Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira Prediction: Which Welterweight Will Prevail at UFC 291?
Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira Prediction: Which Welterweight Will Prevail at UFC 291?
This weekend's UFC 291 card promises to be an electrifying card, and the main card bout between Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson and Michel Pereira is no exception. Both fighters are known for their dynamic stand-up styles, making this a dream matchup for fans. The oddsmakers had a tough one on their hands, and the odds suggest a pretty close fight, as Thompson is a slight -135 favorite, while Pereira is not too big of an underdog at +120. Will Thompson cement his ranking? Or will Pereira potentially jump into the top 10?
Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira UFC 291 Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Saturday, July 29, 2023
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: PPV
Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira Prediction
In his last outing, Stephen Thompson showcased his striking by delivering a masterful performance against Kevin Holland, earning a well-deserved "Fight of the Night" bonus. Thompson's superior striking skills and impressive speed were on full display, making it nearly impossible for Holland to find any openings. Although Thompson faced two consecutive decision losses before that, his victory over Holland has reinstated his position as one of the best at 170 pounds. As far as technical strikers go, Stephen Thompson is, without a doubt, one of the best technical strikers in the UFC.
Thompson's Achilles' heel seems to be his takedown defense, having been taken down 12 times in his last three fights. However, those were matchups against Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad, two of the best wrestlers in the division, so there shouldn't be any threat of Pereira taking this fight to the ground, which is excellent news for Thompson.
Michel Pereira's early UFC career was rocky, but he has since evolved into a force, boasting an impressive five-fight winning streak. Known for his theatrics inside the octagon, including backflips and acrobatics, Pereira has now balanced his approach, showcasing a more measured and calculated style. His explosiveness and creative entries still make him a wild card, but he has gotten more and more away from the wild style that got him tired in the first round of his fights previously.
Cardio can still be a bit of an issue, which may present a problem against Thompson. Pereira still has a high-octane style that uses a lot of energy, even if he has gotten less wild overall, and he may get out-paced by Thompson the longer the fight goes on. I wouldn't be surprised to see Thompson get out-struck in round one but then out-land Pereira by a mile in rounds two and three.
The clash of styles between Thompson and Pereira adds an extra layer of excitement to this matchup. Wonderboy is revered as one of the best Karate artists in the UFC. His exceptional footwork and in-and-out movement allow him to close the distance swiftly and land devastating combinations.
Thompson's ability to time opponents is extraordinary, making him a tough target to hit cleanly. Pereira's explosive style and quick lateral movement present a unique challenge for Thompson, but not one he hasn't seen before. It's going to be incredibly hard to present a striking challenge to Thompson he hasn't seen and beaten before.
At the end of the day, I simply cannot back anyone against Wonderboy in what is expected to be a striking affair. Wonderboy truly is one of the most technical strikers I have ever seen, and he looked right back into form against Holland after back-to-back losses to wrestlers. Thompson also has better cardio, which will certainly come into play at altitude in Salt Lake City. This is a pretty even price for both figures, so backing Thompson on the moneyline is the way to go in this one.
Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira Pick
Pick: Stephen Thompson ML -140 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
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Article Author
Ben Rajavuori is a handicapper out of Minneapolis, MN. He has been creating sports content for almost four years now and is an expert in all things NFL, MLB, NBA, UFC, and NCAAB. Ben thrives on diving deep into statistics to find the best angle on every bet. You can follow him on Twitter @WeBeatTheSpread.