The UFC Vancouver card delivers another exciting lightweight battle that promises fireworks from start to finish. Kyle Nelson vs Matt Frevola pairs two action fighters who always come to scrap, making this a certified banger. Both men enter this matchup desperately needing a win to stop their current losing skids.
This fight carries extra significance because Nelson is moving back up to 155 pounds after spending years at featherweight. The weight cut to 145 pounds was clearly taking its toll on his body and performance. Frevola brings an aggressive wrestling background and knockout power that has produced highlight-reel finishes throughout his career. His best UFC win came against Drew Dober, showing he can hang with ranked competition when everything clicks.
Nelson brings a solid record of 16-6-1 and stands 5’11” inches tall with a 71 inch reach. He lands 3.51 significant strikes per minute at 45% accuracy. Nelson absorbs 4.72 strikes per minute and his striking defense sits at 51%. Nelson’s wrestling shows 1.06 takedowns per fight at just 20% accuracy, as grappling has never been his primary weapon. His takedown defense checks in at 73%, making him difficult to hold down consistently. Nelson averages 0.6 submissions per fight and has shown he’s dangerous when scrambles hit the mat.
Frevola enters with a record of 11-5-1 and stands 5’9” with a 71 inch reach. He lands 3.37 significant strikes per minute at 40% accuracy, preferring power over volume. Frevola only absorbs 3.69 strikes per minute thanks to better striking defense at 57%. Where Frevola really differentiates himself is wrestling, averaging 2.39 takedowns per fight at 39% accuracy. However, his takedown defense is concerning at just 36%, making him vulnerable when opponents shoot. Frevola averages 1.0 submissions per fight, showing he’s dangerous once fights hit the ground.
The betting markets have this as essentially a pick ’em fight with minimal separation. According to FanDuel, Kyle Nelson sits at +100 as the underdog. Meanwhile, Matt Frevola comes in as a slight favorite at -128. Frevola’s slight edge in the odds likely comes from his wrestling advantages and physical strength.
The odds for the fight going the distance have also come out. The odds for the fight seeing the judges scorecards stand at +178. The probability of the fight ending before the final bell is higher and the odds (-230) reflect that.
This fight will be decided by whether Frevola can use his wrestling to control Nelson against the cage and on the mat. Nelson’s return to lightweight after years at featherweight raises questions about how his body will respond. Frevola should have success with takedowns given his size and strength advantages.
Nelson’s 73% takedown defense is solid, but Frevola’s aggressive wrestling style could wear him down over 15 minutes. If this stays standing, Nelson’s technical kickboxing gives him the edge in striking exchanges.
If we bet on this fight, we are going with Matt Frevola to win via unanimous decision.
(All odds taken from FanDuel. Bet on the most up-to-date MMA odds, lines, and spreads with FanDuel Sportsbook)
(Image Credit: Wendell Cruz – Imagn Images)
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!
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