The UFC stays in Las Vegas this weekend after its BMF title showcase fell short of expectations. Saturday’s event at the Meta Apex, UFC Vegas 114, aims to course-correct, headlined by a featherweight clash between divisional stalwart Josh Emmett and emerging talent Kevin Vallejos.
UFC Vegas 114 is another lineup heavy on one-sided moneylines, with large underdogs available aplenty. The main event, in particular, sees the MMA world throwing plenty of faith behind Vallejos, who rides an impressive six-fight win streak in the weekend with only a single loss in his 18-fight career. Standing across the cage is Emmett, who finds himself in desperate need of a win after losing four of his past five.
In the co-main event, the stakes are arguably higher with a strawweight contender clash, as one-time title challenger Amanda Lemos hopes to stand her ground and prevent Gillian Robertson from getting her first crack at gold. Outside the top two bouts, there is decent entertainment value across Saturday’s card, with solid prospect-watching and finish potential from names scattered throughout.
It might be a generous score, but UFC Vegas 114 could be worse.
👑 UFC Vegas 114’s lineup Crown grade: C- 👑
Betting odds via BetMGM.
145 pounds: Josh Emmett (+400) vs. Kevin Vallejos (-550)
Emmett has spent years proving one simple truth: It only takes one shot.
The longtime Team Alpha Male staple has built a well-deserved reputation as one of the featherweight division’s most terrifying punchers, the kind of fighter who can erase 14 minutes of losing with a single right hand. We’ve seen it before (sorry, Michael Johnson). Now 41 years old, Emmett finds himself in the familiar role of underdog, this time against the rising Argentine prospect Vallejos.
Emmett’s résumé at 145 pounds is no joke. Since dropping from lightweight in 2017, he’s produced highlight-reel knockouts aplenty, while also grinding through memorable battles with Calvin Kattar and Shane Burgos. His split-decision win over Kattar in 2022 briefly pushed him into the title conversation, though injuries and time have gradually chipped away at his momentum.
That’s been the story of Emmett’s career. Tough setbacks followed by stubborn comebacks. Knee surgeries, broken bones, even a nasty facial fracture have slowed him before, but the power has never left. It is the last thing to go, as they say. The question now is whether the rest of his game can keep up with younger, faster opposition.
That hasn’t been the case lately.
Enter Vallejos, a 24-year-old wrecking ball who represents the next wave of featherweight talent. The Argentine prospect has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and a kill-or-be-killed mentality that’s overwhelmed most of the opponents put in front of him. While his power is real, Vallejos has also shown improved composure and a willingness to incorporate other tools when needed.
The stylistic dynamic is straightforward. Emmett wants space and patience, carried by his hard-hitting fists. The chance to set traps and detonate that infamous right hand is always present. Vallejos wants chaos, though — pressure, pace, and a fight fought at a speed beyond the veteran’s capability.
And make no mistake, Emmett still only needs one. But against a younger, faster opponent who thrives on volume and pressure, those windows will be fewer than ever. Vallejos should be able to survive the early danger and keep the pace high. This main event is designed to be a passing of the torch moment.
Pick: Vallejos
115 pounds: Amanda Lemos (+165) vs. Gillian Robertson (-200)
Lemos remains one of strawweight’s rare one-shot threats. The Brazilian carries legitimate knockout power at 115 pounds and has used it to flatten or submit names like Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Marina Rodriguez. If she gets space to plant and throw, bad things tend to happen quickly.
Despite her own continually improving stand-up game, Robertson wants none of that. The Canadian is one of the division’s most relentless grapplers and already sits among the most prolific submission artists in UFC women’s history. That’s still a wild fact to say out loud.
Robertson’s game is relatively simple: Close distance, chain takedowns and turn the fight into a long grappling problem. This matchup should be competitive in the inevitable grappling exchanges, but the problem for Lemos falls in the defensive category. It’s not that she isn’t sound defensively — she’ll just be working against a more aggressive opponent who’s constantly seeking offense. Lemos did better than many may have expected in her most recent fight, a loss to Tatiana Suarez. This one could look similar. Lemos will just have more opportunities to land with Robertson being a lesser wrestler than Suarez.
If Lemos keeps it standing, she’s an unquestionably dangerous striker. But if Robertson gets her hands locked and starts working on the mat, the momentum likely swings fast and the fight becomes a control battle. Robertson has the momentum, and she’ll ride it here.
