UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Topuria: Predictions & Analysis
UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Topuria lands on Saturday, June 24, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA with 13 bouts on the card. The card is headlined by a championship fight. Below is our fight-by-fight breakdown, combining Elo ratings, rolling statistical trends, style matchup data, and betting market context into a pick for every bout.
Quick Picks
| Matchup | Pick | Confidence | Prob |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilia Topuria vs Josh EmmettFeatherweight | Ilia Topuria | Confident | 73% |
| Maycee Barber vs Amanda RibasWomen's Flyweight | Amanda Ribas | Lean | 64% |
| Austen Lane vs Justin TafaHeavyweight | Justin Tafa | Lean | 61% |
| David Onama vs Gabriel SantosFeatherweight | Gabriel Santos | Lean | 62% |
| Brendan Allen vs Bruno SilvaMiddleweight | Brendan Allen | Strong | 75% |
| Neil Magny vs Phil RoweWelterweight | Phil Rowe | Toss-up | 52% |
| Randy Brown vs Wellington TurmanWelterweight | Randy Brown | Confident | 70% |
| Mateusz Rebecki vs Loik RadzhabovLightweight | Mateusz Rebecki | Lean | 58% |
| Tabatha Ricci vs Gillian RobertsonWomen's Strawweight | Tabatha Ricci | Lean | 59% |
| Joshua Van vs Zhalgas ZhumagulovFlyweight | Zhalgas Zhumagulov | Lean | 63% |
| Chepe Mariscal vs Trevor PeekLightweight | Trevor Peek | Confident | 75% |
| Jack Jenkins vs Jamall EmmersFeatherweight | Jamall Emmers | Confident | 68% |
| Sedriques Dumas vs Cody BrundageMiddleweight | Cody Brundage | Toss-up | 51% |
Fight-by-Fight Breakdown
Ilia Topuria vs Josh Emmett
The Featherweight championship matchup features Ilia Topuria (8-0) taking on Josh Emmett (10-5).
Topuria is rated at 2094 — 738 points above Emmett's 1356. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents. Topuria rides a 8-fight win streak into this one.
Stylistically this is Topuria's submission artist game against Emmett's striker approach. Topuria is most dangerous on the ground, constantly threatening chokes and joint locks, while Emmett brings a versatile approach. Historically these archetypes are dead-even when they collide.
A few statistical edges stand out. Emmett throws significantly more leather — a 1.7 sig. strike per minute gap. Topuria is far more active with takedowns, averaging 2.0 more per 15 minutes. Topuria has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Ilia Topuria over Josh Emmett. We're leaning Topuria here at 73%, a solid but not overwhelming edge. The market implies 76% for Topuria, but our model sees only 73%. That 3-point gap favoring Emmett is worth watching.
Maycee Barber vs Amanda Ribas
The Women's Flyweight matchup features Maycee Barber (9-2) taking on Amanda Ribas (7-5).
Barber is rated at 1543 — 496 points above Ribas's 1048. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents. Barber rides a 6-fight win streak into this one.
Stylistically this is Barber's striker game against Ribas's all-rounder approach. Barber brings a versatile approach, while Ribas is comfortable adjusting on the fly, mixing strikes and grappling as openings appear. Historically these archetypes are dead-even when they collide.
A few statistical edges stand out. Ribas throws significantly more leather — a 1.6 sig. strike per minute gap. Ribas is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.8 more per 15 minutes. Ribas has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Amanda Ribas over Maycee Barber. The model gives Ribas a slight nod at 64% — this could easily go either way. The market and our model are aligned — the line looks fair.
Austen Lane vs Justin Tafa
The Heavyweight matchup features Austen Lane (1-3) taking on Justin Tafa (4-4). Lane is the bigger frame at 6'6" with a 6-inch reach advantage.
Tafa is rated at 938 — 155 points above Lane's 783. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
A few statistical edges stand out. Tafa throws significantly more leather — a 5.2 sig. strike per minute gap. Tafa is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.0 more per 15 minutes. Lane has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Justin Tafa over Austen Lane. The model gives Tafa a slight nod at 61% — this could easily go either way. The market and our model are aligned — the line looks fair.
David Onama vs Gabriel Santos
The Featherweight matchup features David Onama (6-2) taking on Gabriel Santos (1-2). Onama is the bigger frame at 5'11" with a 4-inch reach advantage.
