American middleweights throw down on Saturday night, as undefeated prospect Donte Johnson faces grizzled veteran Eric McConico at UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry in Philadelphia.
Johnson (8–0, 2–0 UFC) preserved his perfect record with a split-decision win over Cody Brundage in March. McConico (11–4–1, 2–2 UFC) has alternated wins and losses since his Octagon debut, now coming off a unanimous decision win over Rodolfo Vieira in April.
Johnson enters as a -258 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. McConico is a +210 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Johnson vs. McConico Preview
Donte Johnson
- 8–0 (2–0 UFC)
- 6–0 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
Donte Johnson punched his ticket to the UFC by opening his career with six straight first-round knockouts, punctuated by a 64-second flattening of Darion Abbey on Dana White’s Contender Series. While still searching for his first KO inside the Octagon, the 27-year-old southpaw — dubbed “Lock Jaw” — has remained undefeated through two trips to the cage.
Johnson has been stymied slightly by wrestling, though not enough to smudge his spotless resume. He eked out a split-decision win over Cody Brundage earlier this year; before that, he cultivated his own grappling success with a second-round submission win in his promotional debut against Sedriques Dumas. Still, there’s likely part of him that enters Saturday night hunting one of those highlight-reel stoppages that got him here in the first place.
Eric McConico
- 11–4–1 (2–2 UFC)
- 4–4 (T)KO
- 3–0 SUB
Eric McConico has struggled for consistency since joining the UFC, trading wins and losses in his first four trips to the Octagon. While he’s a formidable striker coming off an upset win over Rodolfo Vieira, he tends to eat more damage than he can dish out.
And at 36, McConico’s durability raises serious concern. All four of his professional losses have come by knockout or TKO, and he got knocked down early before rallying against Vieira. While the LA native will have a considerable size advantage on Saturday (four inches in height, three in reach), he should avoid engaging in a stand-up war with his explosive opponent. However, he’s rarely been one to take things to the ground and may have to show a new side of his game to get his hand raised.
Johnson vs. McConico Pick, Best Bet
Johnson is well-positioned to extend his highlight reel Saturday night, facing a hittable veteran with an eroding chin. The undefeated prospect is younger, faster, and stronger — and he should leave Philadelphia with his first UFC win by knockout or TKO.
