UFC Vegas 52 Co-Main First Look: Guida vs. Puelles, Betting Picks, Odds and Predictions (Archive)
The UFC returns to our screens for another action-filled Fight Night event. Lightweight contenders Clay Guida and Claudio Puelles will compete in the evening’s co-main event.
Read on for our complete betting guide taking a first look at Guida and Puelles, including updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC picks, predictions, and analysis.
Clay Guida vs. Claudio Puelles
UFC Lightweight Co-Main Event Bout
Saturday, April 23, 2022 – 08:05 PM EDT at UFC Apex
Clay Guida
- Pro MMA Record: (37-21-0) (5 KOs, 16 submissions)
- Age: 40
- Height: 5'7"
- Reach: 70.0"
- Trains With: Elevation Fight Team
- Origin Fighting Style: Wrestling
The legend that is Clay “The Carpenter” Guida has been entertaining fight fans inside the UFC octagon for sixteen years. Having fought countless former champions and top-10 contenders, Guida is one of the most experienced MMA veterans on the entire roster throughout all of the weight classes, and at the age of 40, he’s as energetic as ever.
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To call Guida a legend is an understatement. His solid wrestling base likely is what’s allowed the Illinois native to survive the test of time by avoiding heavy damage or injury. Successes over Nate Diaz, BJ Penn, and Anthony Pettis are all the evidence needed to prove how tough “The Carpenter” is.
Clay Guida Best Available Odds: -105 at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Claudio Puelles
- Pro MMA Record: (11-2-0) (2 KOs, 6 submissions)
- Age: 26
- Height: 5'11"
- Reach: 72.0"
- Trains With: Pitbull Martial Arts Center
- Origin Fighting Style: Jiu-Jitsu
At the opposite end of the spectrum to his opponent this weekend, Claudio Puelles has competed in just 13 professional MMA bouts, which pales compared to Guida’s 58. However, joining the UFC roster, aged 21 has delivered the Peruvian native with valuable experience.
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Following a UFC debut loss in 2016, Puelles has maintained a consecutive win streak and is now 4-0 from his previous four appearances in the octagon.
Saturday’s fight card will provide Puelles with the biggest fight of his career, co-main eventing versus a UFC legend could genuinely put the jiu-jitsu expert on the map, but it’ll be a tall task.
Claudio Puelles Best Available Odds: -110 at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Guida Fight Style and How Can He Defeat Puelles?
Guida’s most notable attribute would be his wrestling offense. Most of his professional wins have involved a domineering grappling game plan with a significant amount of submission finishes for good measure.
The jiu-jitsu blueprint may not be the fight-winning plan versus the BJJ level of Puelles. However, I believe “The Carpenter” can be the superior man in the grappling department and maintain the more vital grounded positions.
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In addition, he should also own the striking advantage when faced with the Peruvian, who has mainly relied on his BJJ background. Guida possesses a remarkable ability to cut angles and maintain a continuous movement when striking, and I’m not confident that Puelles can easily find his target.
Puelles Fight Style and How Can He Defeat Guida?
We shouldn’t expect the game plan of Puelles to differ much from his previous bouts. He’ll attempt to find himself in top position through takedown attempts, or he’ll look to clinch and eventually work Guida to the mat.
Although it could be difficult winning the grappling exchanges with such a vastly experienced grappler in front of him, any alternative game plans aren’t likely to work or give Puelles the comfort he’ll be looking for.
Guida vs. Puelles Betting Prediction and UFC Odds
The available odds at Bookmakers Review are splitting this fight down the middle, and I can understand why.
On one side, we have the experienced veteran who is undoubtedly aging, and a downward career trajectory could present itself soon. On the opposite side, we have a youthful prospect who does show signs of inexperience, and he’ll be fighting in the most important fight of his career.
With that said, I’m thinking more about this fight reaching the distance. The durability of both men is notable, and if a grappling war plays out as I expect, each fighter's strengths could easily nullify a finish as a 15-minute grapple-fest ensues.
UFC Pick: Fight Goes the Distance (-185) [1.85u returns 1u profit] at Heritage Sports
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.