Onama is rated at 1311 — 195 points above Santos's 1116. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents. Onama rides a 4-fight win streak into this one.
A few statistical edges stand out. Onama throws significantly more leather — a 0.7 sig. strike per minute gap. Santos is far more active with takedowns, averaging 3.9 more per 15 minutes. Onama has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Gabriel Santos over David Onama. The model gives Santos a slight nod at 62% — this could easily go either way. Notably, the betting market has Onama at 34% implied while our model sees 38% — a 5-point disagreement that could signal value.
Brendan Allen vs Bruno Silva
The Middleweight matchup features Brendan Allen (13-4) taking on Bruno Silva (4-6).
Allen is rated at 1696 — 899 points above Silva's 798. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
Stylistically this is Allen's wrestler game against Silva's striker approach. Allen looks to close distance and put the fight on the mat, while Silva brings a versatile approach. Historically these archetypes are dead-even when they collide.
A few statistical edges stand out. Silva throws significantly more leather — a 1.0 sig. strike per minute gap. Allen is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.6 more per 15 minutes. Silva has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Brendan Allen over Bruno Silva. The model is firm on this one: Allen at 75%. Notably, the betting market has Allen at 65% implied while our model sees 75% — a 10-point disagreement that could signal value.
Neil Magny vs Phil Rowe
The Welterweight matchup features Neil Magny (24-12) taking on Phil Rowe (4-4).
Magny is rated at 1270 — 229 points above Rowe's 1041. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
The style clash matters here: Magny looks to close distance and put the fight on the mat, while Rowe is comfortable adjusting on the fly, mixing strikes and grappling as openings appear. In our database, wrestlers own a 59% win rate against all-rounders, giving Magny the stylistic edge.
A few statistical edges stand out. Rowe throws significantly more leather — a 0.4 sig. strike per minute gap. Magny is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.1 more per 15 minutes. Rowe has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Phil Rowe over Neil Magny. This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Rowe at 52%, but there's almost nothing separating these two. The market implies 62% for Magny, but our model sees only 48%. That 14-point gap favoring Rowe is worth watching.
Randy Brown vs Wellington Turman
The Welterweight matchup features Randy Brown (14-6) taking on Wellington Turman (3-5). Brown is the bigger frame at 6'3" with a 6-inch reach advantage.
Brown is rated at 1381 — 515 points above Turman's 866. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
The style clash matters here: Brown is comfortable adjusting on the fly, mixing strikes and grappling as openings appear, while Turman looks to close distance and put the fight on the mat. In our database, wrestlers own a 59% win rate against all-rounders, giving Turman the stylistic edge.
A few statistical edges stand out. Brown throws significantly more leather — a 2.7 sig. strike per minute gap. Turman is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.0 more per 15 minutes. Brown has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Randy Brown over Wellington Turman. We're leaning Brown here at 70%, a solid but not overwhelming edge. The market and our model are aligned — the line looks fair.
Mateusz Rebecki vs Loik Radzhabov
The Lightweight matchup features Mateusz Rebecki (4-2) taking on Loik Radzhabov (2-1). Radzhabov is the bigger frame at 5'11" with a 3-inch reach advantage.
There's a real Elo separation here: Rebecki at 1098 versus Radzhabov at 1009. That 89-point gap typically reflects a meaningful difference in recent quality of competition and results.
A few statistical edges stand out. Rebecki throws significantly more leather — a 3.3 sig. strike per minute gap. Radzhabov is far more active with takedowns, averaging 8.0 more per 15 minutes. Rebecki has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Mateusz Rebecki over Loik Radzhabov. The model gives Rebecki a slight nod at 58% — this could easily go either way. Notably, the betting market has Rebecki at 54% implied while our model sees 58% — a 4-point disagreement that could signal value.
Tabatha Ricci vs Gillian Robertson
The Women's Strawweight matchup features Tabatha Ricci (6-3) taking on Gillian Robertson (12-6). Robertson is the bigger frame at 5'5" with a 2-inch reach advantage.
The Elo gap here is razor-thin — Ricci at 1355, Robertson at 1352. On paper, this is as close to a coin flip as it gets. Robertson has won 3 straight.
The style clash matters here: Ricci is comfortable adjusting on the fly, mixing strikes and grappling as openings appear, while Robertson looks to close distance and put the fight on the mat. In our database, wrestlers own a 59% win rate against all-rounders, giving Robertson the stylistic edge.
