Toshiomi Kazama vs Rinya Nakamura Pick, 2/4/2023 Predictions UFC Vegas 68 Odds

Toshiomi Kazama vs Rinya Nakamura

UFC Vegas 68

UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Toshiomi Kazama will enter the Octagon against Rinya Nakamura at UFC Vegas 68 on Saturday, February 4, 2023. The opener has Kazama coming in at +340 while Nakamura is coming in at -425.

Toshiomi Kazama holds a mark of 10-2-0. The 25-year-old is weighing in at 135 lbs and measures in at 5'7". The orthodox fighter has a reach of 69". Rinya "Hybrid" Nakamura measures in at 5'7" and weighs in at 135 lbs. The southpaw fighter steps into the Octagon with a record of 6-0-0. The 27-year-old extends his reach 68". With respect to significant strikes, Toshiomi Kazama is landing 1.67 per min and Rinya Nakamura lands 7.48 significant strikes per minute. Kazama lands 62% of the significant strikes he tries and Nakamura is landing 52%. In terms of defending in the cage, Kazama absorbs 1.47 significant strikes per minute while "Hybrid" absorbs 3.30. Kazama also prevents 47% of the significant strikes his opponents throw at him while Nakamura is able to thwart 62% of the strikes thrown his way.

When it comes to wrestling, Toshiomi Kazama is not as efficient of a grappler as he scores a takedown 2.00 times per 3 rounds. Kazama is finishing his takedown attempts on 15% of his tries and thwarting 66% of all takedowns attempted on him. Nakamura is taking his opponents down on 66% of the takedowns he tries and stopping 80% of takedowns his opponents have attempted. Regarding going for the sub, Kazama is less likely to go for the finish by going for 0.5 subs per 3 rounds while Nakamura goes for 2.6 subs per 15 minutes.

In his previous fight, Toshiomi Kazama squared up with Maimaitituoheti Keremuaili and wound up getting the win via unanimous decision in round 3. Keremuaili landed 35 of 59 total strikes that he let go. Kazama ended the night having landed 84 of 113 total strikes. In the category of significant strikes, Keremuaili landed 22 of 42, giving him a percentage of 52%. He finished the fight landing 10 of 29 significant strikes directed at the head. In terms of stats for the opponent, Kazama ended up landing 62% of his significant strikes by sticking 25 of 40. In regard to the placement of these significant strikes, he connected on 15 of 28 to the head. 72% of the significant strikes connected on by Keremuaili and 40% of them landed by Kazama were tallied at distance.

In the last Octagon appearance for Rinya Nakamura, he faced off with Shohei Nose and got a win for the night by a punch to the head in round 1. Nose connected on 100% of the significant strikes he tried at a distance while Nakamura landed 68% of the significant strikes he tried at a distance. Nakamura ended up landing 47% of his significant strikes attempted by connecting on 22 of 46. He ended up landing 21 of 45 significant strikes directed at the head. Nose landed 16 of 40 significant strikes in that fight. In terms of accuracy for the significant strikes, he ended up landing 8 of 27 to the head. In regard to total strikes attempted in that fight, Nose connected on 16 of 40 while Nakamura ended up connecting on 23 of 48 total strikes.

Other bouts on the card to watch

One more match to look forward to is when SeungGuk Choi faces off against HyunSung Park. Choi walks into the Octagon with a record of 6-1-0. The 26-year-old weighs 125 lbs and measures 5'6". The orthodox fighter has a reach of 64". Park comes in at 5'7" and will fight at 125 lbs. The orthodox fighter steps into the Octagon with a mark of 7-0-0. The 27-year-old has an arm span of 66". In the grappling category, SeungGuk Choi gets a takedown 1.50 times per 15 minutes while HyunSung Park takes his opponents to the canvas 4.28 times per 3 rounds. When it comes to striking, Choi is landing 2.63 strikes/minute and is landing 43% of his attempted strikes. On the other side of the cage you've got HyunSung Park, who is connecting on 61% of the strikes he has thrown and is landing 4.70 per min.

Another bout to watch is when Denis Tiuliulin is set to go up against Junyong Park. Park looks to add a win to his career record of 15-5-0. The 31-year-old is fighting at 185 lbs and stands in at 5'10". The orthodox fighter has a reach of 73". Tiuliulin comes in at 6'1" and is fighting at 185 lbs. The orthodox fighter walks into the Octagon holding a mark of 11-6-0. The 34-year-old reaches 77". When it comes to takedowns, Junyong Park is able to defend against 70% of his opponents' takedown attempts and is finishing his takedown attempts on 54% of the times he tries. Tiuliulin is taking his opponents down on 15% of the tries he takes and is able to stop 75% of takedowns his opponents have tried. With reference to striking, Park is absorbing 3.79 strikes/min and he is connecting on 4.86 per minute. Tiuliulin, in contrast, is absorbing 6.06 strikes per minute and connects on 6.18 per minute.

Who will win tonight's UFC match against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Rinya Nakamura (-425)

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