UFC Cage Locks: Teammates Moicano, Duncan meet in important occasion
Renato Moicano and Chris Duncan have skilled collectively on the mats at American Prime Crew in Coconut Crek, Fla., nevertheless on Saturday in Las Vegas the lightweights shall be in reverse corners.
The pair headline a UFC Battle Evening card on the Meta Apex with Brazil’s Moicano hoping to finish a two-fight skid and Scotland’s Duncan in search of his fifth consecutive win.
The co-main occasion options high strawweights Virna Jandiroba and Tabatha Ricci with Ricci ready to maneuver nearer to a title shot at 115 kilos and Jandiroba making an attempt to return to the win column after falling quick in a title struggle this previous October.
Moicano, Duncan, Jandiroba and Ricci all efficiently made weight Friday on the official weigh-in, though three fighters have been over their respective limits on their preliminary makes an attempt.
Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev weighed in above the non-title light-heavyweight restrict of 206 kilos by one pound, former flyweight Rafael Estevam was a half pound above the non-title bantamweight restrict of 136, and Darrius Flowers was half a pound over the non-title light-weight restrict of 156.
All three got an additional hour to make weight. Yakhyaev ended up shedding the additional pound to achieve 206 kilos, however Estevam and Flowers determined to not minimize any extra weight and have been every fined 20 per cent of their purse but their fights will proceed. This was Estevam’s third weight miss within the UFC.
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Beneath is the projected bout order for UFC Battle Evening: Moicano vs. Duncan (topic to alter) plus full predictions:
— Renato Moicano vs. Chris Duncan
— Virna Jandiroba vs. Tabatha Ricci
— Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev vs. Brendson Ribeiro
— Ethyn Ewing vs. Rafael Estevam
— Tommy McMillen vs. Manolo Zecchini
— Jose Delano vs. Robert Ruchala
— Guilherme Pat vs. Thomas Petersen
— Alessandro Costa vs. Stewart Nicoll
— Lando Vannata vs. Darrius Flowers
— Alice Pereira vs. Hailey Cowan
— Azamat Bekoev vs. Tresean Gore
— Dione Barbosa vs. Melissa Gatto
— Kai Kamaka III vs. Dakota Hope
Forward of every UFC occasion in 2026, UFC reporter Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter), producer Dan Fernandes (@DanFernandes__) and author/editor Mike Johnston (@MikeyJ_MMA) will peruse the percentages and make 4 betting predictions utilizing fantasy {dollars}: one finest guess, one favorite, one underdog and one dart throw wager. REMINDER: Sportsnet is dedicated to selling and educating audiences in regards to the significance of betting responsibly. Sources for accountable playing may be discovered HERE.
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UFC on Sportsnet
Lightweights Renato Moicano and Chris Duncan headline a card on the Meta Apex. Watch UFC Battle Evening motion on Saturday, April 4 on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+ with protection starting at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
Cage Lock: Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev -1500
Favorite: Ethyn Ewing -140
Underdog: Renato Moicano +145
Dart Throw: Robert Ruchala wins by choice +550
When somebody is lined at -1500, they’re basically a lock and Yakhyaev definitely looks like he has Ribeiro’s quantity wherever the struggle takes place. … Whereas Estevam is undefeated, he’s shifting up a weight class and his lack of output paired with having to face a much bigger opponent has me leaning in the direction of Ewing. After a profitable debut towards a high-level striker in Malcolm Wellmaker, Ewing will now be examined by a high-level grappler and it’s a take a look at that I consider he passes. … Chris Duncan has been on a roll these days, however has sometimes been the underdog, this time round, he’s the favorite towards arguably his hardest take a look at thus far. Moicano’s pace and grappling might give him matches over the course of 5 rounds and I like getting him at a price value. … Delano appears to be like like a strong prospect, nevertheless I consider that Ruchala, a former KSW champion, shouldn’t be getting sufficient respect on this spot. He’s powerful as nails and I anticipate him to offer Delano all that he can deal with.
