UFC 318 – Dan Ige vs Patricio Pitbull: Preview & Betting Tips

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The UFC 318 card brings an intriguing clash of featherweight styles as the number 12 ranked Dan Ige welcomes Patricio “Pitbull” Freire for his second UFC appearance.

Ige (19-9) is a gritty, high-output striker with a knack for turning technical fights into dogfights. The Hawaiian has made a name for himself by pushing the pace, eating shots when needed, and grinding down opponents over three or five rounds.

Pitbull (36-8) needs no introduction. He is a legend in Bellator after becoming the first man in the promotion’s history to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes (featherweight and lightweight). However, after years in the promotion, he decided to test himself against the very best competition in the UFC. Having lost on his debut, he’ll be extra determined to make sure he doesn’t fall to 0-2.

Tale of the Tape

Dan Ige – Odds 1.50 (Sky Bet)

Record: 19-9

Age: 33

Height: 5ft7

Reach: 71”

Weight: Featherweight

Stance: Orthodox

Patricio Pitbull – Odds 2.63 (Sky Bet)

Record: 36-8

Age: 38

Height: 5ft6

Reach: 67”

Weight: Featherweight

Stance: Orthodox

Dan Ige vs Patricio Pitbull: Analysis

While not elite in any single area, Ige is well-rounded, battle-tested, and dangerous against almost anyone in the top 15. The American is one of those fighters that’s slightly better than world class, but not good enough to be considered an elite featherweight, hence his defeats to the likes of Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev.

On paper, Pitbull is the more skilled and experienced fighter. He carries legitimate knockout power, strong jiu-jitsu, and is a good tactical fighter. However, age and wear and tear is a real factor in this fight, and that also belongs to Pitbull.

This one is definitely a great matchup stylistically, as we all know both of these men will bring it from the very first second to the last one. Unfortunately though, it’s quite clear who the fresher man is, and that will likely be a huge factor in this bout.

Ige vs Pitbull: Prediction & Betting Tips

Pitbull’s UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez was a tough test on paper, and it certainly looked that way in the cage too. He looked hesitant and lacked the explosion we were used to seeing in his prime. And because of this, he struggled to keep up with Rodriguez’s speed and precision striking.

While Ige doesn’t possess the same level of speed as Rodriguez, he is exactly the type of fighter who can make a veteran like Pitbull look old. He doesn’t give space, he keeps a high pace, and he never breaks mentally.

With this in mind, I’m willing to bet on the guy that’s proven himself in the UFC’s featherweight division over the years, and the guy that’s much more fresher. Ige moneyline isn’t good value, and I’m not sure he can finish Pitbull anyway, who is really tough. Instead, I’m tipping Dan Ige to win on points at odds of 2.30 (Sky Bet).

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