Andre Fili and Daniel Pineda face off on Saturday in a featherweight showdown in a main card matchup at UFC Vegas 30 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Andre “Touchy” Fili comes into this game with a 21-8 record overall but he has lost two of his last three fights. In Fili’s last fight against Bryce Mitchell in October of 2020 he lost by unanimous decision. Fili’s last win came against Charles Jourdain in June of 2020 by split decision. Fili had five takedowns and that was the difference as he came away with the victory. Fili is averaging 3.75 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.90 significant strikes per minute. Fili likes to get the fight to the ground and he is averaging 2.50 takedowns every 15 minutes, and he is successful on 49 percent of his attempts. Fili also stops 64 percent of his opponents takedown attempts. Fili at times will go for a submission attempt, averaging 0.2 attempts every 15 minutes. Nine of Fili’s last ten fights have gone all the way to a decision.
On the other side of this fight is Daniel “The Pit” Pineda who comes into this fight with a 27-14 record overall and coming into this fight he has lost three of his last four games. Pineda’s last fight came against Cub Swanson in December of 2020 and he didn't look good in that fight. Pineda was outstruck 46-21 and early in the second round, he was knocked out. Pineda is averaging 3.41 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.72 significant strikes per minute. Pineda is averaging 1.56 takedowns every 15 minutes and he is successful on 29 percent of his takedown attempts. Pineda also stops 44 percent of his takedown attempts.
Both of these fighters have struggled, and the loser might be out of a UFC contract. Fili is probably the better fighter, but I am not comfortable laying this type of number with him. Having Fili to win by decision lowers the number a little bit, and that is the play in this one. Back Fili to win by decision.
AUTHOR: Shane Mickle
