UFC Vegas 92 Main Event Pick

UFC VEGAS 92 MAIN EVENT PICK – The featherweight division has a plethora of main event options they can choose from, especially when the UFC decides to go back to their home base of the Apex. Contenders, veterans, prospects, they have it all, and this weekend they hone in on a veteran vs prospect clash to anchor UFC Vegas 92.

Edson Barboza looks to build upon his gutsy performance from October when he defeated Sodiq Yusuff. 

Aiming to keep his undefeated record alive, Lerone Murphy gets the spotlight and hopes to take out the biggest name he has battled thus far.

Will the Brazilian put on a veteran lesson? Or will the Brit take the torch and march closer to title contention? Read on to see how these 145ers match up and how we can navigate the betting market with it.

Hey, while you’re at it, click here to check out our Godzilla Wins Daily Staff Picks! 

Edson Barboza 

It’s been a pattern of inconsistency for Barboza over the last 7 years as he has compiled a 5-7 record. During the covid era, Barboza made a radical change as he decided to drop down to 145lbs, a weight many didn’t believe he could make.

After putting together a 4-3 record at featherweight, he has yet to miss weight once, proving the critics wrong. He currently rides a two-fight winning streak, showcasing he can still compete while on the bad side of 30.

Barboza has largely been known for his vicious muay thai striking style and nasty kicks. Defensive grappling has usually been a sore spot in his game, although he shows stellar takedown defense in early.

It comes down to his opponents staying consistent with shooting takedowns that will eventually catch up with the Brazilian. However, when Barboza is given another striker, he can stay very competitive and showcase why he has been able to stick around at the highest level for 13+ years at this point. Age is something to keep in mind still as he turned 38 back in January, usually not a good sign for fighters at these lower weight classes.

Lerone Murphy 

Coming into the UFC back in 2019 with an undefeated 8-0 record, many had high hopes for Murphy who seemed to have all the physical traits to be successful. He went to a split draw in his debut against Zubaira Tukhugov but has managed to go 5-0 since that fight.

He’s run into a myriad of issues over the last four years from visa issues to unforeseen injuries. That has kept him from staying active and being closer to title contention, but this weekend will be a huge opportunity taking on a veteran in a main event slot.

Murphy came into the UFC known as being a power striker who loved using his kicking game. He finished 5 of his 8 fights before making it to the UFC and has added another 2 finishes over his 6 UFC fights.

Obviously, finishes are harder to come by as the competition gets stiffer. He has adapted his finish-centric style to being more decision friendly by incorporating more clinching and wrestling to subdue his opponents with his strength. I

t was impressive to see him control all 15 minutes of his fight with Culibao with his range management and eventual grappling approach. At 32, it’s tough to call someone a prospect, but given the lack of opportunities due to out-of-the-cage circumstances, that is the boat Murphy finds himself in. He can strip himself of that title and become a contender with a win this weekend.

The Pick

It’s usually trickier than picking the prospect against an aging veteran as we’ve seen time and time again. Usually, it comes down to the stylistic clash as it’s important to view every fight as an individual contest.

Yes, Barboza will have the experience advantage here and his striking will be tough to overcome, especially if he gets into his groove. However, I feel Murphy has good enough striking to stay competitive and the threat of his power to demoralize Barboza. From there, I think we’ll see Murphy look to outmuscle

Barboza alongside the cage, accruing valuable control time in those positions while keeping Barboza from using his tools. The big question mark is if Murphy can successfully do that over the course of 25 minutes as this will be his first 25-minute bout at this level. It gives me a slight bit of pause, but I ultimately think Murphy at his current price would be the best position to take in this main event slot. 

Murphy -135