Cooper Albers details his best bet for Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha at UFC Vegas 112.
UFC Heavyweights collide on ESPN one last time, as Kennedy Nzechukwu meets Marcus Buchecha at UFC Vegas 112 at the Apex.
Nzechukwu (14–6), a veteran striker, aims to bounce back from a submission loss to Valter Walker in July that handed him his third loss in five fights. Buchecha (5–2), a seasoned jiu-jitsu specialist, looks to claim his first UFC victory after Martin Buday spoiled his Octagon debut in July.
Nzechukwu enters as a -130 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Buchecha sits as a +110 underdog. The total is set at 1.5 rounds.
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha Preview
Nzechukwu, 33, has had an up-and-down career since his Octagon debut in March 2019. The former Dana White’s Contender Series standout entered his first UFC fight with a perfect 6–0 record, but a loss to Paul Craig triggered an 8–6 stretch across six years with the promotion.
Despite coming off a first-round submission loss to Valter Walker in July, the Nigerian southpaw remains a lethal striker with ruthless aggression, landing over five significant strikes per minute. Standing 6-foot-5 with an 83-inch reach, Nzechukwu preceded his loss to Walker with back-to-back, first-round knockouts against Chris Barnett and Lukasz Brezeski.
Eleven of his 14 wins have come by finish, including seven of eight inside the Octagon — with six knockouts and a lone submission via guillotine. He’s not afraid to mix in a takedown if need be, and he boasts an impressive 80% stuff-rate on opponent attempts.
Buchecha, 35, carried a 5–1 record and 100% finish rate (four submissions and a knockout) into his UFC debut after a sparkling run with ONE Championship. Outside of a lone decision loss in August 2023, Buchecha had never gone to the second round.
But Buchecha was quickly humbled when he jumped over to MMA’s flagship promotion. Debuting against UFC mainstay Martin Buday in July, the 6-foot-2 Brazilian with a 77-inch reach landed just over one significant strike per minute and got stuffed on 10 of his 11 takedown attempts (9% accuracy) — suffering a momentum-stifling unanimous decision loss.distance, including 11 knockouts and two submissions.
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha Pick, Best Bet
Rare is the instance when a UFC veteran is actually two years younger than the up-and-coming prospect. Nzechukwu owns a clear striking edge, formidable takedown defense, and a sizable height and reach advantage — all underscored by an incomparable wealth of Octagon experience.
Count on the UFC’s last heavyweight clash on ESPN to end with Nzechukwu’s hand getting raised.
Best Bet: Kennedy Nzechukwu Moneyline (-130)
