Subscribe
Follow Us
The UFC Atlanta Prelims continue to roll on ESPN+ as we're set to bring you another betting prediction and pick for this upcoming bout in the Flyweight (125) Division. Hometown fighter Cody Durden will take on Peru's Jose Ochoa in what should be an exciting scrap early into this card. Check the UFC odds series for our Durden-Ochoa prediction and pick.
Cody Durden (17-7-1) makes the walk with a 6-5-1 record in the UFC since 2020. After winning four-straight fights during a blistering run, he's gone 1-3 over his last four fights and most recently fell to rising prospect Joshua Van. He'll look to overcome the odds once again as the betting underdog. Durden stands 5-foot-7 with a 67-inch reach.
Jose Ochoa (7-1) makes his second UFC appearance looking for his first win. He fell during his debut against a tough Lone'er Kavanaugh, but managed to go the distance while putting forth a strong effort. He'll be the betting favorite as he looks to finally get started on his UFC journey towards gold. Ochoa stands 5-foot-7 with a 67-inch reach.
Here are the UFC Atlanta Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Atlanta Odds: Cody Durden-Jose Ochoa Odds
Cody Durden: +154
Jose Ochoa: -185
Over 2.5 rounds: -130
Under 2.5 rounds: +100
*Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (Get Access | Save $30)*
Why Cody Durden Will Win
- Last Fight: (L) Joshua Van – U DEC
- Last 5: 2-3
- Finishes: 6 KO/TKO, 6 SUB
Cody Durden will be looking to bounce back after a loss where he really couldn't get anything substantial going against a highly-skilled opponent in Joshua Van. It's been a tough slide for Durden with three losses over his last four fights that included two losses by finish. However, he managed a performance bonus during his lone submission win during that stretch, so he's clearly capable of putting forth an exciting performance when he's dialed-in and on his game.
Durden wastes no time in engaging opponents and moves forward with a low striking stance. He's ready to take the fight anywhere at a moments notice and is well-rounded both on the feet and on the ground. Still, his willingness to brawl has gotten him in trouble in past bouts, so he'll need to be methodical and pick his shots carefully in this spot as the underdog.
To win this fight, Cody Durden will need to be first in the exchanges and immediately bring the action to his opponent. While he may be the underdog, he's much more seasoned at the UFC level and has seen more looks from various opponents. Landing 3.52 significant strikes per minute, he'll need to keep his foot on the gas in order to overwhelm his opponent.
Article Continues Below
Why Jose Ochoa Will Win
- Last Fight: (L) Lone'er Kavanaugh – U DEC
- Last 5: 3-1-1
- Finishes: 6 KO/TKO, 1 SUB
Jose Ochoa ran into another highly-touted prospect during his debut in Lone'er Kavanaugh as he was billed the +290 underdog during that fight. While many expected Kavanaugh to finish the fight, Ochoa managed to hang tough and fight his way towards a decision. He has yet to be finished in his relatively brief professional fighting career, so we should see a ton of toughness and grit out of him as he tries for his first taste at a UFC victory.
Ochoa is gifted physically and it translates into his rare mix of power and speed on the feet. However, he's still very green in terms of his technical abilities and landed just 31% of his significant strikes during his debut. In order to take out a veteran like Durden, Ochoa will have to be much more polished in finding his mark and minding his defensive guard in the process.
Still, Jose Ochoa has a strong chance to win this fight if he's able to mix all of his skills cohesively. While he certainly favors fighting on the feet, he's no slouch on the ground and should be able to defend himself properly during the chaotic wrestling scrambles when Durden tries throwing submission attempts in the mix.
Final Cody Durden-Jose Ochoa Prediction & Pick
This should be another fun matchup as both men will be hungry for a win following recent losses. Jose Ochoa is the more gifted fighter with his physical abilities, but Cody Durden is much more experienced and has seen different looks at the UFC level.
The only way Jose Ochoa will win this fight is if he manages to become much more polished with his striking game on the feet. He can certainly deal a ton of damage when he lands clean, but we've seen him struggle to find the mark during his debut. Durden, on the other hand, will relish facing a fresher prospect and could become a problem if he begins timing his counter strikes correctly.
While it may not be the popular pick, we have to side with Cody Durden to win this fight. It should become sloppy at some points given Ochoa's relative inexperience and Durden relishes in the moments where he can capitalize on his opponent's mistakes.
Final Cody Durden-Jose Ochoa Prediction & Pick: Cody Durden (+154)
