MMA returns to New York City’s Madison Square Garden this weekend for UFC 334: Gane vs. Hokit, featuring a women’s bantamweight clash between Macy Chiasson and Bia Mesquita.
Chiasson (11–6 MMA, 8–6 UFC) has dropped three fights in a row — all by unanimous decision — most recently falling on the scorecards to Ailin Perez in February. Mesquita (8–0 MMA, 3–0 UFC) has opened her Octagon tenure with three straight submission wins, capped by a first-round tap-out against Melissa Mullins in June.
Mesquita enters as a heavy -265 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Chiasson is a +215 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Macy Chiasson vs. Bia Mesquita Fight Preview
Macy Chiasson (#10)
- 11–6 MMA (8–6 UFC)
- 4–1 (T)KO
- 3–1 SUB
Former TUF winner Macy Chiasson has had a turbulent run in the UFC. Largely alternating wins and losses, she’s now dropped three straight fights heading into Saturday night. The 35-year-old veteran remains formidable on the feet behind an imposing 5-foot-11 frame and a 72-inch reach. However, her towering size advantage hasn’t helped much in the grappling department; she has posted a meager 62 percent takedown defense inside the Octagon. In her last fight, against the 5-foot-5 Ailin Perez, she got taken down six times on 10 attempts en route to a 29–28 defeat on all three scorecards.
Bia Mesquita (#11)
- 8–0 MMA (3–0 UFC)
- 1–0 (T)KO
- 6–0 SUB
Prolific jiu-jitsu specialist Bia Mesquita has transitioned seamlessly into MMA — and she looks right at home in the Octagon. The 10-time IBJJF world champion, 35, has won her first three UFC fights by submission, including back-to-back first-round finishes. During this run, “The Lady Goat” has displayed impressive top pressure with nasty ground-and-pound, helping her set up her lethal submission game. Only 5-foot-4, Mesquita now faces a steep climb in competition against the seasoned and much taller Macy Chiasson. But while she’ll likely remain at a striking disadvantage, the Brazilian looks poised to do damage if she can take the fight to the mat.
Macy Chiasson vs. Bia Mesquita Pick, Best Bet
Despite facing a notable size disadvantage, Bia Mesquita’s world-class BJJ gives her a clear pathway to victory against Macy Chiasson. The latter has struggled against grapplers in the past, as evidenced by her latest loss to Ailin Perez, also a much shorter opponent. Riding three straight submission wins, “The Lady Goat” should make it four in a row at Madison Square Garden.
