Welterweights Alex Morono (16-5, 5 KOs, 6 SUBs) and Max Griffin (15-6, 7 KOs, 2 SUBs) will meet at UFC on ESPN+ 19 on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at the Amalie Center in Tampa, Florida. The card streams live on ESPN+ starting 5pm ET.
In what should be a fun welterweight scrap, Alex Morono and Max Griffin throw down this Saturday in a matchup of two guys trying to make a name for themselves in a loaded division.
Griffin has had a tough UFC run, going 3-4 inside the octagon since making his debut in 2016. To be fair, he’s had to face a number of tough fighters - his first fight came against Colby Covington, he met Elizeu dos Santos just two fights later, and in back-to-back scraps he squared off with Mike Perry and Curtis Millender. The Sacramento native has a chance to put together his first UFC win streak after earning a majority decision against Zelim Imadaev this past April.
Alex “The Great White” Morono comes into the contest with a two-fight winning streak, taking a decision over Kenan Song and most recently scoring a TKO win over Zak Ottow this past March. Overall, Morono has managed a 5-2 record with 1 NC since joining the UFC in 2016. It should be noted that he compiled a five-fight winning streak in regional competition to earn his ticket into the big show.
Neither man is ranked, but the pairing earned a spot on the main card on the strength of their consistency in putting on exciting fights. The ceiling isn’t high on either Morono or Griffin, but they could establish high floors as mid-tier fighters. Let’s break down the matchup along with the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and get to your best betting options. Live UFC betting at the online sportsbook lets you make bets during the fight with real-time money line updates.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Alex Morono +120
Max Griffin -150
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: -215 / +165
Significant Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Griffin 4.08 / Morono 4.26
Striking accuracy: Griffin 50% / Morono 42%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Griffin 3.89 / Morono 2.69
Striking defense: Griffin 52% / Morono 63%
Grappling Stats
Takedowns per 15 minutes: Griffin 1.53 / Morono 0
Takedown accuracy: Griffin 47% / Morono -
Takedown defense: Griffin 61% / Morono 36%
Submission attempts per 15 minutes: Griffin 0.68 / Morono 0.66
Bet on this UFC fight at BookMaker.eu
Griffin caught the notice of the UFC as an aggressive action fighter - his last four wins prior to his UFC debut came by way of finish. However, Griffin soon learned that the style wasn’t conducive to winning against the higher level competition inside the octagon. Recent fights against Mike Perry and Curtis Millender showed a more patient, long-range striker with decent quicks. A solid counterstriker, Griffin does his best work when being chased, as the fight against Perry proved.
Morono has an excellent Brazilian jiu-jitsu background, but you’d never guess that from his recent fights. The Gracie Barra product has fallen in love with the striking game, and has made a wild, power-punching style work in his favor. Not only does the 29-year old have knockout power, but he’s got the gas tank to maintain a high workload. Against another solid puncher in Kenan Song, Morono’s volume was enough to get the win. Zak Ottow was simply overwhelmed in less than a round, submitting under a rain of hellacious elbows.
While Morono can obviously hang with middle class welterweights, the question remains whether he can consistently level up his game. Griffin is not ranked, but he’s faced a higher level of competition and was not an easy out for guys like Elizeu dos Santos and Millender. Morono cannot be too aggressive here, as Griffin could quickly establish rhythm and take control of the matchup.
UFC Odds Pick: Griffin to win at -150
This isn’t an easy fight to pick a winner, but the style seems to line up for Griffin. Morono is young and wild, and that won’t play well against a more mature striker. Griffin also has the ability to wrestle, and there’s a good chance his grappling will play a big factor against a fighter’s whose takedown defense is hovering under 40%. The price on Griffin to win is fair, and you can feel confident making a sizeable bet at this price.
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