In his quest to add a UFC title to his collection, former Rizin Fighting Federation Bantamweight Champion Manel Kape goes to battle against streaking flyweight colossus Asu Almabayev in UFC Vegas 103 on Saturday. Before this pivotal matchup can happen, though, entertaining middleweights square off in the co-main event when Cody Brundage locks horns with Julian Marquez.
UFC Vegas 103 Main Event
5-1 in his past six bouts, Kape has steadily climbed into the 125-lb division’s utmost elite going into UFC Vegas 103, with his one lone defeat coming against Octagon nemesis Muhammad Mokaev. Seeking to become only the second previous RIZIN title holder to become a UFC champion, “Starboy” will face his greatest test yet on his journey to the top.
Perfect in his four trips to the cage since signing with the promotion in 2023, Almabayev has looked like a nigh unstoppable force at flyweight. Proving himself to be arguably the top grappler in the weight class, the Kazakhstan native has dominantly wrestled his way through stern opposition en route to his first UFC main event.
UFC Vegas 103 Co-Main Event
Looking to bounce back after a no contest to Abdul Razak Alhassan last July, Brundage has the opportunity to get back into the win column with a victory over a fellow grizzled middleweight veteran. After logging one of the most high-profile knockouts of 2023 over Zach Reese in his last victory, the Factory X product can kick off his 2025 run in style with another eye-opening stoppage during the UFC Vegas 103 co-main event.
After nearly a year lay off, Marquez returns to competition after dropping a first round knockout defeat to the aforementioned Reese at UFC on ESPN 57. 0-3 in his last three fights in the Octagon, “The Cuban Missile Crisis” finds himself at a precarious crossroads in his promotional tenure.
More Bouts On the UFC Vegas 103 Main Card
On the rest of the main card, Nasrat Haqparast takes on the always entertaining Esteban Ribovics. Then, prolific knockout artist Hyder Amil goes to battle with French MMA star William Gomis. And undefeated welterweight prospect Danny Barlow puts his perfect record on the line versus Sam Patterson.
UFC Vegas 103 Betting Predictions and Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL), ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
PFL picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2025 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2024 were won by Ben Jamieson with a record of 300-148.
Find our UFC Vegas 103 picks and fight odds below.
Staff records after UFC Vegas 102:
Jeremy Brand: 8-27
Frazer Krohn: 6-19
Andrew Benjamin: 6-25
Hank Strandberg: 10-26
Drew Zuhosky: 7-29
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Danny Barlow -298
Vs.
Sam Patterson +240
WELTERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Barlow by Unanimous Decision Hank Strandberg: Barlow by Unanimous Decision Drew Zuhosky: Barlow by Unanimous Decision Frazer Krohn: Patterson by second round Submission Andrew Benjamin: Barlow by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Barlow: 4
Staff picking Patterson: 1
William Gomis -225
Vs.
Hyder Amil +185
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Gomis by Unanimous Decision Hank Strandberg: Gomis by Unanimous Decision Drew Zuhosky: Amil by first round Knockout Frazer Krohn: Gomis by Unanimous Decision Andrew Benjamin: Gomis by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Gomis: 4
Staff picking Amil: 1
Esteban Ribovics -258
Vs.
Nasrat Haqparast +210
BANTAMWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Ribovics by Unanimous DecisionHank Strandberg: Ribovics by Unanimous Decision Drew Zuhosky: Ribovics by Unanimous DecisionFrazer Krohn: Ribovics by Unanimous DecisionAndrew Benjamin: Haqparast by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Ribovics: 4
Staff picking Haqparast: 1
Cody Brundage -110
Vs.
Julian Marquez -110
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Marquez by Unanimous Decision Hank Strandberg: Brundage by second round Knockout Drew Zuhosky: Brundage by Unanimous DecisionFrazer Krohn: Marquez by first round Knockout Andrew Benjamin: Brundage via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Brundage: 3
Staff picking Marquez: 2
Manel Kape -218
Vs.
Asu Almabayev +180
FLYWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Kape by third round Technical Knockout Hank Strandberg: Almabayev via Unanimous Decision Drew Zuhosky: Kape by third round Submission Frazer Krohn: Almabayev via Unanimous Decision Andrew Benjamin: Kape by second round Knockout
Staff picking Kape: 3
Staff picking Almabayev: 2
