UFC Fight Night: Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy full card picks & predictions

UFC Vegas 105 Main Card Predictions

Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy

Even at age 40, I’m a bit surprised to see Emmett lined as a sizeable underdog here considering his body of work and the fact that he slept Bryce Mitchell with one of the nastiest knockouts in UFC history in his last outing.

There is certainly some concern about a fighter his age returning after well over a year to face Murphy, but I’m willing to take a flier on Emmett landing something big to hand “The Miracle” his first professional loss.

(Pick: Emmett)

Joanderson Brito vs. Pat Sabatini

After dropping his UFC debut in 2022, Brito stopped five-straight opponents to establish himself as a featherweight worth watching before he lost a close decision in his last outing in September.

The Brazilian could find himself in some trouble if he ends up on the ground with Sabatini, but Brito should be able to bounce back here in what should be one of the night’s more entertaining bouts.

(Pick: Brito)

Cortavious Romious vs. Chang Ho Lee

This fight is in a bit of a weird spot on the card given that both bantamweights each only have one formal UFC appearance, although Romious won a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series and Lee came up through Road to UFC.

Romious is always a threat to surprise an opponent and end things in the first round, but if that doesn’t happen then Lee feels like the smart pick here.

(Pick: Lee)

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Brad Tavares

This might be the most intriguing fight on the card outside of the main event, as it features a pair of longtime UFC veterans squaring off in a pretty clear clash of styles.

Getting Tavares to the ground has been a difficult task throughout his UFC career, but Meerschaert only needs one opportunity to snatch a submission and could become the first fighter to submit Tavares since his days on The Ultimate Fighter.

(Pick: Meerschaert)

Luis Gurule vs. Ode Osbourne

A member of the UFC roster since 2020, Osbourne now finds himself matched up with an undefeated prospect after an 0-3 skid that began in 2023.

Gurule was one of the rare fighters to earn a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series without scoring a finish, and I’m going to lean with Osbourne to upset the debutant and preserve his spot on the roster.

(Pick: Osbourne)

Robert Valentin vs. Torrez Finney

Finney was famously put on blast by Dana White following his second Contender Series win, and just two months later he returned to the UFC Apex and earned a UFC contract with a first-round finish.

Valentin came up short in the middleweight finals of The Ultimate Fighter 32, and unfortunately for him there’s a strong chance that he falls to 0-2 in the UFC when he meets Finney.

(Pick: Finney)

UFC Vegas 105 Preliminary Card Predictions

Davey Grant vs. Daniel Santos

This matchup has strong “Fight of the Night” potential. After Grant successfully returned to action and scored a win last December, I’ll slightly lean with “Dangerous” to get the better of Santos.

(Pick: Grant)

Dione Barbosa vs. Diana Belbita

The odds on this fight are absolutely staggering, but it’s hard to see an avenue to victory here for Belbita in what will likely be her last UFC fight.

(Pick: Belbita)

Rhys McKee vs. Daniel Frunza

I would have had major concerns about Frunza clipping McKee during the latter fighter’s first UFC run, and while that is still a possibility I think “Skeletor” has improved enough to avoid suffering that fate against an extremely dangerous finisher.

(Pick: McKee)

Loma Lookboonmee vs. Istela Nunes

Nunes steps in to replace Ariane Carnelossi here, and unfortunately for the Brazilian a tough outing with Lookboonmee might be her swan song in the UFC.

(Pick: Lookboonmee)

Victor Henry vs. Pedro Falcao

The 37-year-old Henry likely won’t challenge for a UFC title at any point, but he remains a very well-rounded and entertaining fighter and should be too much for Falcao here.

(Pick: Henry)

Martin Buday vs. Uran Satybaldiev

Buday now welcomes LFA Light Heavyweight Champion Satybaldiev to the UFC on short notice following Kennedy Nzechukwu’s withdrawal, and while I do think Satybaldiev will have a solid UFC career he’s moving up a weight class to face a fighter with a frustrating style.

(Pick: Buday)

Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Talita Alencar

I won’t be surprised if Alencar rebounds from her rematch with Stephanie Luciano here, but I’m going to side with the more-experienced fighter in Demopoulos.

(Pick: Demopoulos)

MMA KO will be providing comprehensive coverage for UFC Vegas 105 all throughout fight week, and be sure to check back on our homepage for a preview of the event as well as live results and highlights on fight night.

Follow MMAKnockout on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.