UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer

WSN

09 February 2024

UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer - Picks & Predictions

Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer - Middleweight division

Dan Ige vs. Andre Fili - Featherweight division

Robert Bryczek vs. Ihor Potieria - Middleweight division

Brad Tavares vs. Gregory Rodrigues - Middleweight division

Michael Johnson vs. Darrius Flowers - Lightweight division

Rodolfo Vieira vs. Armen Petrosyan - Middleweight division

Our pick:Rodolfo Vieira (-118)

Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer - Middleweight division

3-0 since signing with the UFC, Joe Pyfer looks to climb his way into the middleweight rankings by defeating number-11 ranked Jack Hermansson in this Saturday’s main event.

Pyfer has only gone to decision once and he has finished all three of his UFC fights within the first two rounds. He most recently submitted Abdul Razak Alhassan in the second round of their fight last July.

Hermansson, a highly touted grappler, has struggled to put things together in recent years. He has traded wins and losses, going 4-4 over his last eight fights and has also had some injury issues.

This will be Hermansson’s first time in the octagon since his December 2022 loss to Roman Dolidze.

Largely due to his time away, it isn’t at all surprising to see the more experienced Hermansson listed as a +210 underdog.

Dan Ige vs. Andre Fili - Featherweight division

Talk about a mixed bag of results: Dan Ige suffered a three-fight losing streak during 2021-22 but then earned himself back-to-back wins over Damon Jackson and Nate Landwehr in 2023.

However, he came up short in his last bout, suffering a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Bryce Mitchell last September.

His opponent this weekend, Andre Fili, has also seen mixed success in recent years, as his record over his last nine fights is just 4-4 with one no-contest.

Although Fili is, in fact, coming off of a first-round TKO win over Lucan Almeida that took place back in December.

Fili is the taller and longer fighter in this matchup but one can never rule out the punching power of Dan Ige, who is listed as the -170 favorite in this co-man event.

Robert Bryczek vs. Ihor Potieria - Middleweight division

Since signing with the promotion in 2022, Swedish fighter Ihor Potieria hasn’t had the best of luck, as he is just 1-3 during his tenure with the UFC.

He has lost his last two back-to-back to both Carlos Ulberg and Rodolfo Bellato.

Potieria takes on Poland’s Robert Bryczek who, while on a five-fight winning streak, will be making his UFC debut this Saturday.

Bryczek’s last three bouts took place under the OKTAGON banner and all of his last five wins have come in the form of a first-round stoppage. At -198, this UFC newcomer is that favorite to win.

Brad Tavares vs. Gregory Rodrigues - Middleweight division

TUF alum Brad Tavares was just 6-0 when he signed with the promotion following his season of the Ultimate Fighter and since 2010 he’s been a mainstay in the UFC middleweight division.

Considered somewhat of a journeyman at this point in his career, Tavares recently snapped his two-fight losing skid with a unanimous decision win over former middleweight champion Chris Weidman at UFC 292 last August.

He takes on Brazilian fighter Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues - a hard-hitting fighter whose last three wins all came in the form of first-round knock out.

Rodrigues is 3-1 in his last four fights and will stand four-inches taller than Tavares and will have a one-inch reach advantage. He is listed as a -238 favorite.

Michael Johnson vs. Darrius Flowers - Lightweight division

Like Tavares, Michael Johnson has been a UFC roster mainstay for many years following his appearance on the TUF tournament reality series.

He has mixed wins and losses since signing with the UFC in 2010 and his win-loss record is almost equal. He is 2-2 in his last four bouts and was most recently knocked out in the second round by Carlos Diego Ferreira last May.

Johnson takes on Darrius Flowers - a fighter who won during his appearance on the Contender Series but who was defeated in his official UFC debut via second-round submission at the hands of Jake Matthew’s at UFC 291.

Johnson, the veteran, will stand one-inch taller and have a 2.5-inch reach advantage over Flowers. He is listed at -135 at DraftKings.

Rodolfo Vieira vs. Armen Petrosyan - Middleweight division

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with numerous awards, Rodolfo Vieira is just 2-2 in his last four fights but is coming off of an (unsurprisingly) submission win over Cody Brundage that took place last April.

He kicks off the main card this Saturday by taking on striking ace Armen Petrosyan, who has won his last two fights in a row via decision.

Although he will stand four-inches taller than Vieira, Petrosyan will actually be at a two-inch reach disadvantage. That reach advantage mixed with his submission skills leads to Vieira being listed as a slight -118 favorite over Petrosyan, who is listed at -102.