Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Mario Bautista Prediction: Can Blackshear Make History at UFC 292?

Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Mario Bautista Prediction: Can Blackshear Make History at UFC 292?

The bantamweight division has a large presence on the main card at UFC 292, as the upcoming clash between Mario Bautista and Da’Mon Blackshear is one of three bantamweight fights on the main card. Bautista has transformed himself into a force to be reckoned with, while Blackshear, a recent twister submission sensation, seeks to ride his momentum into the rankings. Bautista is the clear favorite here as a -220 favorite. Can Blackshear make history at UFC 292?

Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Mario Bautista Date, Time, and Where to Watch

• Date: Saturday, August 19, 2023
• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where to Watch: PPV

Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Mario Bautista Prediction

Da'Mon Blackshear looks to make history by becoming the first fighter to ever win two UFC fights within seven days. Loopy Godinez became the first fighter to ever fight back-to-back weeks back in October 2021, but she lost the second of the back-to-back against Luana Carolina. With a win at UFC 292, Blackshear will be the second fighter to ever fight back-to-back within seven days, and with a win, he would become the first fighter in UFC history to win two fights within seven days. This sheer fact alone should signify the challenge ahead of him, especially against a tough fighter like Mario Bautista.

Blackshear has been on a rollercoaster ride in the octagon. After a draw in his UFC debut, he dropped his next fight to Farid Basharat by decision as well. Then, he finally got in the win column with a TKO win over Luan Lacerda and followed that up with his submission over Jose Johnson last week. Blackshear is a crafty submission specialist, with 9 of his 14 wins coming by submission, but he faces a massive step up in competition against Bautista this weekend, as Bautista will be his toughest test to date on his quickest turnaround to date.

Bautista's journey has hit a career-high, as he is riding a four-fight win streak in the UFC with three submissions in a row. Bautista's journey in the UFC started with a UFC debut against Cory Sandhagen, which is his toughest fight to date, but he has gone 6-1 in his seven fights since. Bautista's offensive versatility is his best asset, averaging an impressive 5.33 significant strikes per minute and notching 2.91 takedowns per 15 minutes. His ability to finish fights is second to none, as he has finished nine of his 12 victories. He can finish a fight anywhere, as he has power on his feet and strength in his grappling on the ground.

Blackshear is stepping into the spotlight with minimal preparation, replacing Cody Garbrandt just a week after his own impressive victory. While the adrenaline of a quick turnaround can sometimes fuel unexpected performances, it also raises questions about Blackshear's readiness to face a surging opponent like Bautista.

While Blackshear's submission win last week was certainly impressive, Mario Bautista is a much tougher test than Jose Johnson. Bautista is the best un-ranked fighter in the bantamweight division, in my opinion, and his motivation to win this fight is entering the rankings.

If this fight goes to the ground, I expect a lot of scrambling from both men, trying to get top control or a dominant submission attempt. This fight is pretty even to me on the mat, but the difference lies on the feet. Bautista is a few steps ahead with his technical abilities as a striker, and he also has more output. I expect him to land more often and frustrate Blackshear with his movement on the feet. In the end, while both men have a lot of finishes on their record, I think Bautista takes this one by decision.

Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Mario Bautista Pick

Pick: Mario Bautista by Decision +175 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick

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