Featherweights
NR | Austin Lingo (7-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. NR | Jacob Kilburn (8-3, 0-1 UFC)ODDS: Lingo (-225), Kilburn (+185)
This has the potential to provide fireworks, devolve into an absolute mess or some combination of both. Coming into the UFC, Lingo had a fairly simple approach, applying constant pressure in pursuit of a quick knockout. That worked well on the regional scene. Leading into his UFC debut, Lingo’s previous three fights had lasted a combined 63 seconds. However, in a short-notice UFC debut against a fellow newcomer, Youssef Zalal’s ability to stay out of danger early proved that Lingo did not have much of a backup plan without an early finish. Zalal’s success in the year or so since makes that look like a much better loss in retrospect, but a win would serve Lingo well here against Jacob Kilburn, who is also looking to rebound from a disappointing UFC debut. Kilburn is also a knockout artist, but that debut fight against Billy Quarantillo showed that his lack of wrestling defense is a liability. Similar to Kilburn’s prior loss to Bobby Moffett on Dana White’s Contender Series, Quarantillo was able to get the fight to the ground early and often and essentially shut out Kilburn. Lingo has shown a little bit of wrestling, which may be enough to give Kilburn some trouble, but this should be decided on the feet. There, Kilburn is much more of an improvisational striker in comparison to Lingo’s more singularly focused pressuring approach. Kilburn has looked durable to date, but he is also quite hittable, so this could be a quick night if Lingo’s power is as real as it appears to be. The pick is Lingo via first-round knockout, though this could get dicey after any real length of time.