Amanda Ribas is heavily favored against Paige VanZant at UFC 251 on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The event will take place on Sunday, July 12, but because of the time difference, it will start on Saturday night, Eastern Time. This event is one of five fights on the main pay-per-view card. Ribas is 9-1 in her career, while VanZant is 8-4 in her career. There are a total of five fights on the main pay-per-view card at UFC 251, with the headliner a bout between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal. There are also a total of eight fights on the preliminary card, with five on ESPN/ESPN+ and three on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN/ESPN+. Let’s look at the bout between Ribas and VanZant and UFC predictions.
UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal
Amanda Ribas (9-1, 3-0 UFC)
Ribas came into the UFC with a record of 6-1 and she has three wins and no losses in the UFC. She defeated Emily Whitmire by rear-naked choke submission, Mackenzie Dern by unanimous decision, and Randa Markos by unanimous decision. Ribas’s only loss in her career was against Polyana Viana by KO on November 28, 2015. Ribas has been a pro since 2014 and she has three wins by TKO/KO and three by submission. She has four first round finishes.
Ribas said this to mmajunkie.usatoday.com about her upcoming fight against VanZant, “I think her fame isn’t for no reason, as she scored a beautiful switch-kick knockout (against Bec Rawlings). She also has wins by submission. Her fights are always very fast paced. I have to be very careful against her. Her last bout was in early 2019, but I don’t think that would be a problem for her. For example, I waited for three years for my UFC debut, and I was able to score a win in my debut despite all the pressure. I think I had a great debut. I’m getting ready for the best possible version of Paige and if she happens to be rusty, all the better for me.”
Paige VanZant (8-4, 5-3 UFC)
VanZant came into the UFC with a record of 3-1 and she has five wins and three losses in the UFC. She defeated Kailin Curran by TKO, Felice Herrig by unanimous decision, Alex Chambers by armbar submission, Bec Rawlings by KO, and Rachael Ostovich by armbar submission; while losing to Rose Namajunas by rear-naked choke submission, Michelle Waterson by technical submission, and Jessica-Rose Clark by unanimous decision. VanZant has been a pro since 2012 and she has two wins by TKO/KO and three by submission. She has one first round finish.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Ribas 4.84/ VanZant 3.40
Striking Accuracy: Ribas 44% / VanZant 52%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Ribas 1.70/ VanZant 2.63
Defense: Ribas 74% / VanZant 43%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Ribas 2.02/ VanZant 1.31
Takedown Accuracy: Ribas 50% / VanZant 33%
Takedowns defended: Ribas 85% / VanZant 35%
Submission average: Ribas 1.6 / VanZant 1.0
UFC Picks
One of the most overrated fighters in the UFC is VanZant who has made her name because of her looks, not her skills. VanZant can beat marginal fighters, but she struggles against fighters who have skill. It would take a major mistake by Ribas for VanZant to win this one and I don’t see it. I will take Ribas to get the win by decision and have the rounds go over the total.
UFC 251 takes place at the UFC Fight Island facility on Sunday, July 12 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates but because of the time difference it will start on Saturday night Eastern Time, with five fights on the main pay-per-view card, headlined by Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal and eight preliminary bouts, with five on ESPN/ESPN+ and three on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN/ESPN+.
UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal Card & Odds
Jorge Masvidal +216 vs. Kamaru Usman -283
Max Holloway +194 vs. Alexander Volkanovski -250
Jose Aldo +179 vs. Petr Yan -230
Paige VanZant +555 vs. Amanda Ribas -925
Jessica Andrade +162 vs. Rose Namajunas -204
Jiri Prochazka +140 vs. Volkan Oezdemir -176
Zhalgas Zhumagulov +150 vs. Raulian Paiva -190
Vanessa Melo +186 vs. Karol Rosa -240
Danny Henry +150 vs. Makwan Amirkhani -190
Roman Bogatov +150 vs. Leonardo Santos -190
Elizeu Zaleski -105 vs. Muslim Salikhov -125
Davey Grant +143 vs. Martin Day -180
Maxim Grishin -106 vs. Marcin Tybura -124
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props, and money lines are all available so start betting with BookMaker today.
