UFC Vegas 5 Prelims Part Two: Odds, Predictions and Preview

UFC Vegas 5 prelims begin on Saturday, August 1st from the Apex Facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. ESPN + will televise the six fight attraction live beginning at 6 PM EDT. Following positive COVID-19 results from Irene Aldana, middleweights Edmen Shahbazyan and Derek Brunson now top the main card with a pivotal three-round scrap.

Before that action, however, twelve combatants look to prove their worth on the UFC Vegas 5 prelims. We’ve already previewed the top three Octogan matchups for Saturday’s billed undercard. Today’s article examines the first three bouts from what should become an exciting prelude to ESPN drama.

Fight one pits hard luck UFC middleweight veterans Eric Spicely and Markus Perez (-230) in the 25-foot cage. Spicely is likely fighting Saturday for his UFC life after dropping four straight Octagon appearances. The Tristar Gym trainee was outclassed last June by Deron Winn over 15 minutes. Winn outlanded Spicely 342-216 after setting torrid first-round pace. Before that loss, Spicely was knocked out by Darren Stewart, body-kick TKO'd by Gerald Meerschaert, and submitted by Antonio Carlos Jr. It's all or nothing this weekend for the +185 underdog Spicely whose recent victories come vs. regional opponents.

Markus Perez has alternated Octagon wins and losses since unsuccessfully debuting with the promotion in 2017 against Eryk Anders. Recently, Perez dropped a standing battle by unanimous verdict opposite 24-year-old prospect Wellington Turman. Turman proved too much on the feet and in the clinch for submission-based Perez. Just like his weekend assignement, "Maluko" has six paid taps to his name -the last two coming vs. Octagon foes Anthony Hernandez (Anaconda Choke) and James Bochnovic (Rear Naked Choke). At 30, the American Top Team affiliate owns an arm triangle choke over #13 Ian Heiniesch for UFC-feeder Legacy Fighting Alliance.

Both Perez and Spicely are evenly matched from a physical persepective. Each stand 6'1 and offer 73 inch reaches. Hernandez lands 2.75 strikes per minute and absorbs 3.96. Spicely lands 3.71 and absorbs 5.72. The wrestling game from Spicely and Hernandez is virtually identical as each average just over one takedown per 15 minutes.

When two fighters holding the same wheelhouse meet, secondary ability looms large. That stated, expect Perez to out-strike and out-wrestle Spicely while earning a three-round nod Saturday.

The Pick: Perez by decision

A late Timur Viluev withdraws forces newcomer Vincent Cachero in against Jamall Emmers.

Originally set to face World Series of Fighting vet Timur Valiev, Emmers now gets a showcase opportunity after dropping his UFC debut in controversial fashion. Emmers began tentatively March 7 vs. Giga Chikadze. However, the former division one wrestling signee imposed his middle-frame will before out boxing Chikadze in the third. To solidify the officials' poor judgment, Emmers outlanded his first Octagon assignment 57-40 while including two takedowns to negate any argument his hand shouldn't have been raised. Prior to his impressive-yet-marred UFC opener, Emmers won four straight LFA bouts by stoppage.

Conversely, last-minute replacement Vincent Cachero has dropped two of three recent outings with LFA. However, one of those defeats came by split decision. "The Anomaly" stopped Marin Garcia by brutal first round TKO in January to earn an eleventh-hour Octagon invite. Longshot Cachero has stopped four of his seven paid victims while being stopped once by UFC fighter Casey Kenney.

With fight odds for this encounter currently unavailable, look for Emmers to use his size, wrestling pedigree and honed defensive reflexes to stop Cachero.

The Pick: Emmers by stoppage

UFC Vegas 5 opens with another showcase encounter between Chris Gutierrez and incoming Octagon talent Cory Durden (+250).

Gutierrez is a massive -340 favorite this weekend, and for good reason. The last time we saw "El Guapo" he supplied one of the COVID era's savage performances by leg-kicking Vince Morales until the latter couldn't stand. That eventful May 30 fight ended at 4:27 of round two. Overall, the 29-year-old Texas native has won three straight Octagon bouts since his unlucky promotional debut. A fleet-footed standup artist, Gutierrez lands 4.17 strikes per minute while absorbing just 2.01. Lateral movement is definitely a key Chris Gutierrez tool.

Meanwhile, little footage exists of Cody Durden's road to UFC fights. However, the top Georgia bantamweight prospect has stopped his past five opponents, and is a class above the southern regional scene. On a nine-fight winning streak overall, 29-year-old Durden owns five TKO's and five submissions in his 11 paid wins.

While Durden is well-rounded, there's no substitute for Octagon experience. Look for Gutierrez to show his newcomer opponent angles and attacks he's never before seen. By accounts, Durden, who trains with Raphael Assumcao at ATT Atlanta, is a strong grappler with good power. Slick Gutierrez will be tricky to pin down. Take the UFC vet Chris Gutierrez by close decision in this intriguing opening bout that will introduce Cody Durden to a worldwide audience.

The Pick: Chris Gutierrez by decision

Odds courtesy of BestFightOdds.com