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The Props crew will be dishing out a flurry of top UFC picks faster than a Conor McGregor left hook — you know, the one that sent the Miami Heat mascot to the hospital?
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Best UFC Props – Machado Garry vs. Prates Fight Night Picks
Looking for the best UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs. Prates props? The Props crew compiles their favorite UFC prop picks for Saturday’s event.
Let’s outline the best UFC props for the event!
Ian Machado Garry MORE Than 50.5 Significant Strikes
Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates Fight Time MORE Than 14.5 minutes
Carlos Prates, the No. 13-ranked welterweight, rides a wave of momentum into this high-stakes clash, seizing the opportunity for a major step up in competition after Geoff Neal withdrew. The Brazilian striker, a standout from The Fighting Nerds team, brings a lethal combination of world-class Muay Thai and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Prates (21-6) boasts a 4-0 record in the UFC, with his most recent win coming via a first round KO of Neil Magny at UFC Fight Night 247 on November 9. He’s known for his fearless, aggressive style—constantly pressing forward and unloading power shots. Each of his four UFC victories has come against increasingly skilled opposition, yet Prates has overwhelmed them all with unrelenting pressure and raw knockout power.
Despite his dominance, there are holes in his game. Prates absorbs more significant strikes per minute than he lands, often trading recklessly to set up his offense. While his ability to close the show is undeniable, his reliance on brute force leaves him vulnerable against precise, tactical opponents.
Enter Ian Machado Garry, the No. 7-ranked welterweight, who presents a stark contrast in style. Now training out of Chute Box in Brazil, the Irishman is a black belt in Judo with steadily improving grappling skills. Machado Garry’s game is built on movement, timing, and precision—using slick footwork and head movement to bait opponents into overcommitting before unleashing crisp counters.
Machado Garry (15-1) is 8-1 in the UFC and looking to bounce back from the first loss of his career, a unanimous decision defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 on December 7. Despite taking this fight on short notice, Machado Garry’s resume is filled with tougher opponents than Prates has faced, and his composure and adaptability in the cage remain elite.
This fight represents a stylistic chess match. Prates brings explosive, forward-charging chaos. Machado Garry answers with poise, precision, and tactical sharpness. Over the course of five rounds, Machado Garry’s experience and refined skillset may prove too much for Prates’ aggressive approach—even with the Brazilian’s momentum and finishing power.
Machado Garry will look to avoid prolonged brawls and instead pick Prates apart over time. Prates thrives in chaotic exchanges and forward pressure, but Machado Garry’s movement and accuracy are designed to exploit that aggression.
Prates absorbs more significant strikes per minute than he lands, and his defensive vulnerabilities could be magnified against a fighter like Machado Garry, who specializes in drawing out reckless attacks and punishing them.
While Prates possesses the power to end a fight with one shot, Machado Garry’s experience against higher-level competition and his tactical approach should help him weather any early storm and take over as the bout progresses.
Considering it’s a five-round fight, Machado Garry’s conditioning and composure give him an edge in the championship rounds. Expect him to steadily increase output while minimizing damage, using jabs, check hooks, and well-timed kicks to frustrate and outpace Prates.
Pick: Ian Machado Garry MORE Than 50.5 Significant Strikes | Betr
Pick: Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates Fight Time MORE Than 14.5 minutes | Betr
Anthony Smith HIGHER Than 16.5 Significant Strikes
Anthony Smith (38-21) became the latest addition to the unofficial list of fighters Dana White has publicly nudged toward retirement after suffering a knockout loss to Dominick Reyes at UFC 310 on December 7. The timing was brutal—Smith entered the bout still grieving the loss of longtime coach and friend Scott Morton. He even admitted to Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that retirement was likely.
So, while White’s comments may have seemed harsh, the context softens the blow. That said, Smith walked back his retirement shortly after, insisting he couldn’t let that be the final chapter and needed at least one more fight.
Enter Zhang Mingyang (18-6), an unranked but undeniably lethal opponent set to meet Smith on Saturday. The matchup raised eyebrows—Smith himself said he was “very shocked” upon hearing the name—but he quickly warmed up to the idea. ‘Mountain Tiger’ is a wrecking ball of a prospect, and many believe he could be a future force in the light heavyweight division.
