Surging flyweight prospect Alden Coria returns to the Octagon on Saturday night, taking on Stewart Nicoll at UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman in Oklahoma City.
Coria (12–3 [1 NC], 2–0 UFC) is fresh off a commanding decision win over Luis Gurule in February. Nicoll (8–3, 0–3 UFC) is winless in his first three trips to the Octagon, capped by a second-round TKO loss to Alessandro Costa in April.
Coria enters as an overwhelming -1100 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Nicoll is a +700 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Coria vs. Nicoll Preview
Alden Coria
- 12–3, 1 NC (2–0 UFC)
- 5–0 (T)KO
- 4–1 SUB
Alden Coria has made an emphatic first impression in the UFC. Back in September, the Houston native made a short-notice Octagon debut in his home state — proceeding to score an impressive third-round TKO win over Alessandro Costa.
The 28-year-old “Cobra” improved to 2–0 inside the Octagon with another impressive display against Luis Gurule in February. Utilizing his crisp boxing and formidable grappling, the freestyle dynamo coasted to a clean sweep of the judges’ scorecards (30–27, 3x).
A former Fury FC champion, Coria is looking to put the rest of the division on notice as he continues his climb up the UFC’s flyweight ladder.
Stewart Nicoll
- 8–3 (0–3 UFC)
- 4–1 (T)KO
- 3–1 SUB
The Octagon has not been kind to Stewart Nicoll. The Solomon Islands native — fighting out of Australia — has looked completely outmatched in the UFC, off to an 0–3 start, with losses coming by submission, decision, and knockout.
Nicoll’s grapple-heavy approach hasn’t translated against UFC-level competition, significantly narrowing his pathway to victory. “Kakamora,” 31, is reeling from a TKO loss to Alessandro Costa in April, when he was taken down multiple times before getting folded by a last-second body blow in the second round.
Coria vs. Nicoll Pick, Best Bet
While Stewart Nicoll has appeared out of his league inside the Octagon, Alden Coria has hit the mat running. He enters Saturday with clear advantages in virtually every aspect of the fight game and a dominant run of form that includes a stoppage win over Alessandro Costa, who just finished Nicoll a few months ago. Add to that a considerable size advantage — three inches in height, two in reach — and you’ve got the recipe for another statement victory from the ascending prospect.
Coria has strong finishing upside and — given Nicoll’s turbulent UFC track record — should step on the gas to secure a stoppage within two rounds.
