One of the highly anticipated preliminary cards of the UFC Fight Night bout Cannonier vs. Rodrigues will be the BantamWeight clash between Vince Morales and Elijah Smith. Two US fighters with different levels of experience and skillset battling at the iconic UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada to further establish themselves in the sport. Let’s analyze their records and find a valuable prediction.

Vince Morales AKA “Vandetta”

“Vandetta” is a gritty competitor with dynamite in his hands. He possesses crisp boxing, excellent footwork, and a relentless forward pressure that can overwhelm opponents. Furthermore, his experience in the UFC octagon gives him a distinct edge in terms of composure and fight IQ. He’s been in tough fights, and he knows how to navigate the pressure cooker environment of a UFC event. While he has shown vulnerabilities against high-level wrestlers in the past, he’s been working diligently on his takedown defense. Although he lost his last fight against Taylor Lapilus, Vince Morales at 34 is still greatly feared in the Bantamweight division.

Elijah Smith AKA “Swift”

Smith has a stellar record and is a highly regarded talent. He is obviously gifted, and his grappling abilities are dangerous. He has demonstrated a talent for controlling opponents on the ground and locating submissions. But Smith’s experience competing against elite opponents is a major question mark. This is a big jump up in the competition, and he hasn’t encountered as much opposition as Morales. Furthermore, his striking is still improving, even though his grappling is good.

I think Morales will be able to maintain the fight by controlling the distance and setting the tempo with his stronger striking. I expect him to stuff those shots and punish Smith on the feet, but he’ll have to be cautious of Smith’s takedown attempts. As a result, I believe Morales will continue to hit Smith with heavy shots, possibly even earning a knockout. Furthermore, I think Morales’s enhanced takedown and submission defenses will be sufficient to keep him alive and help him stand again even if the fight ends on the ground.

Vince Morales vs Elijah Smith Prediction

I predict a victory for Vince Morales. I think his striking skills, coupled with his experience and improved grappling defense, will be the keys to victory. The odds for this market are around 2.5. While Smith is a dangerous and uprising opponent, I believe Morales has the tools to keep the fight where he wants it and ultimately emerge victorious. This is a fascinating matchup, and I can’t wait to see these two warriors collide in the octagon.

If you want to secure the best odds on MMA events, make sure you sign up for a BettingSoftware account today.