The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale: Predictions & Analysis

Friday, July 6, 2018·Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Published April 17, 2026
Predictions are for entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Please gamble responsibly.

The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale lands on Friday, July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA with 12 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

MatchupPickConfidenceProb
Israel Adesanya vs Brad TavaresMiddleweightIsrael AdesanyaLean63%
Michael Trizano vs Joe GiannettiLightweightJoe GiannettiLean65%
Brad Katona vs Jay CuccinielloFeatherweightBrad KatonaToss-up53%
Alex Caceres vs Martin BravoFeatherweightAlex CaceresLean63%
Roxanne Modafferi vs Barb HonchakWomen's FlyweightRoxanne ModafferiToss-up51%
Alessio Di Chirico vs Julian MarquezMiddleweightAlessio Di ChiricoConfident71%
Montana De La Rosa vs Rachael OstovichWomen's FlyweightMontana De La RosaStrong78%
Luis Pena vs Richie SmullenLightweightLuis PenaLean60%
John Gunther vs Allan ZunigaLightweightAllan ZunigaLean59%
Bryce Mitchell vs Tyler DiamondFeatherweightBryce MitchellToss-up53%
Steven Peterson vs Matt BessetteFeatherweightSteven PetersonLean58%
Gerald Meerschaert vs Oskar PiechotaMiddleweightOskar PiechotaLean56%

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Fight-by-Fight Breakdown

Israel Adesanya vs Brad Tavares

MiddleweightTitle Fight
63%
Israel Adesanya
Adesanya
13-6
CH-III1638
Striker
VS
Tavares
16-12
RK-III1023
Striker
Over/UnderOver 70%
Under 30%Over 70%

The Middleweight championship matchup features Israel Adesanya (13-6) taking on Brad Tavares (16-12). Adesanya is the bigger frame at 6'4" with a 6-inch reach advantage.

Adesanya is rated at 1638 — 616 points above Tavares's 1023. 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. Adesanya throws significantly more leather — a 1.3 sig. strike per minute gap. Tavares is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.3 more per 15 minutes. Adesanya has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

The Pick: Israel Adesanya over Brad Tavares. The model gives Adesanya a slight nod at 63% — this could easily go either way.

65%
Joe Giannetti
Trizano
4-3
RK-II1105
All-Rounder
VS
Giannetti
0-1
PR-I898
Over/UnderOver 56%
Under 44%Over 56%

The Lightweight matchup features Michael Trizano (4-3) taking on Joe Giannetti (0-1). Giannetti will look to use a 3-inch reach edge to control distance.

Trizano is rated at 1105 — 207 points above Giannetti's 898. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

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

The Pick: Joe Giannetti over Michael Trizano. The model gives Giannetti a slight nod at 65% — this could easily go either way.

53%
Brad Katona
Katona
4-5
PR-II839
Striker
VS
Cucciniello
0-1
PR-I873
Over/UnderOver 52%
Under 48%Over 52%

The Featherweight matchup features Brad Katona (4-5) taking on Jay Cucciniello (0-1).

Cucciniello carries a modest Elo edge (873 to 839), the kind of gap that reflects a slightly better run of form rather than a talent chasm.

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

The Pick: Brad Katona over Jay Cucciniello. This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Katona at 53%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.

Alex Caceres vs Martin Bravo

Featherweight
63%
Alex Caceres
Caceres
16-13
CO-III1264
All-Rounder
VS
Bravo
1-3
UC-III615
Over/UnderOver 52%
Under 48%Over 52%

The Featherweight matchup features Alex Caceres (16-13) taking on Martin Bravo (1-3). Caceres is the bigger frame at 5'10" with a 2-inch reach advantage.

Caceres is rated at 1264 — 649 points above Bravo's 615. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Bravo throws significantly more leather — a 3.9 sig. strike per minute gap. Caceres is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.2 more per 15 minutes. Caceres has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

The Pick: Alex Caceres over Martin Bravo. The model gives Caceres a slight nod at 63% — this could easily go either way.

Roxanne Modafferi vs Barb Honchak

Women's Flyweight
51%
Roxanne Modafferi
Modafferi
4-8
RK-III1036
Striker
VS
Honchak
0-2
UC-III636
Over/UnderOver 58%
Under 42%Over 58%

The Women's Flyweight matchup features Roxanne Modafferi (4-8) taking on Barb Honchak (0-2). Modafferi is the bigger frame at 5'7" with a 4-inch reach advantage.

Modafferi is rated at 1036 — 400 points above Honchak's 636. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Honchak throws significantly more leather — a 0.4 sig. strike per minute gap. Modafferi is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.8 more per 15 minutes. Honchak has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

The Pick: Roxanne Modafferi over Barb Honchak. This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Modafferi at 51%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.