A few statistical edges stand out. Ricci throws significantly more leather — a 0.5 sig. strike per minute gap. Ricci is far more active with takedowns, averaging 2.0 more per 15 minutes. Ricci has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Tabatha Ricci over Gillian Robertson. The model gives Ricci a slight nod at 59% — this could easily go either way. Notably, the betting market has Ricci at 54% implied while our model sees 59% — a 5-point disagreement that could signal value.
Joshua Van vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov
The Flyweight matchup features Joshua Van (8-1) taking on Zhalgas Zhumagulov (1-5).
Van is rated at 1678 — 914 points above Zhumagulov's 764. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents. Van rides a 5-fight win streak into this one.
Stylistically this is Van's striker game against Zhumagulov's wrestler approach. Van brings a versatile approach, while Zhumagulov looks to close distance and put the fight on the mat. Historically these archetypes are dead-even when they collide.
A few statistical edges stand out. Zhumagulov throws significantly more leather — a 5.0 sig. strike per minute gap. Zhumagulov is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.2 more per 15 minutes. Van has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Zhalgas Zhumagulov over Joshua Van. The model gives Zhumagulov a slight nod at 63% — this could easily go either way. Notably, the betting market has Van at 34% implied while our model sees 37% — a 3-point disagreement that could signal value.
Chepe Mariscal vs Trevor Peek
The Lightweight matchup features Chepe Mariscal (5-0) taking on Trevor Peek (2-2).
Mariscal is rated at 1275 — 359 points above Peek's 916. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents. Mariscal rides a 5-fight win streak into this one.
A few statistical edges stand out. Peek throws significantly more leather — a 10.2 sig. strike per minute gap. Peek is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.0 more per 15 minutes. Mariscal has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Trevor Peek over Chepe Mariscal. We're leaning Peek here at 75%, a solid but not overwhelming edge.
Jack Jenkins vs Jamall Emmers
The Featherweight matchup features Jack Jenkins (3-2) taking on Jamall Emmers (4-4). Emmers is the bigger frame at 5'10" with a 6-inch reach advantage.
There's a real Elo separation here: Emmers at 1177 versus Jenkins at 1038. That 139-point gap typically reflects a meaningful difference in recent quality of competition and results.
Both fighters land in our "Striker" archetype — fighters with a well-rounded skill set. When mirror matchups like this happen, the edge usually goes to whoever can impose their preferred pace and range.
A few statistical edges stand out. Jenkins throws significantly more leather — a 0.6 sig. strike per minute gap. Jenkins is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.4 more per 15 minutes. Emmers has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Jamall Emmers over Jack Jenkins. We're leaning Emmers here at 68%, a solid but not overwhelming edge. The market implies 36% for Jenkins, but our model sees only 32%. That 4-point gap favoring Emmers is worth watching.
Sedriques Dumas vs Cody Brundage
The Middleweight matchup features Sedriques Dumas (3-3) taking on Cody Brundage (5-6). Dumas is the bigger frame at 6'2" with a 7-inch reach advantage.
Brundage carries a modest Elo edge (870 to 817), the kind of gap that reflects a slightly better run of form rather than a talent chasm.
Stylistically this is Dumas's striker game against Brundage's submission artist approach. Dumas brings a versatile approach, while Brundage is most dangerous on the ground, constantly threatening chokes and joint locks. Historically these archetypes are dead-even when they collide.
A few statistical edges stand out. Dumas throws significantly more leather — a 0.4 sig. strike per minute gap. Brundage is far more active with takedowns, averaging 2.3 more per 15 minutes. Brundage has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Cody Brundage over Sedriques Dumas. This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Brundage at 51%, but there's almost nothing separating these two. Notably, the betting market has Dumas at 41% implied while our model sees 49% — a 8-point disagreement that could signal value.
Methodology
Predictions are generated by our ensemble model combining LightGBM (65%) and CatBoost (35%), trained on every UFC fight since 1994. The model uses 23 features including Elo ratings, rolling 5-fight statistical averages, style matchup history, physical attributes, and market odds when available.
On our held-out test set (402 fights from January-September 2023), the model achieves 63.4% accuracy with a log-loss of 0.626. High-confidence picks (>75% probability) hit at 82.7%. For full model transparency, visit our Model page.