UFC Vegas 54 Picks and Predictions: Hot Prospect of the Week Manuel Torres (Archive)
Join us as we preview a hot UFC prospect from this week’s UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Rakic event.
Read on for our complete UFC Vegas 54 betting guide – taking a first look at our hottest prospect of the week, Manuel Torres and his opponent, Frank Camacho. Including updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC picks.
Frank Camacho vs. Manuel Torres
UFC Lightweight Bout
Saturday, May 14, 2022 – 10:05 PM EDT at UFC Apex
UFC Hot Prospect: Manuel Torres (12-2-0)
The professional mixed martial arts career and journey of the UFC's latest edition to the lightweight division, Manuel Torres, is leaving a level of mystery when entering his promotional debut this weekend. However, despite the lack of information available, you won't struggle when seeking out his previous contests and I've witnessed an abundance of talent whilst doing so.
The Mexican native earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series and was notably a featherweight champion in two promotions before this stint.
And to note, despite the controversy surrounding a potential eye poke during his contract-winning appearance on DWCS, as the betting underdog, we saw Torres look like a world-beater before grabbing an eventual win.
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He wrapped up a Round 1 finish on DWCS that became his eleventh stoppage win from twelve during his pro MMA tenure that began in 2014.
Win or lose in his UFC debut this weekend, aged just 27-years old, Torres has shown the hunger and killer instinct to make an impressive run inside the 155lb division.
Manuel Torres Fight Analysis
Torres has displayed a well-versed skillset during his time in the cage, a factor that is easily backed up with 5 knockout/TKO stoppages and 6 submission victories. He's only fought outside of Round 1 on one occasion, something you can extract negative or positive opinions from, but he did win that sole decision win on his record.
Experience is an alternate factor that some critics may look towards. Still, they're not throwing him to the wolves in his UFC debut, and a victory over Frank Camacho will unquestionably prove his worth as a UFC competitor.
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The striking assets of Torres should be highlighted, particularly his use of the jab. Having fought behind his jab on multiple occasions, the straight shots we see from the Mexican have glaringly assisted him in dictating the pace in previous fights, and more importantly, he's explosive.
I enjoy the combinations he puts together, and although he does load up the power and throw strikes like a mad man on occasions, I believe this isn't a bad game plan versus the low-level fight IQ of Camacho.
Torres vs. Camacho Betting Pick and Odds
Frank Camacho (22-9-0) will be the most experienced opponent of Torres's career, but since joining the UFC in 2017, it hasn't been a pretty run.
Camacho's record is currently 2-5 in the UFC, and although he's achieved three Performance of the Night bonuses from his five losses, this doesn't bode well for his longevity in a pro MMA career that stems back to 2005.
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Camacho has power; he boasts a nice set of fundamental boxing skills and has fought some of the division's top-15 ranked opponents. However, following a two-year layoff and a loss to Justin Jaynes – who has lost four fights after defeating Camacho – I struggle to ignore Torres's hunger and first-round finishing ability.
Top sportsbooks opened Torres as a -220 favorite, and his odds have dropped all the way down to -123, which is one of the crucial reasons I believe the newcomer is a great betting choice this weekend.
UFC Pick: Manuel Torres to Win (-123) [1.23u returns 1u] at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
UFC Vegas 54 Main Card and Odds
- Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic [UFC light heavyweight main event bout]
- Ryan Spann vs. Ion Cutelaba [UFC light heavyweight co-main event bout]
- Louis Smolka vs. Davey Grant [UFC bantamweight bout]
- Katlyn Chookagian vs. Amanda Ribas [UFC women's flyweight bout]
- Frank Camacho vs. Manuel Torres [UFC lightweight bout]
- Jake Hadley vs. Allan Nascimento [UFC flyweight bout]
*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.