UFC Fight Night 206: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Michel Pereira Picks and Predictions

Santiago Ponzinibbio and Michel Pereira face off on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 206 in a welterweight showdown at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Ponzinibbio is currently ranked 14th in the welterweight division while Pereira is currently unranked. This is a huge fight for both guys and will have a major impact on the welterweight division. 

Santiago “Argentine Dagger” Ponzinibbio comes into this fight with a 29-5 record overall but coming into this fight he has lost two of his last three fights. Ponzinibbio’s last fight came against Geoff Neal in December of 2021 and he lost by a split decision. He outstruck Neal 91-85 but still lost by a split decision. Ponzinbbio’s last win came against Miguel Baeza in June of 2021 and he won by unanimous victory. The Argentine Dagger is averaging 4.79 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4.51 significant strikes per minute. He is averaging 0.51 takedowns every 15 minutes and he is successful on 33 percent of his takedown attempts. He also stops 60 percent of his opponents takedown attempts. 

On the other side of this matchup is Michel Pereira who sits with a 27-11 record and he has won four fights in a row. Pereira’s last fight came against Andre Fialho on January 22nd and he won that fight by unanimous decision. In each of the last three wins, Pereira has won by unanimous decision. He is averaging 4.71 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.24 significant strikes per minute. He is averaging 1.84 takedowns every 15 minutes and he is successful on 55 percent of his takedown attempts. He also stops 100 percent of his opponent's takedown attempts.