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We're back for our continued coverage of UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland from Sydney, Australia. This next bout will open up the Main Card action and takes place in the Light Heavyweight (205 lb) Division. Tyson Pedro of Queensland will take on Sweden's Anton Turkalj. This should be a fun fight the get the Main Card kicked off! Check out our UFC odds series for our Pedro-Turkalj prediction and pick.
Tyson Pedro (9-4) has gone 5-4 since joining the UFC in 2016. He's 2-1 in his last three fight coming into this one and will be hoping to put on a show in front of the Aussie crowd. He lost his last fight to Modestas Bukauskas via unanimous decision in a poor showing, but notched KO-wins in the first round of his two fights prior. Pedro stands 6'3″ with a 79-inch reach.
Anton Turkalj (8-2) is still searching for his first UFC win at 0-2 after earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series. He's had to face some stiff competition in his first two fights with bouts against Jailton Almeida and Vitor Petrino. He'll be facing another fighter coming off a loss, so look for Turkalj to be hungry in trying to get this first win. He stands 6'4″ with a 78-inch reach.
Here are the UFC Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
UFC 293 Odds: Tyson Pedro-Anton Turkalj Odds
Tyson Pedro: -108
Anton Turkalj: -118
Over 1.5 rounds: -124
Under 1.5 rounds: -102
How to Watch Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj
TV: ESPN+
Stream: ESPN app, UFC Fight Pass, fuboTV
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT (Main Card)
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Why Tyson Pedro Will Win
Tyson Pedro comes into this fight with a hard-nosed boxing style and is willing to scrap in a phone booth with his opponent. He lands around three significant strikes per minute and has solid defense at 54%. He's been rocked in the past, but his chin has held up well over the last three fights. When Pedro can hurt his opponent, he's relentless in seeking the finish and won't hesitate to jump on the ground-and-pound opportunity. Look for him to throw haymakers if Turkalj begins to close the distance.
Tyson Pedro will have to defend several takedowns throughout this fight to be successful. He's got the better hands and would benefit from keeping this fight at boxing range. There, he can mix up his attack and pepper Turkalj to the body. He's got a solid takedown defense of 52% and will benefit from wearing Turkalj down by denying him the takedown. His cardio has been suspect in the third round of fights, so look for him to improve on his gas tank in this one.
Why Anton Turkalj Will Win
Anton Turkalj was given a crazy test in Jailton Almeida for his debut on short notice. He didn't get much of a break against Vitor Petrino with the discrepancy in wrestling. Now, Turkalj has a much better matchup stylistically with a willing striker in Tyson Pedro. Turkalj does some of his best work when he's flowing with his striking and able to get creative with what he throws. His wrestling isn't up to speed with his striking, but he's had to be more of a grappler in his showings thus far. Look for him to open up with his striking and put some of his varied kicking attacks to work.
To win this fight, Turkalj will have to stay disciplined as Pedro walked him down. He's been wild in his past fights and his fight-IQ hasn't been the best, so he'll need to be patient in the striking and not chase Pedro with his punches. Turkalj will also have to abandon the wrestling if it's not working for him and focus on having a higher output than his opponent.
Final Tyson Pedro-Anton Turkalj Prediction & Pick
This should be a solid matchup as both guys are finally fighting an opponent with a similar style to their own. Anton Turkalj is the more creative striker of the two and have a wider range of attacks in his arsenal. He's a bit erratical with his tactics, however, and can sometimes fight himself into a bad spot. Tyson Pedro will be the more technical boxer and should have the more steady output throughout this fight. Both guys have solid chins and we could see them land big shots on each other throughout the course of this fight. For the prediction, let's side with Tyson Pedro as he's had the better performances of late. The energy from the crowd should give him the boost he needs to find the victory here.
Final Tyson Pedro-Anton Turkalj Prediction & Pick: Tyson Pedro (-108)
