UFC Vegas 21: Gavin Tucker vs Dan Ige Picks, Odds, and Predictions

Dan Ige and Gavin Tucker fight Saturday in UFC Vegas 21 at the UFC APEX.

Dan Ige enters this fight with a 14-3 record and has won 43 percent of his fights by decision. Ige has won six of his last seven fights and is coming off a July win over Calvin Kattar. Ige is averaging 3.96 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 46 percent. Ige is averaging 1.69 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 27 percent. Ige is coming off a decision loss at UFC Fight Island 1 where he landed 87 total strikes and 38 percent of his significant strikes. The loss snapped a six-fight winning streak and Ige now hopes to avoid back to back losses for the first time in his career. Ige is a black belt in BJJ and has some knockout power, but he’s been most impressive on the canvas and has displayed quite a gas tank that’s allowed him to win six of his nine career decisions. Ige has solid defense standing up and has five submission victories for his career. Ige has never been finished in his career. This will be Ige’s first career fight in Las Vegas.

Gavin Tucker enters this fight with a 13-1 record and has won 46 percent of his fights by submission. Tucker has won each of his last three fights and is coming off a December win over Billy Quarantillo. Tucker is averaging 4.40 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 45 percent. Tucker is averaging 3.00 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 42 percent. Tucker is coming off a decision win at UFC 256 where he landed 136 total strikes and 47 percent of his significant strikes. Tucker is now 4-1 under the UFC banner and has a chance to win three fights in less than a year. Tucker is a 34-year-old Canadian who is a black belt in BJJ and a southpaw on the feet. Tucker has proven to be an accurate striker and has four career knockout victories, but it’s his takedown and scrambling ability that’s most impressive. Tucker does some of his best work in the clinch, can change positions quickly on the canvas and is always busy with a ridiculous gas tank. Tucker is not going to be outworked in the octagon and he’s going to keep working until he gets the bout where he wants it. This will be Tucker’s third career fight in Las Vegas.

Ige is going to be the favorite because he has the more proven resume and he’s the bigger fighter here with a much longer reach. However, there’s something about getting plus money with a fighter like Tucker, a guy who stays busy and has an impressive ground attack. It’s not easy to beat somebody like Tucker who pushes the pace and is relentless on the ground while never getting tired.

Give me Tucker for the upset.