UFC Fight Breakdown: Melisano vs. Barbosa (Super Simple Version)

What Are the Betting Odds?

Betting odds tell us who the bookies (people who take bets) think will win.

• Barbosa: -400 (this means she is the favorite; you’d have to bet $400 to win $100)
• Melisano: +325 (this means she is the underdog; a $100 bet would win $325)

How Did This Fight Happen?

“The Ultimate Fighter” (a TV show where fighters compete to join the UFC) Season 34 veteran Melisano is stepping in for an injured fighter named Veronica Hardy.

• Melisano will face Barbosa in a strawweight clash (strawweight is one of the lighter weight classes in MMA).
• This is like getting a shortcut straight to the big leagues (the UFC)!

Who Is Melisano?

Melisano was Michael Bisping’s (a famous fighter and coach) first overall pick on the TV show “TUF.”

• She lost her first fight on the show, but the pick wasn’t silly.
• She is the Fury Fighting Championship strawweight champion.
• She has cool physical tools (like a strong body) and is only 29 years old.

What Makes Her Special?

Melisano (nicknamed “Bandana”) is big and long-limbed for her weight class.

• She looks a bit like a smaller version of strawweight fighter Casey O’Neill.
• She fights from far away using long kicks and jabs (simple punches).
• She switches between standing left- and right-handed a lot.
• If shorter opponents get close, she uses good knees and elbows.

Where Does She Struggle?

Even though she is willing to grab and push in close (the “clinch”), she has had trouble there.

• In some of her wins, smaller fighters pushed her around.
• So far, it hasn’t ruined her record, but in the UFC it could become a big problem.

Important Point: Melisano can be bullied in close-range fighting, and that is a big weakness.

Who Is Barbosa?

Barbosa (nicknamed “The Witch”) is a tough matchup for someone like Melisano.

• She is a multiple-time Brazilian national judo champion and was on the national team.
• She is 34 but still a great athlete and strongly built.
• She is a solid kickboxer (someone who fights standing using punches and kicks) with good movement and heavy punches.
• She hasn’t won by strikes (hits) much, but that’s because she likes to fight on the ground, not because she is weak.

Important Point: Barbosa is one of the worst possible opponents for a fighter who can be pushed around in the clinch—because judo is all about grabbing and throwing!

Why Is This a Tough Fight for Melisano?

This fight is a mixed blessing for Melisano:

• Good side: She got called straight to the UFC while her friends from the show are still waiting.
• Bad side: Barbosa is a horrible first test.

Melisano is probably UFC-level and might even become a title contender someday. But right now:

1. She does not have the footwork to stay far away from Barbosa.
2. She does not have the power to stop Barbosa from grabbing her.
3. The first time they clinch, Barbosa will probably throw her down.
4. Our prediction: Barbosa wins by submission in the first round (submission means making the opponent give up, often by choke or joint lock).

Other Fights on the Card

If you want to read about other preliminary card fights at UFC Oklahoma City, jump to:

• Bashi vs. Delgado
• Lebosnoyani vs. Ko
• Rodrigues vs. Franco
• Coria vs. Nicoll
• Harris vs. Hines
• Melisano vs. Barbosa
• Anderson vs. Elliott

Summary

Melisano is a young, talented fighter who got a surprise call to the UFC. But she struggles in close fighting, and Barbosa is a judo expert who loves exactly that kind of fight. Barbosa is the favorite, and the smart pick is Barbosa winning by first-round submission.

FAQ

1. What does “strawweight” mean?
It is a weight class in MMA for lighter female fighters (usually around 115 pounds).

2. What is “the clinch”?
It is when two fighters grab each other and fight up close, instead of punching from far away.

3. What is a submission?
It is when one fighter makes the other tap out (give up) using a choke or lock, ending the fight without a knockout.

4. Why are the betting odds written like -400 and +325?
Negative odds show the favorite (how much you must bet to win $100). Positive odds show the underdog (how much you win if you bet $100).

5. Is Melisano a bad fighter?
No! She is a champion and likely UFC material. She just has a bad style matchup in this specific fight.