UFC Fight Night: Garcia v Onama Predictions

The co-headliner is a clash of top-10 heavyweights, with Waldo Cortes-Acosta taking on Ante Delija.

Two fights in the welterweight division form part of the main card, the first pitting Jeremiah Wells against Themba Gorimbo, and the second seeing Charles Radtke face off against Daniel Frunza.

Plus, Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle throwdown at featherweight.

MAIN CARD:

When: Sunday, November 2, 1 AM SAST

Steve Garcia (1.72) v David Onama (2.05) (Featherweight)

These two surging featherweights have put in the hard yards to climb into the top 15 and earn the honour of headlining a UFC event for the first time. Now, it’s about seizing the moment.

Aggressive and dangerous strikers with big dreams, these skillful rising stars will leave it all inside the Octagon to maximise their main event billing and continue to build momentum. The fact that it’s a rare all-southpaw showdown makes it that much more intriguing.

Garcia (18-5) has quietly built a reputation as one of the division’s most violent fighters. He’s gunned down six straight foes and was on a five-fight knockout streak before his decision win over Calvin Kattar, who was once close to earning a title shot, in July.

The American thrives in chaos. He overwhelms opponents with high-volume striking and unrelenting forward movement. Ranked 12th, he loves melting opponents with pace, pressure, and punishing body work and boasts 14 wins by knockout.

Uganda’s Onama(14-2) has put together a four-fight win streak. He’s a bit more well-rounded than Garcia on paper with seven knockouts and four submissions, but generally sticks to striking and has won his last three fights on the scorecards.

“The Silent Assassin” is coming off his most high-profile victory to date over Giga Chikadze in April, which positioned him one place behind Garcia in 13th place. He’s athletic and dynamic but has had weight-cutting issues in the past and tends to fade as the fight progresses.

He’ll struggle to keep up with the pace and conditioning of Garcia, and is a very hittable target (absorbing 4.73 significant strikes per minute compared to his opponent’s 2.2), so “Mean Machine” should roll on.

Prediction: Garcia by knockout.

Best Bet: Garcia at 1.72.

Alternative Bet: Garcia by KO/TKO/DQ at 2.00.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta (2.10) v Ante Delija (1.70) (Heavyweight)

The Octagon will shake when these two top-10 heavyweights trade leather in the co-main event.

Former LFA champion Cortes-Acosta (14-2) has proven he’s the real deal in the UFC with a record of 7-2 in the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion.

A five-fight win streak, which included victories over ex-champion Andrei Arlovski and Sergey Spivak, saw him break into the elite, but his momentum was halted by Sergey Pavlovich, who defeated him by decision in August. 

Ranked sixth, “Salsa Boy” isn’t waiting long to return to the dance floor and is determined to get things moving in the right direction again.

Long one of the best heavyweights outside of the UFC, 2022 PFL tournament winner Delija (26-6) finally touched down inside the Octagon in September and announced himself in style by knocking out top-10 mainstay Marcin Tybura in just over two minutes.

The Croatian’s impressive debut vaulted him straight to No. 9 in the rankings and he’ll look to close in on a spot in the top five in just his second fight in the promotion.

“Walking Trouble” is the far more dangerous man with 19 finishes (13 knockouts and six submissions) compared to Cortes-Acosta’s seven (six knockouts and one submission).

With his fast hands and massive nine-inch reach advantage, Delija should get the job done against the Dominican.

Prediction: Delija by knockout.

Best Bet: Delija at 1.70.

Alternative Bet: Delija by KO/TKO/DQ at 3.40. 

Jeremiah Wells (2.15) v Themba Gorimbo (1.66) (Welterweight)

Former EFC welterweight champion Gorimbo (14-5) returns to the Octagon looking to bounce back from a defeat against Vicente Luque last December.

That submission loss was particularly stinging for the Zimbabwean-born star as it snapped his four-fight win streak in the UFC and was celebrated by members of his family.

He became a viral sensation in 2023 when The Rock, inspired by his story of sleeping on a couch in a gym with only $7 in his bank account, surprised Gorimbo with a new home in Miami.

Despite helping his family back home where he can, Gorimbo said it isn’t enough for some and that they celebrated his loss as a result.

“Some of my cousins were celebrating my loss,” Gorimbo told The Pivot. “They were all celebrating my loss, and they sent me a video of them where we were in a place 15 years ago, this small circle in Danone … and these cousins of mine were celebrating my loss.

“Do you know how much that eats you?” All I try to do is better for everybody. I might not directly help you, but maybe I want to build a well for the community, then one person gets angry … someone will message me and say, ‘Will you give me [$5,000]?’

“People think that I’m in the UFC, I’m a millionaire. I’m not. Maybe one day I will be, but it’s the reality I’m not and I cannot afford to do that. Imagine if you have 20 people coming you and saying the same stuff.”

His opponent, Wells (12-4-1), is also aiming to turn things around. The American is on a two-fight losing streak, having lost to Carlston Harris by submission and Max Griffin by split decision, and is coming off a 20-month layoff.

The last time Wells, who’s mostly known for his striking, tasted victory was back in April 2023 when he edged Matthew Semelsberger by split decision.

Gorimbo is both the sharper and more well-rounded fighter. He’s also the bigger man and will have a three-inch reach advantage, all of which should see him rebound.

Prediction: Gorimbo by decision.

Best Bet: Gorimbo at 1.66.

Alternative Bet: Gorimbo by decision at 3.40.

Isaac Dulgarian (1.38) v Yadier del Valle (2.95) (Featherweight)

A lethal finisher and an undefeated prospect meet in this featherweight matchup.

Dulgarian (7-1) is dangerous wherever the fight goes and is not one who works by the hour. “The Midwest Choppa” has a 100% finish rate (four knockouts and three submissions), with five of his wins coming inside the opening round.

A split decision loss to Christian Rodriguez last March is the only blemish on his record, a setback he put behind him when he tapped out Brendan Marotte with an arm triangle choke last time out.

Del Valle has a flawless record of 9-0 with two knockouts and three submissions.

One of those tapout victories came in his last fight when he marked a successful UFC debut by beating Connor Matthews via rear-naked choke.

“The Cuban Problem” looks promising, and if he can weather the early storm, I see things turning in his favour. He’s a juicy underdog worth backing.

Prediction: Del Valle by decision.

Best Bet: Del Valle at 2.95.

Alternative Bet: Del Valle by decision at 6.50.

Charles Radtke (1.60) v Daniel Frunza (2.30) (Welterweight)

Welterweights in need of a win promise to get the main card off to an exciting start.

Similar to Kevin Holland, Radtke (10-5) likes to talk the talk and can walk the walk. “Chuck Buffalo” has been inconsistent, though, having traded wins and losses in his last four fights, and was knocked out by Mike Malott last time out.

A firecracker, Frunza (9-3) has claimed all but one of his wins by knockout. However, the Romanian is still rough around the edges and is chasing his first UFC win after his maiden Octagon outing ended in a stoppage loss to Rhys McKee in April.

Experience will likely be the difference-maker in this one. Radtke’s superior Octagon experience, to be specific, should see him turn back “Tigano”.

Prediction: Radtke by knockout.

Best Bet: Radtke at 1.60.

Alternative Bet: Radtke by KO/TKO/DQ at 3.40.