UFC Vegas 118 predictions

UFC Vegas 118 takes place Saturday, June 6, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, with early preliminaries streaming on Paramount+ at 5 p.m. ET and the main card at 8 p.m. ET. Belal Muhammad, a former welterweight champion, headlines the card against rising contender Gabriel Bonfim in a critical matchup for "Remember The Name," who suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in his 30-fight career.

Muhammad last competed at the Apex four years ago. His subsequent rise to title glory proved short-lived: he defeated Leon Edwards to claim gold in 2023 but lost the belt to Jack Della Maddalena and then fell to Ian Machado Garry, dropping him into a precarious position where a third straight defeat could derail his championship prospects entirely. Bonfim, ranked lower but hungry, represents a measured step down in competition—yet still dangerous enough to exploit Muhammad's recent struggles.

Muhammad's wrestling and cardio should prove decisive in a competitive decision victory. Brendan Allen's aggression and grappling will likely stymie Edmen Shahbazyan's striking-heavy game in round two. Fares Ziam, despite generous betting odds, figures to impose his will on the larger but raw Tom Nolan, securing a knockout. Bryce Mitchell's wrestling will dominate short-notice replacement Santiago Luna, though Luna's striking could trouble Mitchell early before exhaustion and ground control take over.