Cameron Saaiman vs Terrence Mitchell 7/8/2023 Odds, Expert Picks and Tips
It’s nearly time for UFC 290, and the Early Prelims will feature several thrilling fights, including this one in the Bantamweight (135 lb) Division. Cameron Saaiman, a promising South African talent, will compete against Terrence Mitchell, a replacement player.
Since signing a deal on DWCS, Cameron Saaiman has gone 2-0 in the UFC and is unbeaten in his brief fighting career (8-0). Along with fellow fighter Dricus Du Plessis, he trains out of Team CIT in South Africa. He has established himself as a serious competitor among this new generation of youthful talent. Saaiman seeks to win his third straight match after defeating Steven Koslow and Mana Martinez in back-to-back contests. The 58-year-old Saaiman has a 67-inch reach.
Cameron Saaiman has performed admirably on the enormous UFC stage and is quickly making a reputation in South Africa. Saaiman, who is only 22 years old, fights with tremendous confidence and conducts himself like a veteran. Although he has managed to remain immaculate, he has faced difficulty in his battles and demonstrated his ability to overcome obstacles. He is an active wrestler with a strong jiu-jitsu foundation. Expect Saaiman to maintain his pace in this one because of his accurate hitting and robust cardiovascular system.
Saaiman struggled to maintain composure throughout his most recent battle, earning many penalty stoppages with illegal punches and eye pokes. He will need extreme caution since the referee won’t hesitate to deduct a point from him because of his history of doing so. Given his extended training, Saaiman will be the fresher and better-prepared fighter; as a clear favorite, he should try to finish the job. Look for Saaiman to display a better wrinkle in his game as he picks up tips from teammate Du Plessis throughout their camps as he continues to develop with each appearance in the octagon.
In this bout, Saaiman hopes to extend his unbeaten eight-match winning streak. In March of the current year, he defeated Loemana Martinez in a majority decision, his most recent victory. His fighting history shows eight victories, including five knockouts, one submission, and two decisions. His eight wins have included two first-round finishes.
“The Brute” has a takedown accuracy of 50% and a striking accuracy of 48%. He deals out 5.39 significant strikes per minute while receiving 2.59. This skill demonstrates his aggression and is a big difference from the averages. His takedown defense is 40%, while his defense against significant strikes is 60%. In addition, he scores 0.36 submissions and 0.71 takedowns every 15 minutes of fighting.
Cameron Saaiman vs Terrence Mitchell 7/8/2023 Odds, Expert Picks and Tips
With only a few weeks’ notice, 15-2 mixed martial artist Terrence Mitchell will make his UFC debut instead of Christian Rodriguez. Mitchell, who ranks first in the local Alaskan MMA circuit and has been competing since 2009, has been active in the sport. Mitchell will return to the UFC stage after being eliminated early from The Ultimate Fighter 24, hoping to pull off a huge upset victory. Mitchell is 5’9″.
Terrence Mitchell will enter this bout with only a few weeks’ notice, although he has remained engaged in the Alaska Combat Entertainment promotion. He has just won two consecutive matches by submission. Thus, he is now on a roll. The obvious problem, though, will be the disparity between Saaiman and Mitchell’s levels of competitiveness. Saaiman has previously had three UFC outings and won each, although Mitchell is 11 years older. Mitchell will need to be at his very best for this battle. He can threaten on the ground and is a dangerous striker, but his jiu-jitsu and ability to pursue submission are where he excels.
Mitchell must maintain his composure during the battle and avoid running out of gas too soon. Given that it’s his debut, he will surely be a little nervous, but Mitchell will gain by keeping his composure and watching Saaiman make a mistake. Watching how Saaiman handles him would be fascinating because his ground game is strong enough for him to try a couple of submissions. Don’t be shocked if this battle is closer than the odds suggest because Mitchell will have twice as many fights as his opponent.
Going into this bout, Mitchell had an 11-fight winning streak. His most recent triumph came in April of this year when he was rear naked choked in the first round. Saaiman has 14 victories in his professional fighting career, including seven knockouts and seven submits. Twelve of his fourteen wins have come in the first round, while he has suffered one loss by decision and one by knockout.
This match will feature “Terr-Bear” making his UFC debut. His most notable victories (10-2) and 3-0 records are from Alaska Fighting Championships and Alaska Combat Entertainment. However, the opposition in these conflicts has been weak, and he has performed admirably in that respect. These victories can be considered exaggerated, given the level of competition present.
Cameron Saaiman vs. Terrence Mitchell. Cameron Saaiman had Christian Rodriguez in mind as a far more formidable foe, but if he wants to prevail in this match, he must keep to his game plan. The noticeable difference will be the level of competition between these two. However, Terrence Mitchell could have his moments in some grappling battles. If Saaiman follows his strategy and maintains discipline, he should win easily. As he tries to finish, seek a KO/TKO prop, as his betting line has no value.
Prediction: Cameron Saaiman (-520); Wins by KO/TKO (-145)
Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Date: Saturday, July 08, 2023
Main Card: 10:00 PM ET
Prelims: 6:00 PM ET
Watch on: ESPN and ESPN+