Preview: UFC Fight Night 224 Prelims

Welterweights

Danny Roberts (18-7) vs. Jonny Parsons (7-3)
Odds: Parsons (-110), Roberts (-110)

Roberts has settled into a niche as an entertaining gatekeeper in the UFC's welterweight division, but it'd be nice to see the Brit score a win here to keep some momentum going. Roberts came to the UFC as a talent that could do a little bit of everything, but a 2016 loss to Mike Perry set the tone for most of Roberts's defeats to come: "Hot Chocolate" can typically hang tough, but durable athletes willing to keep pressing forward could usually send him to a breaking point. As a result, Roberts is able to both dish out and receive some scintillating knockouts, and given how his career has gone thus far, his current two-fight losing streak means he's due to rebound here against newcomer Jonny Parsons. A contract winner on the Contender Series in 2021, Parsons lives up to his "Sluggernaut" nickname as a bouncy striker willing to throw down, which makes him a fun addition to the roster— though as an undersized welterweight, it's unclear if he'll be able to make the difference up with enough speed to find finishes against more athletic competition like Roberts. Counting on Roberts to stay safe is a dicey proposition, but the bet is that Parsons doesn't press enough consistent danger to throw the Brit completely off his game and that he can land something slick to end this; the pick is Roberts via second-round knockout.

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