71%
Alessio Di Chirico
Chirico
4-7
PR-III814
Striker
VS
Marquez
3-5
UC-II670
Submission Artist
Over/UnderUnder 56%
Under 56%Over 44%

The Middleweight matchup features Alessio Di Chirico (4-7) taking on Julian Marquez (3-5).

There's a real Elo separation here: Chirico at 814 versus Marquez at 670. That 144-point gap typically reflects a meaningful difference in recent quality of competition and results.

Stylistically this is Chirico's striker game against Marquez's submission artist approach. Chirico brings a versatile approach, while Marquez 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. Marquez throws significantly more leather — a 0.8 sig. strike per minute gap. Chirico is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.9 more per 15 minutes. Chirico has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

The Pick: Alessio Di Chirico over Julian Marquez. We're leaning Chirico here at 71%, a solid but not overwhelming edge.

78%
Montana De La Rosa
Rosa
6-5-1
RK-III1064
Wrestler
VS
Ostovich
1-3
UC-III605
Over/UnderOver 55%
Under 45%Over 55%

The Women's Flyweight matchup features Montana De La Rosa (6-5-1) taking on Rachael Ostovich (1-3). Rosa is the bigger frame at 5'7" with a 6-inch reach advantage.

Rosa is rated at 1064 — 460 points above Ostovich's 605. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Rosa throws significantly more leather — a 1.2 sig. strike per minute gap. Ostovich is far more active with takedowns, averaging 9.0 more per 15 minutes. Ostovich has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

The Pick: Montana De La Rosa over Rachael Ostovich. The model is firm on this one: Rosa at 78%.

60%
Luis Pena
Pena
5-3
CO-III1248
Wrestler
VS
Smullen
0-1
PR-II834
Over/UnderOver 59%
Under 41%Over 59%

The Lightweight matchup features Luis Pena (5-3) taking on Richie Smullen (0-1). Pena is the bigger frame at 6'3" with a 7-inch reach advantage.

Pena is rated at 1248 — 414 points above Smullen's 834. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

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

The Pick: Luis Pena over Richie Smullen. The model gives Pena a slight nod at 60% — this could easily go either way.

59%
Allan Zuniga
Gunther
1-1
RK-III1066
VS
Zuniga
0-1
PR-I873
Over/UnderOver 57%
Under 43%Over 57%

The Lightweight matchup features John Gunther (1-1) taking on Allan Zuniga (0-1). Gunther is the bigger frame at 5'9" with a 2-inch reach advantage.

Gunther is rated at 1066 — 194 points above Zuniga's 873. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

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

The Pick: Allan Zuniga over John Gunther. The model gives Zuniga a slight nod at 59% — this could easily go either way.

53%
Bryce Mitchell
Mitchell
9-3
CO-II1454
Wrestler
VS
Diamond
0-1
PR-I873
Over/UnderOver 55%
Under 45%Over 55%

The Featherweight matchup features Bryce Mitchell (9-3) taking on Tyler Diamond (0-1). There's a 3-inch height gap favoring Mitchell.

Mitchell is rated at 1454 — 582 points above Diamond's 873. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

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

The Pick: Bryce Mitchell over Tyler Diamond. This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Mitchell at 53%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.

58%
Steven Peterson
Peterson
3-5
PR-I898
All-Rounder
VS
Bessette
0-2
PR-III803
Over/UnderOver 63%
Under 37%Over 63%

The Featherweight matchup features Steven Peterson (3-5) taking on Matt Bessette (0-2).

There's a real Elo separation here: Peterson at 898 versus Bessette at 803. That 95-point gap typically reflects a meaningful difference in recent quality of competition and results.

A few statistical edges stand out. Peterson throws significantly more leather — a 2.0 sig. strike per minute gap. Peterson is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.0 more per 15 minutes. Peterson has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

The Pick: Steven Peterson over Matt Bessette. The model gives Peterson a slight nod at 58% — this could easily go either way.

56%
Oskar Piechota
Meerschaert
12-13
MC-I999
Wrestler
VS
Piechota
2-3
UC-I793
Knockout Artist
Over/UnderUnder 61%
Under 61%Over 39%

The Middleweight matchup features Gerald Meerschaert (12-13) taking on Oskar Piechota (2-3).

Meerschaert is rated at 999 — 206 points above Piechota's 793. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

Stylistically this is Meerschaert's wrestler game against Piechota's knockout artist approach. Meerschaert looks to close distance and put the fight on the mat, while Piechota is patient on the feet, timing counters and loading up when he sees openings. Historically these archetypes are dead-even when they collide.

A few statistical edges stand out. Piechota throws significantly more leather — a 0.9 sig. strike per minute gap. Meerschaert is far more active with takedowns, averaging 1.4 more per 15 minutes. Piechota has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

The Pick: Oskar Piechota over Gerald Meerschaert. The model gives Piechota a slight nod at 56% — this could easily go either way.

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.