Zhang’s resume speaks for itself. Of his 18 victories, 12 have come by first-round knockout and the remaining six by submission—highlighting a dynamic, dangerous all-around game. Surprisingly, Smith also owns 12 first-round knockouts among his 37 career wins, though for him that number represents only a third of his total victories.
While Zhang has just three UFC bouts under his belt, he’s already putting up jaw-dropping numbers. He’s averaging 8.57 significant strikes landed per minute—yes, landed—at a 55% accuracy clip. That’s staggering output. In his most recent showing, he stopped Osman Diaz in the first round at UFC Fight Night 248 on November 23.
Smith, by contrast, averages 3.20 significant strikes per minute with a 49% accuracy rate—solid, but nowhere near Zhang’s firestorm. The difference in pace is stark, but there’s a trade-off. Zhang absorbs 5.59 significant strikes per minute, while Smith takes 4.88, showing that the Chinese knockout artist is very hittable despite his aggression.
One thing’s certain—this fight is built to be a brawl. Both fighters bring knockout power and a willingness to engage, making this a strong contender for Fight of the Night—or even Fight of the Year—if it lives up to expectations. Smith may be on a rough run, with just two wins in his last seven, but he’s always game, and his toughness has never been in question.
Public sentiment favors Zhang, given his explosiveness and the narrative around Smith’s decline. But it’s worth noting that Smith’s losses have mostly come against elite competition. And when he faced the undefeated Vitor Petrino at UFC 301 on May 4, Smith reminded everyone of what he’s capable of, choking out the prospect in the first round.
Smith has struggled against younger, faster opponents but as I just mentioned he recently submitted Petrino, an undefeated prospect, reminding fans he still has finishing ability at the highest level.
Mingyang, meanwhile, brings overwhelming pace and power into the Octagon. His aggressive approach and his ability to swarm opponents early makes him a threat from the opening bell. However, the number of significant strikes he absorbs per minute highlights his vulnerability, especially when facing opponents with experience and timing.
If Smith can weather the early storm, his experience and durability could allow him to exploit Mingyang’s defensive lapses, particularly if the fight stretches beyond the first round.
Pick: Anthony Smith HIGHER Than 16.5 Significant Strikes | Underdog
Jaqueline Amorim HIGHER Than 1.5 Takedowns
Jaqueline Amorim (9-1) is rapidly emerging as a rising threat in the UFC’s women’s strawweight division.
The 29-year-old Brazilian brings an impressive 9-1 record into this clash with Polyana Viana (13-7), scheduled for this Saturday’s undercard. Riding a wave of momentum, Amorim has secured three straight wins—all by finish. Her most recent outing came at UFC Fight Night 242 on September 7, where she dispatched fellow former LFA champion Vanessa Demopoulos with a first-round armbar.
Viana, meanwhile, enters the matchup looking to halt a downward slide. The former Jungle Fight titleholder has dropped six of her last nine fights and is coming off back-to-back losses. Her latest appearance was at UFC 297 on January 20, 2024, where she was stopped by second-round punches from Gillian Robertson. Viana represents the Chute Boxe Diego Lima camp in São Paulo, Brazil.
Amorim has been preparing at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, one of MMA’s most elite training facilities.
Amorim tailored her camp to mimic Viana’s physical build, training primarily with tall, agile male partners to improve her distance management. She focused on refining her grappling—both jiu-jitsu and wrestling—while also sharpening her striking skills to showcase herself as a well-rounded fighter, not just a submission specialist.
Amorim enters with surging momentum, showcasing a refined blend of grappling and striking after a focused camp at American Top Team, where she trained specifically to handle longer, rangier opponents.
Viana, on the other hand, has struggled, losing six of her last nine fights and being stopped in her most recent appearance. Her tendency to fade under pressure and absorb damage, particularly against well-rounded grapplers, makes this matchup an uphill climb.
Amorim’s camp targeted improvements in distance control, striking diversity, and positional dominance on the ground—all of which align with the weaknesses Viana has displayed in recent outings. Expect Amorim to push an aggressive pace early, use her footwork and timing to close the gap, and look for quick takedowns to initiate submission chains.
Pick: Jaqueline Amorim HIGHER Than 1.5 Takedowns | Underdog
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