Austin Bashi, of West Bloomfield, prepares to throw punches at pads held by his strike coach Matee Tongbua, of West Bloomfield, while taking part in drills during training at Warrior Way Martial Arts Allnc in Commerce Township on Friday, December 20, 2024. Bashi is about to make his UFC debut in early January in Las Vegas and is regarded as the top UFC prospect in the country.

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Austin Bashi vs John Yannis Preview, Predictions And MMA Betting Odds

Get to know the betting odds, predictions and picks for the upcoming Austin Bashi vs John Yannis fight at UFC Vegas 108 !

The featherweight division has been a launching pad for future stars. The division’s speed and athleticism create perfect conditions for breakthrough performances. This is where unknown fighters can suddenly become household names with one spectacular showing.

UFC Vegas 108 presents exactly this type of opportunity when Austin Bashi welcomes newcomer John Yannis to the octagon. Bashi represents somewhat of a grizzled veteran at just 23 years old, having already tasted both victory and defeat in the UFC. Yannis comes in as the fresh face, riding momentum from back to back knockouts on the regional scene. This fight is set to produce fireworks, especially when both fighters need a statement win to advance their careers.

Austin Bashi vs John Yannis Preview

Austin Bashi brings an impressive 13-1 record into this featherweight clash, standing 5’6″ with a 70-inch reach fighting from the orthodox stance. Bashi lands just 1.94 significant strikes per minute with 48% accuracy while absorbing 2.71 strikes per minute. His striking defense sits at 46%, which isn’t terrible but shows room for improvement on the feet.

Where Bashi truly excels is in the wrestling department. He averages an incredible 8.39 takedown attempts per fight, making him one of the most aggressive wrestlers in the featherweight division. His 39% takedown success rate might seem low, but when you are shooting that many takedowns, you are bound to eventually find success. His takedown defense sits at 62%. Bashi also averages 1.3 submission attempts per fight, showing he’s dangerous once fights hit the ground.

John Yannis enters with a 9-3 record and comes in with zero UFC statistics since this marks his promotional debut. Standing 5’7″ with a 69 inch reach, the southpaw fighter brings a completely different energy to this matchup. His recent performances on the regional scene tell the story of a dangerous finisher. His knockout wins over Nick Aguirre and Carlos Jimenez show he possesses legitimate stopping power and the confidence to hunt for finishes. Yannis has built his reputation on finishing fights, which suggests he won’t be content to point fight his way through his UFC debut!

Austin Bashi vs John Yannis MMA Betting Odds

Fanduel has Austin Bashi as a massive favorite at -750. Meanwhile John Yannis sits as a significant underdog at +530. These odds reflect the experience gap and Bashi’s proven UFC level skills. The line feels steep for a fighter making his debut, especially one coming off consecutive knockouts.

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The odds for the fight going the distance have also come out. The probability of the fight ending before the final bell is higher and the odds (-220) reflect that. The odds for the fight seeing the judges scorecards stand at +172.

Austin Bashi vs John Yannis Predictions And Picks

This matchup comes down to whether John Yannis can keep the fight standing long enough to land something significant. His southpaw stance and knockout power make him dangerous early, especially against a fighter like Bashi who sometimes leaves openings while pursuing takedowns.

However, Bashi’s wrestling volume is simply overwhelming. He’s constantly pressuring opponents and looking for opportunities to get the fight to the ground. Even if Yannis stuffs several attempts, Bashi only needs one successful takedown to control rounds or potentially find a submission.

If we bet on the fight, we are going with Austin Bashi to win the fight via submission.

(Image Credit: Ryan Garza – Imagn Images)

Austin Bashi

John Yannis

UFC Vegas 108

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!