Gunnar Nelson vs Bryan Barberena: UFC Fight Night Picks

Photo Credit: © Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

In a highly anticipated welterweight bout, Gunnar Nelson takes on Bryan Barberena at UFC Fight Night. The match will be available to watch on the Kingpin.pro iOS and Android app. Nelson, with a record of 18-5-1, will be looking to bounce back from his loss to Gilbert Burns in September 2019. Barberena, who has a record of 18-9-0, is also coming off a loss to Jason Witt in May 2021.

Gunnar Nelson

Striking: Nelson's striking is characterized by his unorthodox movement and high accuracy. He has a striking accuracy of 60% and lands 1.83 strikes per minute. However, his striking defense is somewhat lacking, with him absorbing 3.05 strikes per minute.

Wrestling: Nelson's wrestling is his biggest strength. He has an average of 1.86 takedowns per 15 minutes and a takedown accuracy of 60%. He also has a takedown defense of 66% and a submission average of 0.9 per 15 minutes.

Fight Record: Nelson has a professional record of 18-5-1. His most notable wins include victories over Albert Tumenov, Alan Jouban, and Brandon Thatch. However, he has lost his last two fights, to Gilbert Burns and Leon Edwards.

How He Can Win: Nelson needs to rely on his grappling skills and take the fight to the ground. If he can take Barberena down, he can control the fight and look for a submission finish.

Bryan Barberena

Striking: Barberena is a high-volume striker, landing an impressive 5.92 strikes per minute. However, his striking accuracy is only 48%, and he absorbs 4.9 strikes per minute. His striking defense is also poor, with him only blocking 44% of strikes.

Wrestling: Barberena's wrestling is his weakness. He only has an average of 0.16 takedowns per 15 minutes and a takedown accuracy of 25%. His takedown defense is also lacking, with him only stopping 54% of takedowns attempted against him.

Fight Record: Barberena has a professional record of 18-9-0. His most notable wins include victories over Jake Ellenberger, Sage Northcutt, and Warlley Alves. However, he has lost his last two fights, to Randy Brown and Jason Witt.

How He Can Win: Barberena needs to keep the fight standing and use his high volume striking to overwhelm Nelson. He should avoid the ground at all costs and look to outstrike Nelson on the feet.

Prediction:

This is a matchup between two fighters with contrasting styles. Nelson will be looking to take the fight to the ground and look for a submission, while Barberena will want to keep the fight standing and use his striking to win. Given Nelson's superior grappling skills, he should be able to take the fight to the ground and control Barberena. Therefore, the pick is Nelson by decision.

Pick: Nelson ML

Method of Victory: Nelson by Decision