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Writer's pictureCris Psycho

UFC Vegas 98

Chidi Njokuani Over 41.5 Significant Strikes @ -115


KO artist (and unofficial voice actor) Chidi Njokuani is set to face the tough and durable Jared Gooden in what should be an action-packed fight for as long as it lasts.


Njokuani, known for his striking precision and deep voice, is the brother of former UFC fighter Anthony Njokuani. As a technical kickboxer, Chidi excels at maintaining range using straight strikes. While he possesses knockout power, his approach is more methodical—similar to Israel Adesanya—picking his shots rather than aggressively hunting for finishes. This style, though, can be a double-edged sword, as Njokuani often gets out-volumed by opponents who can weather his power. Despite being a BJJ black belt, he has a tendency to be taken down and controlled on the ground.


On the other side, Jared Gooden is a gritty, forward-pressing fighter whose greatest asset is his heart and durability. However, his defense leaves much to be desired. On the feet, he absorbs more strikes than he lands, and once on the ground, he struggles to get back to his feet. Particularly concerning is Gooden's tendency to absorb strikes at an alarming rate of 6.68 significant strikes per minute—a dangerous stat against a striker like Njokuani.


I expect this fight to play out primarily on the feet, with minimal wrestling exchanges. Ultimately, it will come down to Gooden's ability to withstand Njokuani's power.


The prop to consider here is Njokuani Over 41.5 Significant Strikes. While Njokuani’s measured striking style can sometimes hurt his overall output, Gooden presents a favorable matchup. Gooden is a step down in competition and has proven to be hittable, absorbing significant strikes in bunches, even from non-strikers (Abubakar Nurmagomedov - 23, Carlston Harris - 43, Wellington Turman - 27 in the first rounds). Gooden’s tendency to take damage should allow Njokuani to comfortably surpass 41.5 significant strikes, especially given Njokuani’s 61% striking accuracy. With the fight projected to last over 1.5 rounds, Njokuani’s use of jabs and teep kicks should rack up enough strikes before heavier shots eventually land and possibly put Gooden away.



Potential Live Bets to Look For


Cody Haddon Moneyline after Round 1

Dan Argueta is coming into this fight 2.5 lbs over the weight limit and tends to start strong but fade as the fight goes on. Meanwhile, Haddon has a significant advantage in striking. I anticipate Argueta out-wrestling Haddon in the first round and possibly winning it. However, if Argueta shows signs of fatigue after Round 1, I’m betting on Haddon’s moneyline.


Long Shot Bets


Lucas Rocha by KO/TKO (+380)

Rocha comes into this fight with more experience, despite being younger than Clayton Carpenter. Carpenter, though talented, has shown a vulnerability when he gets overly aggressive, often leaving himself open to counters. He also tends to dip his head low when shooting for takedowns, which could be a critical flaw against Rocha. Given Rocha’s ability to time his strikes, I could see Carpenter rushing in for a takedown and Rocha landing a well-timed knee to secure the knockout.


Dan Argueta to Win by Submission (+650)

Argueta is a relentless fighter who wastes no time pressing forward and looking for wrestling opportunities. He’s known for his aggressive grappling style, which includes diving for submissions like the guillotine. In his previous fight against Ronnie Lawrence, Argueta had Lawrence in a guillotine that could have secured the win if the referee hadn’t stopped the fight prematurely. Whether he pulls another guillotine or secures an early takedown, Argueta is an active submission artist and has a solid chance of finishing this fight by submission.


Sean Sharaf Over 0.5 Takedowns (+500)

Sharaf is stepping in on just three days' notice to face a dangerous heavyweight kickboxer in Tafa. While Sharaf’s level of competition has been subpar, his best path to victory is by using his wrestling. Tafa has shown weakness in his takedown defense, getting taken down consistently in previous fights. Sharaf, despite the short notice, has shown a willingness to shoot for takedowns in past fights, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he attempts an early takedown, using brute strength to get Tafa on the ground at least once.

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