UFC Vegas 33: Rani Yahya vs Kang Kyung-ho Picks, Odds, and Predictions

Kang Kyung-ho and Rani Yahya fight Saturday in UFC Vegas 33 at the UFC Apex. Kyung-ho enters this fight with a 17-8 record and has won 65 percent of his fights by submission. Yahya enters this fight with a 27-10-1 record and has won 78 percent of his fights by submission. 

Kyung-ho has won six of his last seven fights and is coming off a December (2019) win over Liu Pingyuan. Kyung-ho is averaging 2.52 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 44 percent. Kyung-ho is averaging 2.53 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 59 percent. Kyung-ho is coming off a split decision win at UFC on ESPN+ 23 where he landed 108 total strikes and produced three takedowns. Kyung-ho is riding a three-fight winning streak and four of his last six fights have seen split decisions. The concern is Kyung-ho hasn’t been in the octagon for about a year and a half. Kyung-ho has a background in Ssireum and Taekwondo, and he’s a blue belt in BJJ. Kyung-ho is at his best on the ground and is a quality top position grappler. Kyung-ho has 11 submission wins under his belt and has only been submitted once in his career. Kyung-ho has also shown enough striking ability to survive on the feet and he’s a lengthy fighter with a 73-inch reach. This will be Kyung-ho’s first career fight in Nevada.

Yahya has won seven of his last 10 fights and is coming off a March win over Ray Rodriguez. Yahya is averaging 1.57 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 37 percent. Yahya is averaging 2.89 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 33 percent. Yahya is coming off a submission win at UFC Vegas 21 where he landed 42 total strikes and produced two takedowns. Each of Yahya’s last four wins have come by submission. There’s no surprises with Yahya in the octagon, as his grappling and submission wrestling ability are well documented. Yahya wastes no time trying to get the fight on the ground and he has 21 submission wins for his career. Once Yahya gets the fight where he wants it, he’s a nightmare from the top position and is used to lengthy complex battles to find that submission hold. Yahya is a black belt in BJJ and Muay Thai, and he’s won gold medals in submission wrestling. Few can hang with Yahya on the ground in this sport. This will be Yahya’s seventh career fight in Nevada.

Kyung-ho is the bigger fighter who can hold his own on the ground, and he’s the more polished striker on the feet. You can understand why Kyung-ho has the slight edge with the odds. However, Kyung-ho hasn’t fought in a year and a half. Also, I’m not betting against Yahya in a fight that’s likely going to end up on the ground. Yahya is a world class grappler and knows how to finish fights.

Give me Yahya and the plus money.