Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Matheus Nicolau See More
The sharpest MMA bets, top DFS picks across multiple sites, and predictions for this weekend's UFC Vegas 99 card are live on RotoWire before Saturday's event.
The top MMA betting and DFS plays for this weekend's UFC Vegas 99 card are up and courtesy of Drake Burden, who breaks down betting and lineup strategy, as well as offers predictions for the entire event.
UFC Vegas 99 takes place Saturday, so it's time to break down the top fights, plus make DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
More Fantasy News
Next fight scheduled
Nicolau is set to face Asu Almabayev in a flyweight match on October 19, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Nicolau will look to come back from the loss he suffered against Alex Perez in April. Nicolau has four losses in his career and will surely work hard on securing a victory against Asu Almabayev, who is coming off a dominant victory, keeping his record clean.
Nicolau will look to come back from the loss he suffered against Alex Perez in April. Nicolau has four losses in his career and will surely work hard on securing a victory against Asu Almabayev, who is coming off a dominant victory, keeping his record clean.
Upset in main event defeat
Nicolau lost to Alex Perez via KO (punches) at 2:16 of Round 2 at UFC on ESPN 55 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
If the Brazilian has had one issue during his professional career, it's a lack of durability, and that reared its ugly head again on this evening. Nicolau looked uncomfortable in this fight from start to finish. It's shocking because he's the guy with a full training camp under his belt, while Perez stepped in for Manel Kape on short notice. While this wasn't a high-volume striking battle, Nicolau most certainly got the worst of it. One big combination midway through Round 2 put him away from good. Nicolau only has four defeats in his career, but all four have come via knockout. The UFC's flyweight division is painfully thin up top, but back-to-back defeats will knock Nicolau out of the fringes of title contention for the foreseeable future.
If the Brazilian has had one issue during his professional career, it's a lack of durability, and that reared its ugly head again on this evening. Nicolau looked uncomfortable in this fight from start to finish. It's shocking because he's the guy with a full training camp under his belt, while Perez stepped in for Manel Kape on short notice. While this wasn't a high-volume striking battle, Nicolau most certainly got the worst of it. One big combination midway through Round 2 put him away from good. Nicolau only has four defeats in his career, but all four have come via knockout. The UFC's flyweight division is painfully thin up top, but back-to-back defeats will knock Nicolau out of the fringes of title contention for the foreseeable future.
Set to face Alex Perez
Nicolau won't face Manel Kape and instead will take on Alex Perez on April 27 in the main event of UFC Vegas 91, Danny Segura and Nolan King of MMA Junkie report.
ANALYSIS
Nicolau was the last fighter to defeat Kape, winning a split decision in March 2021, and he was eager to face him again, especially considering Nicolau is looking to rebound from a loss. His recent defeat to Brandon Royval snapped the 31-year-old's six-fight winning streak. Nicolau owns a 19-4-1 record in MMA and 7-2 at the UFC level.
Nicolau was the last fighter to defeat Kape, winning a split decision in March 2021, and he was eager to face him again, especially considering Nicolau is looking to rebound from a loss. His recent defeat to Brandon Royval snapped the 31-year-old's six-fight winning streak. Nicolau owns a 19-4-1 record in MMA and 7-2 at the UFC level.
Will fight Kape in April
Nicolau is set to face Manel Kape on April 27 in the main event of UFC Vegas 91, Alex Behunin of MMA Mania reports.
ANALYSIS
Nicolau was expected to fight Kape on Jan. 13, but the bout was called off after Nicolau missed weight one day before the event. Both fighters are now slated to meet again in April, and providing no one misses weight this time, Nicolau will aim to improve on his 7-2 record at the UFC level. He'll also aim to stop Kape's four-fight winning streak.
Nicolau was expected to fight Kape on Jan. 13, but the bout was called off after Nicolau missed weight one day before the event. Both fighters are now slated to meet again in April, and providing no one misses weight this time, Nicolau will aim to improve on his 7-2 record at the UFC level. He'll also aim to stop Kape's four-fight winning streak.
Fight called off
Nicolau's scheduled fight against Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 84 was canceled Friday after Kape missed weight, Nolan King of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Nicolau will no longer have the opportunity to improve to 2-0 against Kape after defeating him via split decision in March 2021. Nicolau sits at 7-2 in the UFC, though he has yet to redeem himself after losing to Brandon Royval in April.
Nicolau will no longer have the opportunity to improve to 2-0 against Kape after defeating him via split decision in March 2021. Nicolau sits at 7-2 in the UFC, though he has yet to redeem himself after losing to Brandon Royval in April.