UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen: Predictions & Analysis
UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen lands on Saturday, October 29, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA with 11 bouts on the card. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold Allen vs Calvin KattarFeatherweight | Arnold Allen | Confident | 70% |
| Max Griffin vs Tim MeansWelterweight | Max Griffin | Lean | 61% |
| Waldo Cortes Acosta vs Jared VanderaaHeavyweight | Waldo Cortes Acosta | Lean | 62% |
| Tresean Gore vs Josh FremdMiddleweight | Tresean Gore | Toss-up | 51% |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. vs Dustin JacobyLight Heavyweight | Dustin Jacoby | Confident | 66% |
| Roman Dolidze vs Phil HawesMiddleweight | Roman Dolidze | Toss-up | 54% |
| Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Andrei ArlovskiHeavyweight | Marcos Rogerio de Lima | Strong | 78% |
| JunYong Park vs Joseph HolmesMiddleweight | JunYong Park | Lean | 63% |
| Steve Garcia vs Chase HooperFeatherweight | Chase Hooper | Strong | 78% |
| Cody Durden vs Carlos MotaFlyweight | Carlos Mota | Confident | 66% |
| Christian Rodriguez vs Joshua WeemsBantamweight | Christian Rodriguez | Strong | 78% |
Fight-by-Fight Breakdown
Arnold Allen vs Calvin Kattar
The Featherweight matchup features Arnold Allen (11-2) taking on Calvin Kattar (7-7). Kattar is the bigger frame at 5'11" with a 2-inch reach advantage.
Allen is rated at 1468 — 237 points above Kattar's 1231. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
Both fighters land in our "All-Rounder" archetype — fighters comfortable everywhere, able to strike or grapple depending on what the opponent gives them. 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. Kattar throws significantly more leather — a 0.9 sig. strike per minute gap. Allen is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.3 more per 15 minutes. Allen has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Arnold Allen over Calvin Kattar. We're leaning Allen here at 70%, a solid but not overwhelming edge. Notably, the betting market has Allen at 53% implied while our model sees 70% — a 17-point disagreement that could signal value.
Max Griffin vs Tim Means
The Welterweight matchup features Max Griffin (8-9) taking on Tim Means (15-13). There's a 3-inch height gap favoring Means.
Griffin is rated at 1152 — 279 points above Means's 872. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
Stylistically this is Griffin's striker game against Means's all-rounder approach. Griffin brings a versatile approach, while Means 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. Means throws significantly more leather — a 0.8 sig. strike per minute gap. Means is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.7 more per 15 minutes. Griffin has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Max Griffin over Tim Means. The model gives Griffin a slight nod at 61% — this could easily go either way. The market and our model are aligned — the line looks fair.
Waldo Cortes Acosta vs Jared Vanderaa
The Heavyweight matchup features Waldo Cortes Acosta (9-2) taking on Jared Vanderaa (1-5).
Acosta is rated at 1637 — 966 points above Vanderaa's 671. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
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. Vanderaa throws significantly more leather — a 5.8 sig. strike per minute gap. Vanderaa is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.0 more per 15 minutes. Acosta has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Waldo Cortes Acosta over Jared Vanderaa. The model gives Acosta a slight nod at 62% — this could easily go either way. The market implies 66% for Acosta, but our model sees only 62%. That 4-point gap favoring Vanderaa is worth watching.
Tresean Gore vs Josh Fremd
The Middleweight matchup features Tresean Gore (2-3) taking on Josh Fremd (2-3). There's a 4-inch height gap favoring Fremd.
The Elo gap here is razor-thin — Gore at 916, Fremd at 894. On paper, this is as close to a coin flip as it gets.
The style clash matters here: Gore is most dangerous on the ground, constantly threatening chokes and joint locks, while Fremd looks to close distance and put the fight on the mat. In our database, wrestlers own a 56% win rate against submission artists, giving Fremd the stylistic edge.
A few statistical edges stand out. Gore throws significantly more leather — a 1.4 sig. strike per minute gap. Gore is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.6 more per 15 minutes. Gore has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Tresean Gore over Josh Fremd. This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Gore at 51%, but there's almost nothing separating these two. Notably, the betting market has Gore at 41% implied while our model sees 51% — a 11-point disagreement that could signal value.
Khalil Rountree Jr. vs Dustin Jacoby
The Light Heavyweight matchup features Khalil Rountree Jr. (10-6) taking on Dustin Jacoby (9-6-1).
