Lightweight

Manuel Torres (15-2, 3-0 UFC) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (15-5, 4-2 UFC)

OPPORTUNITIES: Torres (-118), Bahamondes (-102)

Torres has looked pretty impressive so far in his UFC career, but it’s time for Mexico’s “El Loco” to answer some questions. Torres was a pure flier before his 2021 appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. On the regional stage, he was a ruthless savage who relied heavily on getting to his wrestling and grappling game, and even then, he had a few quick losses. To his credit, Torres suddenly looked a lot sharper in his Contender Series bout, even if his contract-clinching victory was marred a little by the ending being set up by an unintentional eye poke. In any case, he continued to impress once Torres got his foot in the door. His fights have all ended within one round, but Torres has shown he’s willing to pick his spots for powerful throws, scoring two quick knockouts before finally returning to his ground game with a submission win over Chris Duncan in February. Torres looked good, but the question remains how he’ll fare against an opponent who can engage him in a longer fight. That’s where Bahamondes comes in.

Chile’s Bahamondes is another talented up-and-comer, and while “La Jaula” has had a solid UFC season, it still feels like everyone is waiting for him to take another leap forward in terms of effectiveness. Bulky for the lightweight division at 6’3″, Bahamondes has shown glimpses of grappling ability, but mostly looks to march forward and overwhelm his opponent with punch volume that is made all the more intimidating by his frame. This has overwhelmed opponents to a point where Bahamondes has looked like an absolute terror, but it has made his losses all the more frustrating. John Makdessi and Ludovit Klein, much smaller fighters, have been successful by holding their ground and either knocking Bahamondes down or taking him down, landing hard enough to win rounds while slowing his pace. Torres certainly has the chops to follow that game plan, but it’s essentially completely uncertain whether or not he can sustain that approach for more than one round. A Torres win wouldn’t be a surprise, but this is essentially a gamble and he doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt. The favorite is Bahamondes by second-round stoppage.

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