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Prediction, pick for Jean Matsumoto vs. Farid Basharat

Prediction, pick for Jean Matsumoto vs. Farid Basharat

Published:

By: Ryan Wohl

Jean Matsumoto takes on Farid Basharat in a three-round Bantamweight contest in the second fight at tonight’s UFC Fight Night. The Main Card begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Matsumoto beat Miles Johns by split decision in his previous fight, while Basharat has a perfect 14-0 record with five of them coming in the UFC.

Here is my best bet for Jean Matsumoto vs. Farid Basharat at tonight’s UFC Fight Night.

Farid Basharat To Win By Decision (-160)

Basharat last beat Chris Gutierrez in October 2025 at UFC 320, and at 28, he seems like a future title contender. Currently, Basharat trains at one of the most prestigious MMA gyms, American Top Team, led by Head Coach Mike Brown. Brown has helped guide numerous fighters to UFC gold over the years.

Matsumoto is 17-1 with nine finishes and is also a skilled fighter. He is 3-1 in the UFC and has competed in the promotion since he earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023. In this bout, Basharat has a three-inch reach advantage (71″ vs. 68″) and is two inches taller (5’8″ vs. 5’6″) than Matsumoto.

Matsumoto lands 1.38 more significant strikes per minute (5.43 vs. 4.05) than Basharat. But Basharat is the more efficient fighter (52% vs. 41%) while being much more advanced defensively. Basharat only absorbs 2.47 significant strikes per minute, which is 2.96 fewer than Matsumoto. Also, Basharat excels on the ground, averaging 3.60 takedowns per 15 minutes.

On DraftKings Sportsbook, Basharat is a -298 favorite, with Matsumoto as the underdog at +240 in this contest. Even though Matsumoto only has one loss on his resume, Basharat is a much better all-around fighter, as the odds suggest. But since Basharat is a big favorite, it is wise to back him to win via decision at -160. Basharat has won five of his last six fights by decision.

Ryan is a University of Arizona graduate and Philadelphia native. Since 2024, he has been a writer for DraftKings Network, primarily covering combat sports. He is a big Philly sports fan and loves to collect sneakers, as well.
Disclaimer

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.