There's a real Elo separation here: Jr. at 1506 versus Jacoby at 1374. That 132-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. Jacoby throws significantly more leather — a 3.0 sig. strike per minute gap. Jacoby is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.6 more per 15 minutes. Jacoby has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Dustin Jacoby over Khalil Rountree Jr.. We're leaning Jacoby here at 66%, a solid but not overwhelming edge.
Roman Dolidze vs Phil Hawes
The Middleweight matchup features Roman Dolidze (9-3) taking on Phil Hawes (4-3).
Dolidze is rated at 1546 — 720 points above Hawes's 827. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents. Dolidze rides a 3-fight win streak into this one.
The style clash matters here: Dolidze is most dangerous on the ground, constantly threatening chokes and joint locks, while Hawes is comfortable adjusting on the fly, mixing strikes and grappling as openings appear. In our database, submission artists own a 56% win rate against all-rounders, giving Dolidze the stylistic edge.
A few statistical edges stand out. Hawes throws significantly more leather — a 3.6 sig. strike per minute gap. Dolidze is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.3 more per 15 minutes. Dolidze has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Roman Dolidze over Phil Hawes. This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Dolidze at 54%, but there's almost nothing separating these two. Notably, the betting market has Dolidze at 37% implied while our model sees 54% — a 16-point disagreement that could signal value.
Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Andrei Arlovski
The Heavyweight matchup features Marcos Rogerio de Lima (10-7) taking on Andrei Arlovski (23-17). Arlovski is the bigger frame at 6'3" with a 2-inch reach advantage.
Lima is rated at 1275 — 418 points above Arlovski's 858. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
The style clash matters here: Lima looks to close distance and put the fight on the mat, while Arlovski 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 Lima the stylistic edge.
A few statistical edges stand out. Arlovski throws significantly more leather — a 1.9 sig. strike per minute gap. Lima is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.6 more per 15 minutes. Arlovski has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Marcos Rogerio de Lima over Andrei Arlovski. The model is firm on this one: Lima at 78%. Notably, the betting market has Lima at 69% implied while our model sees 78% — a 8-point disagreement that could signal value.
JunYong Park vs Joseph Holmes
The Middleweight matchup features JunYong Park (9-3) taking on Joseph Holmes (1-2). Holmes is the bigger frame at 6'4" with a 7-inch reach advantage.
Park is rated at 1235 — 475 points above Holmes's 760. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
A few statistical edges stand out. Park throws significantly more leather — a 0.5 sig. strike per minute gap. Park is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.5 more per 15 minutes. Holmes has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: JunYong Park over Joseph Holmes. The model gives Park a slight nod at 63% — this could easily go either way.
Steve Garcia vs Chase Hooper
The Featherweight matchup features Steve Garcia (7-2) taking on Chase Hooper (8-3).
Garcia is rated at 1593 — 418 points above Hooper's 1175. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents. Both fighters bring momentum: Garcia rides a 6-fight win streak into this one, while Hooper has won 5 straight.
Stylistically this is Garcia's knockout artist game against Hooper's wrestler approach. Garcia is patient on the feet, timing counters and loading up when he sees openings, while Hooper 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. Hooper throws significantly more leather — a 1.0 sig. strike per minute gap. Garcia is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.6 more per 15 minutes. Garcia has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Chase Hooper over Steve Garcia. The model is firm on this one: Hooper at 78%. The market implies 26% for Garcia, but our model sees only 22%. That 5-point gap favoring Hooper is worth watching.
Cody Durden vs Carlos Mota
The Flyweight matchup features Cody Durden (6-6-1) taking on Carlos Mota (0-0). There's a 3-inch height gap favoring Durden.
Mota carries a modest Elo edge (911 to 846), the kind of gap that reflects a slightly better run of form rather than a talent chasm.
A few statistical edges stand out. Durden throws significantly more leather — a 4.0 sig. strike per minute gap. Durden is far more active with takedowns, averaging 4.2 more per 15 minutes. Mota has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Carlos Mota over Cody Durden. We're leaning Mota here at 66%, a solid but not overwhelming edge. The market implies 40% for Durden, but our model sees only 34%. That 6-point gap favoring Mota is worth watching.
Christian Rodriguez vs Joshua Weems
The Bantamweight matchup features Christian Rodriguez (5-3) taking on Joshua Weems (0-0).
Rodriguez is rated at 1041 — 165 points above Weems's 875. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.
A few statistical edges stand out. Rodriguez throws significantly more leather — a 1.7 sig. strike per minute gap. Rodriguez is far more active with takedowns, averaging 2.0 more per 15 minutes. Weems has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.
The Pick: Christian Rodriguez over Joshua Weems. The model is firm on this one: Rodriguez at 78%. The market and our model are aligned — the line looks fair.
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.