UFC Vegas 93: Alex Perez vs. Tatsuro Taira continues on the prelims with a fight in the strawweight division between Josefina Knutsson and promotional newcomer Julia Polastri. Knutsson is undefeated winning all seven of her fights and most recently winning her UFC debut in her last fight meanwhile, has won four straight fights as she makes her UFC debut this weekend. With that said, check out our UFC odds series for our Knutsson-Polastri prediction and pick.

Josefine Knutsson (7-0) secured her UFC contract with a dominant performance on the Contender Series. She then did one better by securing her first victory inside the Octagon when she defeated Marnic Mann via unanimous decision. Now, she will welcome Julia Polastri to the UFC when they go to battle this weekend at UFC Vegas 93.

Julia Polastri (12-3) attempted to secure her contract on the Contender Series but moving up in weight on short notice to face Jasmine Jasudavicius proved to be too much and dropped a decision. She then rattled off three-straight victories with two finishes in a row capturing the LFA Strawweight Championship that got her a second chance on the Contender Series last season. That is when she got her fourth win in a row via second-round rear-naked choke which solidified her spot on the UFC roster. Polastri will finally get to showcase her skills when she debuts against Josefine Knutsson this weekend at the UFC Apex.

Here are the UFC Vegas 93 Odds, courtesy of BetOnline. 

UFC Vegas 93 Odds: Josefina Knutsson-Julia Polastria Odds

Josefina Knutsson: -170

Julia Polastri: +145

Over 2.5 rounds: -400

Under 2.5 rounds: +300

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Why Josefina Knutsson Will Win

Josefine Knutsson is a top prospect in the women’s strawweight division as she’s been on the UFC’s radar for quite some time now. She was on season 1 of Road to UFC where she dominated her opponent then got the call to compete in the Contender Series two fights later. She is now 7-0 and looking to keep her unbeaten streak intact when she welcomes promotional newcomer Julia Polastri to the Octagon this weekend.

Knutsson trains out of All Stars Gym in Sweden with the likes of rising star Khamzat Chimaev and former light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson. She is a decorated kickboxer who throws in combinations and will have a distinct advantage if she keeps this fight on her feet. Knutsson does a great job of using her angles to keep away from her opponents’ power shots and counter off missed attempts. That will bode well against an aggressive striker like Polastri who is going to look to push the pace and be the aggressor. As long as Knutsson can keep this fight on her feet and at space she should be able to outstrike Polastri to a decision victory.

Why Julia Polastri Will Win

Julia Polastri had the daunting task of taking on the towering Jasmine Jasudavicius on short notice in her first appearance on the Contender Series and ultimately dropped a tough decision. Since then Polastri has won four-straight fights most recently securing her contract on the Contender Series. Now, she will be taking on fellow Contender Series alumni Josefine Knutsson.

Polastri comes in with a boatload of experience as the PFL strawweight champion and 12 wins in 15 fights. She also brings finishing upside to this fight that her opponent doesn’t with 7 of her 12 wins coming inside the distance. Polastri’s ability to push a hard pace for 15 minutes and put relentless pressure on her opposition is going to come in handy this weekend against Knutsson who has shown to fade in fights down the stretch. If Polastri can make this a gritty mixed martial arts fight and not a technical kickboxing match she has what it takes to score the upset in this matchup and get her first UFC win.

Final Josefina Knutsson-Julia Polastri Prediction & Pick

This should be a great fight between two up-and-coming prospects in the strawweight division. Josefine Knutsson has shown a lot of promise as an undefeated prospect but this fight against Polastri seems like it will be her toughest test to date. As for Polastri, while she will be at a distinct disadvantage at range she has the skills to get past the striking range of Knutsson and take the fight to her. Ultimately, Knutsson will look good early in this matchup out in space but once Polastri starts to walk Knutsson down that is when she will start to take over and drown her down the stretch and she gets the nod on the judge’s scorecards and gets her first UFC victory.

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Final Josefina Knutsson-Julia Polastri Prediction & Pick: Julia Polastri (+145), Over 2.5 Rounds (-400)