Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa Prediction, Picks, and Odds: Can Dawodu End This Fight Early at UFC 279?

Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa Prediction, Picks, and Odds: Can Dawodu End This Fight Early at UFC 279?

The prelims will finish up tonight with a bout between two dangerous featherweights. Hakeem Dawodu enters this fight with a 13-2-1 record and is looking to notch back-to-back victories. Julian Erosa is 27-10 in his career and is looking to extend his win streak to three tonight. Which man has the advantage in this fight? Let's find out and read on for my prediction, pick, and odds for Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa at UFC 279.

Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: Saturday, September 10
• Game Time: 8:00 pm ET
• Where to Watch: ESPN, ESPN+

Click Here for Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa Odds

Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa Prediction

Hakeem Dawodu is 6-2 in the UFC and has won six of his last seven fights. He is one of the most athletic fighters in the featherweight division and fights with an excellent pace. His speed is an advantage in all his fights, and he will be the quicker fighter again. He is an elusive fighter that is hard to track down inside the cage, often making opponents miss or not land cleanly. His ability to stay active on the feet and out of range has kept him from getting knocked out even once over his 16 fights.

Dawodu has performed exceptionally as a favorite in his career, going 7-1 when catching juice. His lone loss as a favorite came from a submission loss to Danny Henry back in 2018. Since then, Dawodu has shown a much-improved takedown defense. Erosa does enter this fight with 12submissions his record, though, so a tap-out isn't out of the question here.

Speaking of Erosa's finishes, he has 23 of them in 27 total wins. He has tallied 11 knockouts and 12 submissions, and six of his ten losses have come by knockout. Erosa has been to a decision only twice in nine UFC fights. 29 of Erosa's 37 fights have not made it to the scorecards, and this is in no way a coincidence.

Julian Erosa does not care if he gets hit, so long as he can hit you right back. His lack of head movement and overall attention to striking defense has led to some high-profile finishes but also some devastating knockouts. Erosa is not in his third stint in the UFC, and he left the first two times after knockout losses to Teruto Ishihara and Julio Arce.

All-in-all, Erosa has been knocked out in half of his UFC fights, and this is due to his all-in-fight style. Erosa throws heavy hooks from a distance, and when he is up close, he swings away without a care in the world, often leaving his chin high with an open invite to counters. However, despite the scattered success, Erosa finds himself on a two-fight win streak and has tallied some impressive submission wins in his time with the UFC.

This fight is set up to be a banger. Both fighters have made tremendous strides in their improvements, and both are fast-paced fighters. Erosa will surely bring the fight to Dawodu early, but Dawodu has shown excellent counters and an ability to stay out of the way of big shots. Given the speed of Daowdu, I'm not sure Erosa will be able to land the big swinging shots he likes to throw.

On the feet, Dawodu should find success in his counters due to his movement and could knock Erosa on one of them. Dawodu is not known for his power, but he does have seven knockout wins. We have not seen Dawodu knock someone unconscious for a while now, but this would be the fight for him to do it. After all, Seungwoo Choi has only landed one knockout in seven UFC fights, and it was against Erosa.

On Erosa's side, he could resort to grappling if it's not going well on the feet for him, and if he can get Dawodu down, he should be able to find his neck. Either way, both fighters have a path to victory that doesn't include the judges, and Erosa is undoubtedly prone to ending fights early. This one should be all action. I'm on the under.

Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa Picks

• .5U Pick: Dawodu by Knockout @ +270 (Bet $100 to win $270)
• 1.5U Pick: Dawodu/Erosa Ends Inside the Distance @ +105 (Bet $100 to win $105)

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