Preview: UFC on ESPN 52 Prelims

Middleweights

Zachary Reese (6-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Cody Brundage (9-5, 3-4 UFC)

ODDS: Reese (-218), Brundage (+180)

Brundage got a much-needed win in September, but he is still in a place where he badly needs to turn things around. Brundage seemingly proved himself as a solid UFC middleweight in 2022, winning two out of his three fights. While his game is generally limited, Brundage usually fought behind a solid game plan that saw him either press his wrestling or striking as the matchup dictated. None of that has been present in his three outings thus far in 2023, with Brundage usually looking to take things to the mat and then costing himself through poor grappling decisions. However, he had the good fortune of beating Jacob Malkoun when the Aussie knocked Brundage silly with some illegal blows to the back of the head, ending the fight via disqualification. Brundage needs an inspiring performance against Reese, a UFC newcomer and Dana White’s Contender Series graduate. Reese has some power on the feet, but he is stiff enough that his striking is clearly a liability. Even so, the Texan makes up for that with an impressively opportunistic ground game. That was the dynamic that played out in his contract-winning performance against Eli Aronov—Reese got hit fairly hard before suddenly finding the win with an armbar—and this fight figures to go similarly. Unless Brundage scores a quick and immediate knockout, this should quickly wind up on the mat where his recent performances have not inspired much confidence. The pick is Reese via first-round submission.

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