UFC 313 Preview And Predictions: A Fight-by-Fight Breakdown

Hugo van Dijk

4 min read

Post on May 04, 2025

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Headliner: Adesanya vs. Strickland – A Clash of Styles

This headlining bout promises a fascinating stylistic clash between the reigning champion and a dangerous challenger.

Adesanya's Strengths and Weaknesses:

The current UFC Middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, boasts a breathtaking skillset.

• Unmatched Striking: Adesanya's striking is arguably the best in the UFC. His precision, power, and diverse arsenal of techniques make him a nightmare matchup for most opponents. His significant strike accuracy consistently sits above 50%.
• Elusive Footwork: His exceptional footwork and movement allow him to dictate the range and rhythm of the fight, making him incredibly difficult to hit cleanly.
• Counter-Striking Mastery: Adesanya excels at countering his opponents' attacks, often turning their aggression against them.
• Weakness Against Wrestlers: While his striking is elite, Adesanya’s takedown defense has shown vulnerabilities against elite wrestlers in the past. This could be a key area of focus for Strickland.

Strickland's Strengths and Weaknesses:

Jared Strickland enters the octagon as a dangerous challenger with a completely different fighting style.

• Relentless Pressure: Strickland's fighting style is characterized by relentless pressure and aggression. He constantly pushes forward, forcing his opponents to react.
• Powerful Punches: He possesses significant power in his punches, capable of ending the fight with a single, well-placed shot.
• Solid Wrestling: Strickland's wrestling is a significant asset, giving him the ability to take the fight to the ground if opportunities present themselves.
• Striking Defense: While aggressive, Strickland's striking defense is a potential weakness, especially against the precision and speed of Adesanya.

Prediction and Reasoning:

While Strickland presents a significant threat, we predict Adesanya will retain his title via unanimous decision. His superior striking accuracy, movement, and experience should allow him to control the distance and avoid being taken down. Strickland's power is a constant threat, but Adesanya's defense and counter-striking should negate its impact.

Co-Main Event: Dricus du Plessis vs. Robert Whittaker – A Middleweight Showdown

This co-main event features a clash between a rising star and a UFC veteran.

Du Plessis's Strengths and Weaknesses:

Dricus du Plessis is a powerful and aggressive fighter who has quickly risen through the ranks.

• Exceptional Grappling: Du Plessis is a dominant grappler with a strong wrestling base and dangerous ground-and-pound.
• Explosive Power: His power is undeniable, with several knockouts punctuating his UFC career.
• Aggressive Style: He relentlessly pressures his opponents, making them uncomfortable and forcing mistakes.
• Striking Defense: While improving, his striking defense could be exploited by a more technically sound striker.

Whittaker's Strengths and Weaknesses:

Robert Whittaker is a highly skilled and experienced fighter, a former UFC Middleweight champion.

• Well-Rounded Game: Whittaker possesses a well-rounded skillset, excelling in striking, wrestling, and grappling.
• Technical Striking: His striking is technical and precise, with a focus on accuracy and power.
• Versatility: He adapts well to different fighting styles, making him a difficult opponent to prepare for.
• Potential for Gas Tank Issues: While generally durable, Whittaker's cardio has been tested in some past fights.

Prediction and Reasoning:

This is a very close fight to call, but we slightly favor Whittaker due to his superior striking precision and well-rounded game. We predict Whittaker will win via decision, weathering Du Plessis's early aggression and utilizing his superior technical striking to edge out the rounds.

Key Supporting Fights:

We'll highlight two key supporting bouts:

Bo Nickal vs. Val Woodburn: This is a clash of grappling styles, with Nickal, a dominant wrestler, facing Woodburn, who has shown surprising ground skills. We predict Nickal to win via submission in the second round due to his superior grappling expertise.

Jalin Turner vs. Dan Hooker: This lightweight matchup features Turner's explosive striking against Hooker's veteran experience. We anticipate Turner will showcase his raw power and secure a knockout victory in the third round.

Potential Upsets and Dark Horses:

While the favorites are clearly outlined above, keep an eye on Val Woodburn as a potential dark horse. Although a considerable underdog, his improved ground game could cause problems for Bo Nickal.

Conclusion:

UFC 313 promises a thrilling night of fights with several exciting matchups. We've outlined our predictions based on fighters' strengths, weaknesses, and stylistic clashes. Remember that these are predictions, and the reality of the octagon can always surprise!

Don't miss the action! Tune in for UFC 313 and see if our UFC 313 predictions come true. Share your own UFC 313 predictions in the comments below! Let's discuss who you think will win! Follow us for more UFC previews and analyses.