Another matchup between promotional debutants will be witnessed at UFC Vegas 121, as Melissa Amaya takes on Valesca Machado in a women’s strawweight fight inside the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Despite having an undefeated pro MMA record, Amaya is going to be the betting underdog with +185 UFC odds, while Machado, who already has four losses in her career, is going to be the -235 betting favorite.
UFC Vegas 121: Melissa Amaya vs. Valesca Machado Fight Odds
- Melissa Amaya: +185
- Valesca Machado: -225
UFC Vegas 121: Melissa Amaya vs. Valesca Machado: Tale of the Tape
| Melissa Amaya | Valesca Machado | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 31 | 30 |
| Height | 5’4” | 5’4” |
| Reach | 64.5 inches | 63.5 inches |
| Leg Reach | N/A | 35 inches |
| Record | 8-0 | 15-4 |
| Fighting Style | MMA | Striker |
| Finishing Rate | 63% | 40% |
UFC Vegas 121: Melissa Amaya vs. Valesca Machado: Prediction
Machado’s calm, technical approach is why I pick her to win by decision over Amaya. Machado is a calculated fighter with her strikes, and she uses her speed to inflict significant damage on opponents.
Her feint game is always on point, allowing her to read opponents’ reactions and keep them wary of her explosiveness and power. Machado’s bread-and-butter offense is her one-two straight punch combination.
Machado should avoid falling into the trap of Amaya’s chaotic style, where she lures opponents into opening up and becoming vulnerable to counters. Machado should also stop Amaya’s takedown attempts to keep the fight on the feet.
Melissa Amaya’s Recent Fight Results
Amaya was a top contender in Combate Global before she signed with the UFC this year. She hasn’t dropped a pro fight yet, and her last five wins were against Naomi Tataroglu, Alitzel Mariscal, Gillian Noll, Samantha Jean-Francois, and Megumi Sugimoto.
Valesca Machado’s Recent Fight Results
Machado was a former Invicta FC and Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat titleholder before she signed a UFC contract. She won four of her last five bouts, defeating Ediana Silva, Taylor Mauldin, Yulia Ostroverkhova, and Yasmin Castanho. Her only loss during this stretch was to Danni McCormack.
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