Top-ten heavyweights collide on Saturday night, as No. 7-ranked Serghei Spivac takes on No. 9 Ante Delija at UFC Houston.
Spivac (17–6, 7 KOs, 8 SUB) has dropped three of his last four bouts, most recently a unanimous decision loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta last June. Delija (26–7, 12 KOs, 7 SUB) had rattled off back-to-back first-round knockouts before his surge was also halted by “Salsa Boy,” who sparked him in the opening round last November.
Delija enters as a -142 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Spivac sits as a +120 underdog. The total is set at 1.5 rounds.
Spivac vs. Delija Preview
Serghei Spivac
Serghei Spivac has been a UFC mainstay since his promotional debut in May 2019, going 8–6 with victories over Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis, and Marcin Tybura. But the 31-year-old “Polar Bear” has stalled in recent years, dropping three of his last four bouts dating back to September 2023. He’ll enter the Octagon Saturday night aiming to avoid a three-fight skid after consecutive losses to Jailton Almeida and Waldo Cortes-Acosta.
Still, it’s unwise to write off the Moldovan sambo specialist completely. Spivac is an aggressive striker and opportunistic grappler, boasting an 88% finish rate with 11 first-round stoppages.
Ante Delija
Former 2022 PFL heavyweight champion Ante Delija made the jump to MMA’s flagship promotion last September, when he arrived with an emphatic first-round knockout of Marcin Tybura. But his momentum swiftly fizzled after getting flattened by surging heavyweight Waldo Cortes-Acosta in the first round of their November bout.
At 35 years old, Croatian mixed martial artist finds himself in a race against time as he attempts to steady the ship and continue climbing the UFC ladder before it’s too late. Fortunately, “Walking Trouble” is equipped with the necessary tools to do so — able to make quick work of his opponents, whether on the feet or the mat. Delija owns a 73% career finish rate with 15 first-round finishes, including nine wins in 1:30 or less.
Spivac vs. Delija Pick, Best Bet
Saturday’s heavyweight bout pits a pair of stoppage specialists hungry to make a statement. Spivac and Delija have combined for 26 first-round finishes throughout their careers, and each of their last two respective wins has been decided within the opening five minutes. Expect one of them to return to the well with another early stoppage in Houston.
