Can Arnold Allen pick up the biggest win of his career? Will Max Griffin bounce back from a tough loss to Neil Magny? The predictions from the MMA Empire team, along with our guest picker, can be found below for the five-fight main card.
Our guest picker for this event is Canadian bantamweight prospect Louie Sanoudakis (9-3). After a nice 8-1 start to his career, Sanoudakis dropped two contests in a row for this first time, but bounced back nicely in his most recent outing XMMA 4. Keep a look out for Sanoudakis’ next fight announcement as he continues his push to the big show.
This Apex-hosted Fight Night was headlined by a featherweight bout with direct contender implications — a rarity for a card of this size — while the co-main event paired two of the welterweight division's most experienced gatekeepers. No belt was at stake, but the main event winner moved directly into the shortlist behind champion Alexander Volkanovski.
2022 standings thru UFC 280
1. Kylan Knowler (118-67) 128-93-3 in 2021
2. Jason Hagholm (117-68) N/A in 2021
T3. Joel Griffith (116-69) 135-86-3 in 2021
T3. Cole Shelton (116-69) 138-83-3 in 2021 *Champion
5. Joe McDonagh (115-70) 122-99-3 in 2021
6. Cooper Riehl (114-71) 136-85-3 in 2021
7. Cody Rempel (112-73) 134-87-3 in 2021
8. Dylan Bowker (107-78) 113-108-3 in 2021
9. Guest picker (98-87) 115-106-3 in 2021
Calvin Kattar vs. Arnold Allen was the evening's only fight with clear divisional consequence. Allen entered unbeaten in the UFC and needed a statement win to force the title conversation; Kattar, the established top-five gatekeeper, had built his reputation on volume and durability and had never been beaten on output alone. The picks below went heavily for the challenger — a sign of how far Allen's standing had climbed on his unbeaten run.
Calvin Kattar vs. Arnold Allen
Kylan Knowler: Calvin Kattar via decision.
Jason Hagholm: Calvin Kattar via decision.
Joel Griffith: Calvin Kattar via decision.
Cole Shelton: Calvin Kattar via decision.
Joe McDonagh: Calvin Kattar via knockout.
Cooper Riehl: Calvin Kattar via decision.
Cody Rempel: Arnold Allen via decision.
Dylan Bowker: Calvin Kattar via decision.
Louie Sanoudakis: Arnold Allen via decision.
Picks – Calvin Kattar: 7, Arnold Allen: 2
Tim Means vs. Max Griffin
Kylan Knowler: Max Griffin via decision.
Jason Hagholm: Max Griffin via TKO.
Joel Griffith: Max Griffin via decision.
Cole Shelton: Max Griffin via submission.
Joe McDonagh: Max Griffin via decision.
Cooper Riehl: Tim Means via decision.
Cody Rempel: Max Griffin via decision.
Dylan Bowker: Max Griffin via decision.
Louie Sanoudakis: Max Griffin via decision.
Picks – Tim Means: 1, Max Griffin: 8
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Jared Vanderaa
Kylan Knowler: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via TKO.
Jason Hagholm: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via TKO.
Joel Griffith: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via TKO.
Cole Shelton: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via TKO.
Joe McDonagh: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via knockout.
Cooper Riehl: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via knockout.
Cody Rempel: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via TKO.
Louie Sanoudakis: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via knockout.
Picks – Waldo Cortes-Acosta: 9, Jared Vanderaa: 0
Josh Fremd vs. Tresean Gore
Kylan Knowler: Josh Fremd via decision.
Jason Hagholm: Josh Fremd via submission.
Joel Griffith: Tresean Gore via knockout.
Cole Shelton: Josh Fremd via decision.
Joe McDonagh: Josh Fremd via decision.
Cooper Riehl: Josh Fremd via decision.
Cody Rempel: Josh Fremd via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Tresean Gore via TKO.
Louie Sanoudakis: Tresean Gore via TKO.
Picks – Josh Fremd: 6, Tresean Gore: 3
The veteran angle of the evening was Tim Means versus Max Griffin at welterweight — two of the most experienced fighters on the roster meeting at a point where both were still competing for top-15 relevance. Means' length and jab against Griffin's boxing-and-wrestling blend was the kind of style contrast where split picks like the ones below are typical.
Dustin Jacoby vs. Khalil Rountree
Kylan Knowler: Dustin Jacoby via decision.
Jason Hagholm: Khalil Rountree via TKO.
Joel Griffith: Dustin Jacoby via decision.
Cole Shelton: Dustin Jacoby via TKO.
Joe McDonagh: Dustin Jacoby via decision.
Cooper Riehl: Dustin Jacoby via decision.
Cody Rempel: Dustin Jacoby via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Khalil Rountree via TKO.
Louie Sanoudakis: Khalil Rountree via TKO.
