UFC ON ESPN 48: Ariane Lipski vs Melissa Gatto 07/01/2023 Picks, Preview and Odds

UFC ON ESPN 48: Lipski vs Gatto 07/01/2023 – Brazilian fighters Melissa Gatto and Ariane Lipski battle in a three-round flyweight encounter on Saturday, July 1, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight is part of the main card of the UFC on ESPN 48 that features Sean Strickland and Abus Magomedov in the main event. Gatto had her two-fight winning streak snapped with a loss to Tracy Cortez in May last year. On the other hand, Lipski is coming off a victory over JJ Aldrich in March. The win halted a skid of matches where she had gone 1-3 in four fights. Online MMA fight odds are already updated for betting aficionados who are excited to watch an action-packed mixed martial arts encounter and at the same time, earn extra money by placing their bets on who they think will win the match.

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Main Card

Ariane Lipski

Known as the “Queen of Violence,” Lipski (15-8, 4-5 UFC) has put up a good mark in her UFC stint despite coming into the fight with a losing record. She defeated Isabela de Padua, Luana Carolina, Mandy Bohm and Aldrich during her stint in the octagon. The Brazilian was able to hold her ground against Molly McCann and Joanne Wood in matches that she lost via decision. However, Lipski’s last three losses were alarming as she succumbed to technical knockout defeats. This means that she is prone to haymakers and if she does not improve on her defense, Lipski will get exploited on that weakness.

In terms of statistics, Lipski has recorded nine stoppages in 15 wins (six knockouts and three submissions), meaning that she is capable of disposing opponents in an instant. The 29-year-old has landed an average of 3.86 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 39%. Lipski has absorbed 3.97 strikes per minute and has defended 51% of the attempted strikes launched against her. She has a takedown average of 0.47 per 15 minutes and has a takedown accuracy of 42%. Lipski’s takedown defense is excellent at 73% and has normed 0.31 submissions per 15 minutes.

Melissa Gatto

Gatto (8-1-2, 2-1 UFC) had a good start, going unbeaten in her first 10 fights. Her first two matches in the UFC were impressive, winning over Victoria Leonardo and Sijara Eubanks by technical knockout. However, the Brazilian bumped onto a brick wall in May last year, losing to Tracy Cortez via unanimous decision. Thirteen months after her setback, Gatto comes back with a vengeance as she will try to restart her quest to win the flyweight title with a win against countrywoman Lipski. The 27-year-old Toledo native has six stoppage wins, including four by submissions, so expect her to pin her opponents on the ground to gain some advantage.

Gatto is a good striker like Lipski as she has connected at a rate of 51% and landed an average of 3.27 significant strikes per minute. Her defense is also above average, absorbing 2.6 strikes per minute and her defense is 53%. In terms of grappling, Gatto has normed 1.68 takedowns per 15 minutes at a rate of 33%. Like Lipski, her takedown defense is outstanding at 70% and her submission average is 0.42 per 15 minutes.