UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou: Predictions & Analysis

The Heavyweight matchup features Francis Ngannou (11-2) taking on Stipe Miocic (14-4). Ngannou will look to use a 3-inch reach edge to control distance.

Ngannou is rated at 2148 — 302 points above Miocic's 1847. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents. Ngannou rides a 5-fight win streak into this one.

The style clash matters here: Ngannou is patient on the feet, timing counters and loading up when he sees openings, while Miocic brings a versatile approach. In our database, knockout artists own a 54% win rate against strikers, giving Ngannou the stylistic edge.

A few statistical edges stand out. Miocic throws significantly more leather — a 2.2 sig. strike per minute gap. Miocic is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.6 more per 15 minutes. Ngannou has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Francis Ngannou over Stipe Miocic.** This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Ngannou at 55%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.

The Welterweight matchup features Vicente Luque (16-7) taking on Tyron Woodley (9-5-1).

Woodley is rated at 1461 — 211 points above Luque's 1250. 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. Luque throws significantly more leather — a 4.5 sig. strike per minute gap. Woodley is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.1 more per 15 minutes. Luque has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Vicente Luque over Tyron Woodley.** The model gives Luque a slight nod at 65% — this could easily go either way.

The Bantamweight matchup features Sean O'Malley (10-3) taking on Thomas Almeida (5-4). O'Malley is the bigger frame at 5'11" with a 2-inch reach advantage.

O'Malley is rated at 1748 — 797 points above Almeida's 951. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

The style clash matters here: O'Malley is patient on the feet, timing counters and loading up when he sees openings, while Almeida brings a versatile approach. In our database, knockout artists own a 54% win rate against strikers, giving O'Malley the stylistic edge.

A few statistical edges stand out. O'Malley throws significantly more leather — a 1.9 sig. strike per minute gap. O'Malley is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.2 more per 15 minutes. O'Malley has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Sean O'Malley over Thomas Almeida.** We're leaning O'Malley here at 72%, a solid but not overwhelming edge.

The Women's Flyweight matchup features Miranda Maverick (8-3) taking on Gillian Robertson (12-6).

There's a real Elo separation here: Robertson at 1352 versus Maverick at 1264. That 88-point gap typically reflects a meaningful difference in recent quality of competition and results. Both fighters bring momentum: Maverick rides a 4-fight win streak into this one, while Robertson has won 3 straight.

Both fighters land in our "Wrestler" archetype — fighters who win by dictating where the fight takes place, grinding out control time and wearing opponents down. 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. Maverick throws significantly more leather — a 7.5 sig. strike per minute gap. Robertson is far more active with takedowns, averaging 2.1 more per 15 minutes. Maverick has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Miranda Maverick over Gillian Robertson.** The model gives Maverick a slight nod at 60% — this could easily go either way.

The Lightweight matchup features Jamie Mullarkey (6-6) taking on Khama Worthy (2-2).

Mullarkey is rated at 947 — 165 points above Worthy's 782. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Worthy throws significantly more leather — a 2.3 sig. strike per minute gap. Mullarkey is far more active with takedowns, averaging 4.0 more per 15 minutes. Worthy has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Jamie Mullarkey over Khama Worthy.** The model gives Mullarkey a slight nod at 55% — this could easily go either way.

The Light Heavyweight matchup features Alonzo Menifield (10-5-1) taking on Fabio Cherant (0-2).

Menifield is rated at 1207 — 464 points above Cherant's 744. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Menifield throws significantly more leather — a 3.2 sig. strike per minute gap. Cherant is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.0 more per 15 minutes. Cherant has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Fabio Cherant over Alonzo Menifield.** This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Cherant at 52%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.

The Welterweight matchup features Abubakar Nurmagomedov (2-1) taking on Jared Gooden (2-4). Gooden will look to use a 5-inch reach edge to control distance.

Nurmagomedov carries a modest Elo edge (1015 to 960), the kind of gap that reflects a slightly better run of form rather than a talent chasm.

A few statistical edges stand out. Gooden throws significantly more leather — a 5.3 sig. strike per minute gap. Nurmagomedov is far more active with takedowns, averaging 4.3 more per 15 minutes. Nurmagomedov has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Jared Gooden over Abubakar Nurmagomedov.** This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Gooden at 52%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.

The Light Heavyweight matchup features Michal Oleksiejczuk (9-7) taking on Modestas Bukauskas (7-4). Bukauskas is the bigger frame at 6'3" with a 2-inch reach advantage.

There's a real Elo separation here: Oleksiejczuk at 1268 versus Bukauskas at 1168. That 100-point gap typically reflects a meaningful difference in recent quality of competition and results. Bukauskas has won 4 straight.

The style clash matters here: Oleksiejczuk brings a versatile approach, while Bukauskas is patient on the feet, timing counters and loading up when he sees openings. In our database, knockout artists own a 54% win rate against strikers, giving Bukauskas the stylistic edge.

A few statistical edges stand out. Oleksiejczuk throws significantly more leather — a 1.3 sig. strike per minute gap. Oleksiejczuk is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.1 more per 15 minutes. Oleksiejczuk has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Michal Oleksiejczuk over Modestas Bukauskas.** This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Oleksiejczuk at 55%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.

The Featherweight matchup features Omar Morales (3-3) taking on Shane Young (2-4). There's a 3-inch height gap favoring Morales.

There's a real Elo separation here: Morales at 826 versus Young at 742. That 84-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. Young throws significantly more leather — a 3.1 sig. strike per minute gap. Young is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.4 more per 15 minutes. Morales has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Omar Morales over Shane Young.** The model gives Morales a slight nod at 58% — this could easily go either way.

The Middleweight matchup features Marc-Andre Barriault (6-9) taking on Abu Azaitar (1-1). There's a 4-inch height gap favoring Barriault.

Barriault is rated at 954 — 150 points above Azaitar's 804. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Barriault throws significantly more leather — a 1.1 sig. strike per minute gap. Azaitar is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.5 more per 15 minutes. Barriault has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Abu Azaitar over Marc-Andre Barriault.** This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Azaitar at 51%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.