UFC 282: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Alex Morono Picks, Predictions, Odds

Alex Morono and Santiago Ponzinibbio fight Saturday in UFC 282 at the T-Mobile Arena. Morono enters this fight with a 22-7 record and has won 41 percent of his fights by decision. Ponzinibbio enters this fight with a 28-6 record and has won 54 percent of his fights by knockout.

Morono has won 4 straight fights and is coming off a July win over Matthew Semelsberger. Morono is averaging 5.36 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 43 percent. Morono is averaging 0.32 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 20 percent. Morono is coming off a decision win at UFC 277 where he landed 119 total strikes. Morono has won his last 3 fights by decision, and he’s 9-5 in decisions for his career. Morono is a balanced fighter with a submission game and knockout power, and he’s a black belt in BJJ and Taekwondo. At 32 years old, Morono’s cardio allows him to be effective in each round. Morono has never been submitted in his career. This will be Morono’s seventh career fight in Nevada.

Ponzinibbio has lost 3 of his last 4 fights and is coming off a May loss to Michel Pereira. Ponzinibbio is averaging 5.00 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 41 percent. Ponzinibbio is averaging 0.56 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 31 percent. Ponzinibbio is coming off a split decision loss at UFC Fight Night 206 where he landed 106 total strikes and had 1 takedown. The bout earned fight of the night honors, and Ponzinibbio has now lost back to back split decisions. Ponzinibbio is still 7-3 in career decisions. Argentine Dagger is an aggressive volume striker who uses his legs well and has a reach of 73 inches. A black belt in BJJ, Ponzinibbio has produced knockouts in 15 of his 28 victories. This will be Ponzinibbio’s fifth career fight in Nevada.

This is going to be a fun back and forth bout that could probably go either way. However, Morono has a lesser defense on the feet and a higher probability of getting caught. Ponzinibbio is the bigger fighter, better defensively, and the MMA gods should throw him a bone after back to back controversial split decision losses.

I like Ponzinibbio to get the bounce back victory.