Light heavyweights Dustin Jacoby and Kennedy Nzechukwu meet at the crossroads as a featured undercard attraction on this weekend’s UFC Fight Night card from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jacoby is on a two-fight skid and will need to beat a fighter on the upswing in Nzechukwu to turn his fortunes around.
UFC betting odds favor Nzechukwu at -155 with Jacoby a slight underdog at +130.
Here are my free picks and predictions for Jacoby vs. Nzechukwu at UFC Fight Night from Nashville.
Jacoby vs Nzechukwu fight odds
Jacoby vs Nzechukwu method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Dustin Jacoby | Kennedy Nzechukwu |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +420 | +230 |
| To win by points | +310 | +260 |
| To win by submission | +2,000 | +1,000 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on August 3, 2023.
Jacoby vs Nzechukwu picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Jacoby vs Nzechukwu betting preview
Nzechukwu has always been a raw prospect, but there are signs of evolution as he’s won each of his last three fights. Since being saddled with a two-fight skid, Nzechukwu has scored three straight finishes, most recently a second-round submission over Devin Clark last May.
Though Nzechukwu is slow to start, he gets a head of steam and is hard to slow down. Over those last three fights, he’s fought with more confidence and an added sense of urgency. In addition to his superior recent form, he’ll have a two-inch advantage over his opponent in height and a staggering seven-inch advantage in reach.
Not too long ago, it was Jacoby who looked like he was hitting his stride. The technical kickboxer came undone in a close split decision loss to Khalil Roundtree, and a less impressive loss to Azamat Murzankanov in April.
When he’s on his game, Jacoby is a precision striker who is tough to buckle. He lands at a higher rate than Nzechukwu and is slightly better defensively as well. Though he hasn’t looked good in his recent fights, his experience and grit make him a live dog.
Jacoby vs Nzechukwu tale of the tape
| Dustin Jacoby | Kennedy Nzechukwu | |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Age | 31 |
| 6-feet-3 | Height | 6-feet-4 |
| 205 lbs | Weight | 205 lbs |
| 76 inches | Reach | 83 inches |
| 18-7-1 (11 KOs) | Record | 12-3 (8 KOs) |
Jacoby vs Nzechukwu UFC prediction and best bet
Fight prediction: Kennedy Nzechukwu ML
I picked Jacoby to beat Murzankanov last April believing he could start hot and survive late. What ended up happening was that he started cold and couldn’t finish convincingly enough against a smaller opponent.
Though Nzechukwu can sometimes start slow, he is an absolute terror when he gets in the pocket and uses his size to mangle Jacoby.
Nzechukwu has explosive power and might be hitting his stride. Jacoby could slow him down, but, likely, Nzechukwu’s length and power eventually break through and do damage.
I don’t think Jacoby is that far removed from the great run he started three years ago, but Nzechukwu should be good enough to outpace him in a close fight.
Prediction: Kennedy Nzechukwu moneyline (-155 at DraftKings)
Fight best bet: Over 2.5 rounds
Jacoby looked listless at times in his last fight, but he was not in danger of getting stopped. Nzechukwu’s tendency to start slow could cost him a round, meaning this fight could be one that goes the distance.
It’s been more than a decade since Jacoby was stopped inside the distance, and while I wouldn’t put it past “The African Savage” to do it, Jacoby is smart enough to avoid that. Nzechukwu is still developing, and Jacoby should be a good test for him.
This is a fight I see going either way, but a stoppage in the early goings for either fighter is unexpected. I’ll go with the odds of the fight going over 2.5 rounds at -140.
Pick: Over 2.5 rounds (-140 at DraftKings)
