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Insight the Octagon returns for a seventh year of profitable UFC releases on the most powerful betting platform available; the VSIN digital magazine.

After almost a month off, mixed martial artistry returns featuring athletes from across the world who bring specialized fight weaponry into each matchup. This week from the UFC APEX, LV84 offers a fight slate featuring twelve compelling bouts with athlete’s whose skills and body types range from one end of the fight spectrum to the opposite.

My responsibility is to break down each bout and offer my ‘best bet’ here on these pages for each of the 44/46 weeks in 2024 that the UFC will offer fight enthusiasts it’s productions.

Let’s dig right into this event which commences Saturday at 1pm PT with preliminary action then segway’s to main card competition at 4pm PT.

Magomed Ankalaev -450 vs. Johnnie Walker +375 Light Heavyweight (205lbs.) main event

Last October these two tangled into the first round when Walker was illegally kneed and poked in the eye when chaos ensued. The bout was called a ‘no contest’ based on a combination of incompetent refereeing and a language barrier between Walker and said ref.

Flash forward to Saturday and these two will be again be presented the opportunity to vie against each other. I must mention that hatred between Brazilian fight athletes and Russian’s is stringent on a day-to-day basis but in this case these two can’t wait to try to inflict maximum damage upon one another.

Seventh ranked Walker, a Brazilian striker now training in Ireland holds impressive size and length advantages over most athletes in the division and in this fight that holds true.

Walker, a brown belt in BJJ rarely employs his grappling preferring instead to utilize his massive size/length and flamboyant freewheeling striking to try to incapacitate opponents with driving knees, spinning kicks, impaling elbows, and fists.

Walker employs an aggressive approach on opponents as his single goal is to crack then unconscious, pick up a bonus check and return to his training.

Walker’s forceful offense is supplemented by a relative lack of take down ability as well he has a chin more fragile than ancient porcelain.

Third ranked Russian Ankalaev enters a winner of nine straight UFC bouts before realizing a questionable draw (which I believe he won) against Jan Blachowicz in a title fight, then NC came against Walker last fall.

Ankalaev has little personality, panache’ or flamboyance but he holds International Master of Sport degrees in both Samba and MMA. These titles are not handed out easily in the realm of Russian MMA as an aside.

Ankalaev’s personality is as reflective of his approach to fighting as is Walker’s. Walker the aggressive matrix like striker pitted against Ankalaev a systematic, patient grappling machine.

Ankalaev employs a solid striking base in order to enter the pocket against opponents then his aim is to immediately drag foes to the mat for a complete mauling. His strength is immeasurable and is complimented by his cardio which allows him to overwhelm opponents with unrelenting forward grappling pressure.

There exists an abundance of angst between these two and Saturday Walker is going to try to kick Ankalaev’s head into the upper deck while Ankalaev will try to use this five-round bout to first exhaust the monstrous striker then take him down to the floor and choke him out of consciousness.

I believe Ankalaev dominates this bout after the first round or so but will study props in order to find more opportunity than his current straight up price.

Total in this fight: 1.5 Over -166

Manuel Kape -270 vs. Matheus Nicolau +230 Flyweight (125lbs.) co main event

This is a rematch of a bout Nicolau won via split decision in 2021 when he was a full-grown man facing Kape who was then just a shadow of the fighter he is today.

Nicolau rattled off four fine wins before running into an elbow and being KO’d by Brandon Royval in his last bout. Nicolau, a Black belt in BBJ with decent striking enters this fight on the bounce and looking to reestablish himself as the next challenger to the title.

Kape, of Angolan and Portuguese descent is lighting fast and supremely athletic. He’s primarily a Muay Thai striking based fighter who forces opponents backwards then blisters them with his hand speed and leg movement which allow him to attack from every angle.

Kape’s greatest asset may be his power which is unusual for a fighter so fleet afoot and so athletic.

Once this bout begins it will be Nicolau that must navigate his way inside on the athletic striker in order to both negate his movement and striking distance while smothering him. Fighting Kape forehead to Kape’s chest is the prescription for Nicolau to be successful in this bout for his BJJ stands superior to Kapes.

Kape, meanwhile will use his legs and athleticism to maintain distance and attempt to obliterate Nicolau as he attempts to gain the clinch.

I believe this is a tough assignment for Nicolau and with this co main event being a five round bout I look for Kape to have more time to find Nicolau upon entry.

Kape to win via KO/Sub/DQ +140

Total in this fight: 2.5 Over -145

The GambLou ‘Bout Business Podcast drops Friday just after Noon PT. Access the ‘Bout Business Podcast only at GambLou.com

Thank you for reading and enjoy the hostilities!

GambLou

Profitable Sports Gaming