Pick: Robertson
205 pounds: Ion Cuțelaba (+200) vs. Oumar Sy (-250)
Ion Cuțelaba still fights like every bout has a 30-second expiration date — at least in the first round. The Moldovan light heavyweight storms forward early, looking to overwhelm opponents with raw aggression and power, but that same all-gas approach has burned him just as often when the early blitz doesn’t land.
Oumar Sy offers the stylistic opposite. The undefeated French prospect has built quiet momentum with a calm, methodical approach, mixing rangy striking with opportunistic grappling while staying patient enough to let fights come to him.
That contrast should define things here. Cuțelaba will try to turn it into chaos immediately, while Sy’s path is surviving the early storm and letting his discipline and cleaner skill set take over as the fight settles. That’s essentially the blueprint for defeating Cuțelaba, and the damage is starting to pile up on him. Sy is on the upswing. We’re riding with France’s own as he ascends up the light heavyweight ranks.
Pick: Sy
145 pounds: Andre Fili (+310) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (-400)
Andre Fili has been around long enough to see just about every type of featherweight prospect the UFC can throw at him. The Team Alpha Male veteran has quietly carved out a career as the division’s ultimate litmus test — dangerous enough to beat anyone on the right night, but inconsistent enough to make every outing feel like a coin flip.
Jose Miguel Delgado enters as the younger, hungrier fighter looking to make his name off that exact dynamic. The up-and-comer brings pressure and finishing instincts, the kind of style designed to test whether veterans like Fili still have the speed and urgency to keep up.
Fili’s experience and well-rounded game always give him a chance, but history says these fights tend to get messy. On paper, Fili has also been alternating results, meaning he’s due for a loss after his split-decision win over Christian Rodriguez. Expect Delgado to push the pace and force exchanges, finding the opening he’s looking for en route to a win.
Pick: Delgado
145 pounds: Marwan Rahiki (-275) vs. Harry Hardwick (+200)
Don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of these dudes. Marwan Rahiki is making his UFC debut after a win on Contender Series, while Harry Hardwick is still in pursuit of his first promotional victory after falling short in his UFC debut last September.
Rahiki is an aggressive, forward-moving, undefeated Aussie. In seven pro bouts, Rahiki has been good at making fights messy in a hurry. He’s dangerous when he gets momentum, willing to trade and force exchanges rather than sit back and play it safe.
Hardwick is the more polished operator between the two. The English prospect has built his reputation on sharp boxing and composure, preferring to control range and pick opponents apart instead of diving headfirst into chaos.
That contrast will shape the fight. Rahiki will likely try to pressure and drag Hardwick into a scrap, while Hardwick’s path is to keep things technical and measured. If he manages that, the cleaner striker should have the edge. The odds don’t necessarily do this one justice in its competitive nature, but Rahiki looks like the more promising prospect at present.
Regardless, there’s still plenty to learn about each man here.
Pick: Rahiki
265 pounds: Vitor Petrino (-250) vs. Steven Asplund (+200)
I’m starting to think UFC hates us by continuing to put unranked heavyweights on main cards in 2026.
Vitor Petrino is the more established talent in this one, carrying the kind of athleticism and raw power that usually ends fights before they get complicated. That’s about all he has going for him between heavyweight and light heavyweight, though.
Steven Asplund is a big dude in his own right, but still largely untested. Realistically, the speed advantage in favor of Petrino may be all that matters in this fight — if anything were to matter, of course.
The jury is still out on how high Petrino’s ceiling is. But this is the kind of matchup he’s supposed to handle without much drama.
Pick: Petrino
Preliminary Notes
Myktybek Orolbai is the name, and sleeping folks is his game. It’s must-see viewing whenever Orolbai is in the cage, and Saturday’s matchup with Chris Curtis promises some chaos. You never know which Curtis will show up on any given night, so look out for that fight.
Bia Mesquita is back and hoping to make waves at women’s bantamweight, where they’re much needed.
Meanwhile, Brad Tavares and Eryk Anders are fighting. No joke, I could have sworn those two had already fought before. But what do you know? We’re doing it in 2026.
Middleweight fights don’t get more middleweighty than that one.
Quick picks:
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Charles Johnson (-185) def. Bruno Gustavo da Silva (+150)
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Brad Tavares (-125) def. Eryk Anders (+105)
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Myktybek Orolbai (-300) def. Chris Curtis (+240)
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Manoel Sousa (-275) def. Bolaji Oki (+220)
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Hecher Sosa (-250) def. Luan Lacerda (+200)
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Bia Mesquita (-650) def. Montserrat Rendon (+475)
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Elijah Smith (-250) def. You Su-young (+200)
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Piera Rodriguez (-160) def. Sam Hughes (+135)
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