Join us as we preview a hot UFC prospect from this week’s UFC Fight Night 205: Blaydes vs. Daukaus MMA event. Read on for our complete UFC 205 betting guide – taking the first look at our hottest prospect of the week, Matheus Nicolau and his opponent, David Dvorak. Including updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC picks.
Training out of one of the most recognizable Brazilian martial arts gyms, Nova Uniao, Matheus Nicolau has evolved his skills and delivered impressive performances to position himself inside the top-10 rankings of the UFC flyweight division.
Initially, Nicolau made his first promotional appearance during The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4 in 2015. Aged just 23 at the time – with a mere five years of professional experience – the Nova Uniao product still impressed and won his first three official UFC contests.
Unfortunately, during a period when the 125lb division was close to its demise, Nicolau was released in 2018.
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Having competed as a professional martial artist since the age of 17, twelve years’ experience surrounded by the likes of Jose Aldo has evidently been a positive influence on the 29-year-old’s career as he’s yet to reach his prime fighting years.
Throughout the next three years, I anticipate the skill level of Matheus will peak, and his potential at becoming a future title contender is high. Since his return to the UFC roster in 2021, he’s defeated Manel Kape and Tim Elliott, taking his career UFC record to 5-1.
UFC Flyweight Bout
Saturday, March 26, 2022 – 10:00 PM EDT at Nationwide Arena
Nicolau presents a well-rounded set of skills that initially began on the Jiu-Jitsu mats. Now boasting a black belt after 18 years of training, a grounded position isn't going to be the position that opponents of the Brazilian will want to be in.
Outside of his grappling prowess - standing and exchanging strikes with Manel Kape was impressive. And while critics will claim the decision victory over Kape was controversial, Nicolau made it an ugly contest and received the nod.
He then defeated a gritty veteran in Tim Elliott, and if you saw Elliott dismantle Tagir Ulanbekov at the beginning of March, you'll understand how impressive the Nicolau victory was.
David Dvorak (20-3-0) also enters the weekend fight night event on a consecutive win streak. Winning all three of his UFC contests since 2020, Dvorak broke the top-10 rankings despite not facing a serious contender.
There's no doubting that Dvorak's unbeaten streak stemming back to 2012 is impressive; however, the level of competition he's faced isn't a viable method to evaluating a skill set at this level of the sport.
The sportsbooks opened Nicolau as the betting underdog, certain bookmakers have received a slight line movement in favor of Nicolau, but we can still find plus money at Heritage Sports.
UFC Pick: Matheus Nicolau ML (+107) [1u returns 1.08u] with Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
*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.