Cage Lock: Tommy McMillen -1400
Favorite: Jose Delano -285
Underdog: Rafael Estevam +125
Dart Throw: Jandiroba wins inside the gap +450
All aboard the Tommy McMillen hype practice! I believe the rising prospect has a beneficial matchup this week and the right alternative to indicate the world what his followers already know: Tommy McMillen goes to be an issue at featherweight. McMillen is a good striker and completed wrestler who’s taking over an opponent that was unceremoniously knocked out in Spherical 1 of his UFC debut: Manolo Zecchini. McMillen most likely wins inside the gap, however an outright win right here parlayed with different worth performs might make for a visit (or two) to the pay window.
Like McMillen, Jose Delano can be making his UFC debut and may get his hand raised on Saturday. Delano’s opponent Robert Ruchala appeared a step slower than William Gomis in his UFC debut and can seemingly battle to deal with Delano’s well-rounded recreation. … I believe recency bias is impacting the cash line on Ethyn Ewing vs Rafael Estevam. It’s exhausting to cheer towards Ewing given his Cinderella story win over Malcolm Wellmaker at UFC 322 at MSG. I simply suppose Estevam is a extra cerebral fighter than Wellmaker and won’t underestimate Ewing on this struggle. While you take away the aspect of shock and mawkish storylines from this bout, it’s a really even struggle. Price leaning the underdog right here. … If Virna Jandiroba is ready to execute her recreation plan on Saturday night time, she might very nicely end Tabatha Ricci inside the gap. As she begins to put on on her opponent there shall be openings to grab a limb and even reign down pictures from a dominant place. I’m OK with the danger vs. reward issue of +450 right here. It’s longshot odds on a possible end result for my part.
Cage Lock: Azamat Bekoev -600
Favorite: Virna Jandiroba -120
Underdog: Hailey Cowan +110
Dart Throw: Duncan by submission +750
And not using a handful of questionable struggle IQ moments in her final struggle, Jandiroba might very nicely be champ proper now. Regardless of her age and falling quick towards Mackenzie Dern, she remains to be a troublesome out at strawweight and shall be Tabatha Ricci’s hardest take a look at in a minimum of a pair years. … Moicano is a terrific grappler however has misplaced a pair occasions by sub within the UFC and Duncan has a decent squeeze. I might see a world the place Duncan rocks Moicano and jumps on a choke. … Bekoev was humbled in his final outing however I’m a believer within the former LFA champ and suppose he will get by Tresean Gore on the prelims. … Alice Pereira will get hyped as a result of she made it to the UFC by age 20 however her ability set leaves a lot to be desired and Hailey Cowen has the sting in expertise and power of schedule.
Three legs: Yakhyaev + McMillen + Bekoev
Parlay odds: -300 (to win: $33.33)
2026 STANDINGS AFTER 9 EVENTS
2026 winnings: -$336.12 (on $100 bets)
AARON’S RECORDS/TOTALS (15-21, -2.64 items)
Cage Lock: 4-5 (-$406.61)
Favorite: 6-3 (+$13.24)
DAN’S RECORDS/TOTALS (17-19, -4.52 items)
Cage Lock: 8-1 (+$14.58)
Favorite: 5-4 (-$166.61)
MIKE’S RECORDS/TOTALS (15-21, -11.46 items)
Cage Lock: 8-1 (+$85.13)
Favorite: 4-5 (-$261.80)
Cage Lock: The choose deemed to be the wager more than likely to win no matter what the percentages appear to be. The Cage Locks parlay will mix Aaron’s, Dan’s and Mike’s respective finest guess for every occasion.
Favorite: A fighter with successful odds shorter than -300 however not longer than -110. On chalkier playing cards with a dearth of obtainable moneyline favourites that meet these standards, prop bets are allowed to be chosen.
Underdog: Any fighter with longer odds than their opponent’s.
Dart Throw: Any prop guess or moneyline wager with odds of +400 or longer.
(Betting odds above are by way of BetMGM, submitted at varied occasions all through week, and topic to alter previous to the fights)
