It’s going down at 145 pounds on Saturday night, as Marcus McGhee welcomes the debuting Anthony Romero at UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang in Salt Lake City, Utah.
McGhee (11–2, 5–1 UFC) — fresh off a unanimous-decision win over John Yannis in June — was initially set to face bantamweight Bernardo Sopaj, who withdrew earlier this week. Romero (7–2, 0–0 UFC) steps in on short notice following a championship run in UpNext Fighting, looking to stun a ranked opponent in his first trip to the Octagon.
McGhee enters as a massive -500 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Romero is a +380 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Marcus McGhee vs. Anthony Romero Fight Preview
Marcus McGhee (#15)
- 11–2 (5–1 UFC)
- 8–0 (T)KO
- 1–1 SUB
New opponent, same objective for Marcus McGhee. The bantamweight veteran, 36, has gone an impressive 5–1 inside the Octagon; his only loss came last year against current champion Petr Yan, with McGhee taking one of the three rounds on every scorecard. “The Maniac” lives up to his nickname, known for his exciting blend of slick movement, creative combinations, and stoppage ability. After kickstarting his UFC career with three straight stoppages, McGhee is eyeing another highlight against promotional newcomer Anthony Romero.
Anthony Romero
- 7–2, 1 NC (Debut)
- 4–1 (T)KO
- 2–0 SUB
Even on three days’ notice, Anthony Romero didn’t blink at the chance to join MMA’s flagship promotion. The current UpNext bantamweight champion, 29, arrives with the full-throttle fight style fans love to see in a prospect: forward pressure, crisp southpaw boxing combinations, and bad, bad intentions. “The Bully” is fresh off defending his belt with a 25-second knockout of Yuma Horiuchi in May. While Romero faces a steep climb in competition on Saturday night, his opponent, Marcus McGhee, once triumphed in his short-notice promotional debut — so why can’t he?
Marcus McGhee vs. Anthony Romero Pick, Best Bet
Marcus McGhee enters Saturday’s featherweight clash as an overwhelming favorite for a reason. He’s far more experienced — winning a round against the current bantamweight champion — and has proven stoppage ability inside the Octagon. Odds are that “The Maniac” bulldozes his debuting opponent and resumes his rise up the bantamweight ladder.
That said, Anthony Romero is known for his explosive boxing — giving him a puncher’s chance to catch an opponent who spent his entire training camp preparing for somebody else. Either way, it seems likely one of these guys will hit the canvas at UFC 332.
