Bellator legend Patricio Pitbull is looking for his first UFC win and will have to get past the technical and sturdy Dan Ige to get it.
Both men are doing what they can to avoid falling down the featherweight ladder, but the pressure is on Pitbull to still show he has something left to offer.
Ige is the -220 favorite in UFC odds over the +175 underdog Pitbull in a bout between two solid striking veterans who cannot afford a loss.
Here are my best free UFC 318 picks for Ige vs. Pitbull from New Orleans on Saturday, July 19.
Ige vs Pitbull prediction and best bet
- My fight prediction: Ige moneyline (-220 at BET99)
- My best bet: Ige to win by decision (+120 at BET99)
Fight analysis
Patricio Pitbull’s UFC debut couldn’t have gone much worse than it did when Yair Rodriguez completely dismantled him. Pitbull had nothing to offer in that fight, being outlanded 70-17 in significant strikes while looking completely overmatched.
Rodriguez has floated around the Top 5 of the featherweight division for some time, making it a tough ask out of the gate for Pitbull, but moving down the rankings to find Ige might also not turn out too well.
Pitbull looked every bit his age and showed the wear of an extensive career, unable to time Rodriguez or take advantage of his leaky takedown defense. Ige is a more methodical striker, firing straight shots and displaying excellent boxing technique, not to mention being younger and keeping up with some of the best fighters in the division. He’s also coming off an impressive win over Sean Woodson.
Ige has a four-inch reach advantage that will likely trouble Pitbull or, at minimum, cause him to hesitate offensively.
Pitbull will be the better grappler, just like he was against Rodriguez, and the slower pace might allow him to open up more offensively this time around. Either way, Ige will dictate the pace, and Pitbull might not be able to keep up with Ige’s technical striking.
Expect Ige to be the sharper of the two, and while Pitbull might show more signs of life than his previous appearances, he won't find much success unless he can get Ige to the ground. If that doesn’t happen, Ige’s boxing will be too much to overcome.
Best bet analysis
Ige can put some heat on his opponents, but he’s not a finisher, and Pitbull is tough enough to hang around.
But Ige’s clean, consistent work should win him rounds. If Ige outclasses Pitbull along the lines of how Rodriguez did, he might try to score a stoppage against the living legend, but I don’t see him taking too many risks if he feels the fight is in his pocket.
Dan Ige vs Patricio Pitbull odds
 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Method of Victory | Ige | Pitbull |
| To win outright | -220 | +175 |
| To win by KO/TKO | +270 | +1000 |
| To win by decision | +125 | +290 |
| To win by submission | +1350 | +1500 |
| Draw | +2500 | +2500 |
Odds as of 7-19.
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Dan Ige vs Patricio Pitbull tale of the tape
| Ige | Pitbull | |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Age | 38 |
| 5-foot-7 | Height | 5-foot-6 |
| Featherweight | Weight Class | Featherweight |
| 71 inches | Reach | 66.5 inches |
| 19-9 | Record | 36-8 |
| 7 | Wins by KO | 12 |
| 5 | Wins by submission | 12 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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