fight win streak with all four wins coming by decision. However, two of those wins were controversial split decisions.
Barber has 5 TKO/KO wins and Ribas has been knocked out twice before. Marina Rodriguez knocked out Ribas in 2021, but Ribas is 2-1 since with all fights going the distance. Ribas is coming off an impressive win against Viviane Araujo. Ribas needs to utilize her takedowns (2.16 TDs per 15 minutes) to win.
Ribas should be able to control this fight, but Barber is a live underdog. Barber has never been stopped in her career and you also never know how the judges will score a fight that goes the distance.
Best Bet: LOGIN TO ACCESS PICK
Brendan Allen vs. Bruno Silva Prediction
- Fight Odds: Allen (-205) vs. Silva (+165)
Allen (21-5) is on a four-fight win streak with three of those wins coming by submission. He has paid off as an underdog for bettors, but is he safe to include on your UFC on ABC 5 picks? I’m a bit weary about Allen in this fight, as Silva (23-8) is capable of knocking Allen’s head off with a single punch.
Silva has 20 TKO/KO wins and extremely heavy hands. Silva’s problem is he’s terrible on the mat and has been tapped out six times. Allen has 12 submission wins and if he’s smart, he’ll look to take this to the mat. If he decides to try and bang with Silva, he could end up suffering a loss.
Silva averages more strikes landed (4.47 SLpM vs. 3.85 SLpM) and Allen only has 46% striking defense. Allen has been knocked out twice previously by Sean Strickland and Chris Curtis. Silva also has 71% takedown defense. If he can keep this fight standing, he has a chance to pull off the upset.
Best Bet: LOGIN TO ACCESS PICK
Randy Brown vs. Wellington Turman Prediction
- Fight Odds: Brown (-230) vs. Turman (+180)
Brown (16-5) is coming off a submission loss to Jack Della Maddalena. Prior to the loss, Brown had won four consecutive fights, including a decision win against Francisco Trinaldo. Turman (18-6) lost his last fight against Andre Petroski (decision) and he’s now just 3-4 since joining the UFC in 2019.
Brown will have a 6” reach advantage (78” vs. 72”) and a 3” height advantage. Brown is the more active striker (4.39 SLpM vs. 2.92 SLpM) and absorbs less shots (3.30 SApM vs. 3.79 SApM).
Turman averages 1.79 takedowns per 15 minutes, but after landing six takedowns in his first two UFC fights, he has landed just three takedowns in his last five fights. Brown needs to keep this fight upright and he’ll come away with a much-needed win after losing his last fight.
Best Bet: Brown ML (-230)
Tabatha Ricci vs. Gillian Robertson Prediction
- Fight Odds: Ricci (-135) vs. Robertson (+105)
Ricci (8-1) lost her UFC debut by TKO against Manon Fiorot, but she has bounced back with three wins in a row, including a submission win against Jessica Penne in her last fight. Robertson (12-7) has had mixed results in the UFC (9-5 record), but she has won her last two fights by submission.
Robertson is a submission specialist (9 submission wins), but that’s all she has shown. Ricci is also an excellent grappler. In fact, Ricci averages more takedowns per 15 minutes (4.64 vs. 2.63). She also has better takedown accuracy and takedown defense. Ricci also will have the edge in striking.
The odds are tight for this fight for a reason, though. Robertson can submit anyone.
Best Bet: LOGIN TO ACCESS PICK
Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. Joshua Van Prediction
- Fight Odds: Zhumagulov (-205) vs. Van (+165)
Zhumagulov (14-8) is 1-5 in the UFC and on a three-fight losing streak. Van (7-1) will be making his UFC debut. All of his professional fights have been with Fury FC and none of his fights have made it out of the second round. Van has five TKO/KO wins and two submission wins. Will the fighter from Kazakhstan pick up his second UFC win or will the debutant pull off the upset? Check my UFC on ABC 5 picks to find out.
Best Bet: LOGIN TO ACCESS PICK
Trevor Peek vs. Jose Mariscal Prediction
- Fight Odds: Peek (-120) vs. Mariscal (-110)
We have two guys with power in this fight. Peek (8-0) has won all of his fights by TKO/KO. Peek is 1-0 in the UFC after knocking out Erick Gonzalez. Mariscal (13-6-0-1) is making his UFC debut, but he has won his last three fights by TKO/KO. This fight will end in a knockout, but who will win?
Best Bet: LOGIN TO ACCESS PICK
UFC on ABC 5 Odds for Every Fight
Here are the UFC on ABC 5 odds for every fight that’s on the card:
- Josh Emmett (+270) vs. Ilia Topuria (-350)
- Amanda Ribas (-195) vs. Maycee Barber (+165)
- Austen Lane (+155) vs. Justin Tafa (-185)
- David Onama (+183) vs. Gabriel Santos (-233)
- Brendan Allen (-205) vs. Bruno Silva (+165)
- Neil Magny (-178) vs. Phil Rowe (+148)
- Randy Brown (-230) vs. Wellington Turman (+180)
- Mateusz Rebecki (-150) vs. Loik Radzhabov (+120)
- Tabatha Ricci (-135) vs. Gillian Robertson (+105)
- Zhalgas Zhumagulov (-205) vs. Joshua Van (+165)
- Trevor Peek (-120) vs. Jose Mariscal (-110)
- Jamall Emmers (-192) vs. Jack Jenkins (+162)
- Tatsuro Taira (-270) vs. Kleydson Rodrigues (+220)
- Cody Brundage (-188) vs. Sedriques Dumas (+158)
How to Get All of My UFC on ABC 5 Picks
You may have noticed most of my best bets are missing from this preview. You need to sign-up for a free Sports Hub account and then search for “SWJ Sports” to access all of my UFC on ABC 5 picks.
