UFC Vegas 19: Yana Kunitskaya vs. Ketlen Vieira Picks, Odds, and Predictions

Ketlen Vieira and Yana Kunitskaya fight Saturday in UFC Vegas 19 at the UFC APEX.

Ketlen Vieira enters this fight with a 11-1 record and has won 45 percent of her fights by decision. Vieira has won five of her last six fights, and she’s coming off a September win over Sijara Eubanks. Vieira is averaging 3.10 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 36 percent. Vieira is averaging 2.02 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 52 percent. Vieira is coming off a decision win at UFC 253 where she landed 93 total strikes and produced two takedowns. Vieira looked great for a fighter coming off her first career loss, and she’s now 5-0 in career decisions. Vieira is a black belt in BJJ and Judo, and she uses kickboxing and wrestling a lot in her fights. Vieira is most effective in the clinch or on the ground, and she usually gets the fight where she wants it on her terms. Vieira has an extremely high takedown defense percentage. This will be Vieira’s third career fight in Las Vegas.

Yana Kunitskaya enters this fight with a 13-5 record and has won 54 percent of her fights by knockout. Kunitskaya has won four of her last six fights and is coming off an August win over Julija Stoliarenko. Kunitskaya is averaging 4.49 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 54 percent. Kunitskaya is averaging 2.04 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 53 percent. Kunitskaya is coming off a decision win at UFC Vegas 6 where she landed 209 total strikes and produced a takedown. Kunitskaya is now 3-2 under the UFC banner and coming off possibly the most dominating win of her career. Kunitskaya is a 31-year-old Russian who has a background in taekwondo and boxing, and she’s made a living with her striking and knockout pop. Kunitskaya has produced knockouts in six of her last 11 victories and does some of her best work on her feet and in the clinch. Kunitskaya has had great success with her takedowns in her last five fights and her scrambling and wrestling has certainly improved. However, Kunitskaya could be sharper with her takedown defense. This will be Kunitskaya’s fourth career fight in Las Vegas.

Kunitskaya has a chance to be a live dog in this fight given her standup and striking power, but that’s about the only edge she has and why she’s a steep underdog. Vieira has he’d and shoulders the better BJJ in this fight and sharper wrestling as well, and she’s going up against somebody in Kunitskaya who doesn’t have great takedown defense. Vieira should be able to get this fight where she wants it grind out a victory either in the clinch or on the canvas.

I like Vieira in this fight and will take her by decision to shave down the ML price.