UFC 317 Predictions: McKinney vs Borshchev, June 28, 2025
- Kingpin
- Jun 24, 2025, 5:13:24 AM
UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira - Lightweight Clash: Terrance "T. Wrecks" McKinney vs. Viacheslav "Slava Claus" Borshchev
The highly anticipated UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira event on June 28, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, will feature an exciting lightweight bout on the prelims. The explosive Terrance "T. Wrecks" McKinney will take on the dangerous kickboxer Viacheslav "Slava Claus" Borshchev.
Fighter Backgrounds
Terrance McKinney
Terrance "T. Wrecks" McKinney (16-7-0), representing Warrior Camp MMA in the USA, is a fan-favorite lightweight known for his incredibly fast starts and high finish rate. With 8 TKO/KO wins and 8 submissions, McKinney rarely sees the judges' scorecards, often ending fights in the first round. His fights are almost always action-packed.
Viacheslav Borshchev
Viacheslav "Slava Claus" Borshchev (8-5-1), fighting out of Team Alpha Male in Russia, is a decorated kickboxer with powerful striking. With 6 TKO/KO wins, Borshchev primarily looks to land his crisp boxing combinations and devastating body shots. He's been working on rounding out his game at Team Alpha Male to address grappling deficiencies.
Fighting Styles and Strengths
Terrance McKinney
- Explosive Start: McKinney comes out of the gate extremely fast, looking for early knockouts or submissions.
- Finishing Instinct: He possesses excellent killer instinct, pouncing on opponents once he hurts them.
- Submission Game: Beyond his striking, McKinney has a capable submission game, particularly with chokes.
Viacheslav Borshchev
- Elite Kickboxing: Borshchev's background in kickboxing gives him superb striking technique, especially his hands and body shots.
- Durability: He has shown a good chin and the ability to withstand punishment.
- Improved Grappling Defense: Training at Team Alpha Male, he's been actively working on shoring up his wrestling and grappling.
Recent Performances
Terrance McKinney
Terrance McKinney is coming off a first-round TKO win over Damir Hadzovic in February 2025. Before that, he suffered a quick KO loss to Esteban Ribovics in May 2024. His record is a mixed bag of quick finishes (wins and losses), highlighting his all-or-nothing approach. He has never gone to a decision in his UFC career.
Viacheslav Borshchev
Viacheslav Borshchev is looking to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Tom Nolan in February 2025. Prior to that, he earned a split decision win over James Llontop in August 2024, suffered a submission loss to Chase Hooper in May 2024, and fought to a majority draw with Nazim Sadykhov in November 2023. He's shown flashes of brilliance but also vulnerabilities, particularly in grappling exchanges.
Odds and Betting Information
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Terrance McKinney | -175 |
| Viacheslav Borshchev | +145 |
Terrance McKinney is the favorite in this lightweight bout at -175, due to his explosive nature and high finish rate. Viacheslav Borshchev is the underdog at +145. The recommended pick for this fight is Viacheslav Borshchev to win at +145.
Keys to Victory
Terrance McKinney
- Fast Start: McKinney's best chance is to overwhelm Borshchev early and find a quick finish.
- Mix It Up: Don't just rely on striking; look for opportunistic takedowns and submissions if Borshchev is rocked or exposed.
- Avoid Extended Striking Exchanges: While powerful, a prolonged stand-up battle against a pure kickboxer might not favor him.
Viacheslav Borshchev
- Weather the Early Storm: Borshchev needs to survive McKinney's initial onslaught, which often lasts less than a round.
- Utilize Technical Striking: Once McKinney's explosiveness wanes, Borshchev should pick him apart with crisp combinations and body shots.
- Defensive Wrestling: Staying off the mat is paramount. While McKinney has submissions, Borshchev's strength is striking.
Prediction
This fight is a classic striker vs. striker matchup, with a significant wild card in Terrance McKinney's first-round explosiveness. McKinney either finishes his opponents quickly or gets finished himself; he rarely sees the second round intact if he doesn't get the early stoppage. Viacheslav Borshchev, on the other hand, is a technical kickboxer who thrives in prolonged striking exchanges and is very good at breaking down opponents with body shots.
The key here is whether Borshchev can survive McKinney's initial burst. If "Slava Claus" can weather the storm, he has the technical striking, durability, and a more sustainable gas tank to out-point or even stop McKinney in the later rounds. McKinney's aggressive starts often lead to him emptying his gas tank, and against a disciplined striker like Borshchev, that could be a significant disadvantage.
While McKinney's power is undeniable, Borshchev's cleaner technique and ability to fight into the later rounds give him the edge once the fight settles down. Borshchev's defensive grappling has also shown signs of improvement, which will be crucial if McKinney attempts takedowns out of desperation. Given the odds, the value is clearly on Borshchev.
Prediction: Viacheslav Borshchev via TKO (Round 2) or Unanimous Decision.
Best Bet: Viacheslav Borshchev to win (+145). The plus-money on Borshchev offers excellent value. While McKinney is dangerous early, his tendency to fade after an explosive start plays directly into Borshchev's patient, technical striking style. If Borshchev can defend the initial blitz, he has the tools to systematically break down "T. Wrecks" and secure a significant upset victory or a clear decision. This is a classic "fade the early finisher if they don't get the finish" scenario against a durable and skilled technician.
Betting on MMA carries inherent risks. This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee outcomes. Please bet responsibly. Odds are subject to change.
