Brazilian flyweights will lock horns on Saturday night when Rafael Estevam takes on Felipe Bunes in the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Estevam has yet to lose a fight in his professional career. He will look to keep it that way as a heavy favorite against his countryman in this matchup. Continue reading to get my breakdown of this fight, including my Rafael Estevam vs Felipe Bunes prediction.
Our Rafael Estevam vs Felipe Bunes Pick
- Pick: Rafael Estevam via Decision
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Tale of the Tape
| Attribute | Rafael Estevam | Felipe Bunes |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 28 | 35 |
| Height | 5’8″ | 5’7″ |
| Reach | 69″ | 69″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Record | 13-0-0 | 14-7-0 |
Rafael Estevam vs Felipe Bunes Preview
Rafael Estevam is undefeated and looking to continue to move up in an entertaining flyweight division. His undefeated record is a testament to his discipline and versatility. He has achieved victories through knockout, submission, and decision and can win fights in a number of different ways. Estevam’s striking is precise and his grappling is functional as well. That has made him a multifaceted threat in the octagon.
Felipe Bunes brings a wealth of experience to this fight. He has 21 career pro MMA fights and is 1-1 in UFC so far. Bunes’ lone loss in UFC came against a fighter in Joshua Van who has shot up the flyweight rankings in a hurry. It is hard to hold that loss against him but Bunes is still a huge underdog going into this bout.
The key to this matchup lies in Estevam’s ability to neutralize Bunes’ striking by closing the distance and implementing his grappling game. Bunes’ path to victory hinges on maintaining range and landing significant strikes to disrupt Estevam’s rhythm. The bout is expected to be competitive but Estevam’s youth and versatility give him the edge.
Betting Insights
- Moneyline Odds: Rafael Estevam -550, Felipe Bunes +410
- Method of Victory: Estevam by Decision (-105), Estevam by KO/TKO (+240), Estevam by Submission (+500), Bunes by Decision (+900), Bunes by KO/TKO (+2000), Bunes by Submission (+1100)
- Round Totals: Over 2.5 rounds (-154), Under 2.5 rounds (+120)
Rafael Estevam vs Felipe Bunes Prediction
In this fight, I don’t expect Rafael Estevam to lose his zero in the loss column. Estevam is well-rounded and the more explosive of the two fighters here. He should be able to avoid Bunes’ submission attempts and earn a victory on the scorecards of the judges.
Estevam has won both of his fights by decision so far in his UFC career. I am expecting a similar result this time around. At an affordable price of -105, I will go with Estevam to win the same way that he has won his last two fights in this promotion.
