Matt Schnell vs Steve Erceg Pick, 3/2/2024 Predictions UFC Vegas 87 Odds

by Guy Bruhn - 2/28/2024

Matt Schnell vs Steve Erceg

UFC Vegas 87

UFC Apex in Las Vegas

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Matt Schnell will face off with Steve Erceg at UFC Vegas 87 on Saturday, March 2, 2024. The opener has Schnell at +280 while Erceg is coming in at -375.

Matt "Danger" Schnell will be looking to add a win to his career total of 16-7-0 (1 NC). The 34-year-old tips the scales at 125 lbs and stands 5'8". The orthodox fighter has a wingspan of 70". Steve "Astroboy" Erceg stands in at 5'8" and tips the scales at 125 lbs. The orthodox fighter looks to add a win to his record of 11-1-0. The 28-year-old reaches 68". Regarding significant strikes, Matt Schnell lands 4.24 per min and Steve Erceg lands 4.27 significant strikes per minute. Schnell lands 39% of the significant strikes he tries while Erceg is landing 48%. In terms of the fighter's defense, "Danger" takes 4.46 significant strikes per minute while "Astroboy" absorbs 3.57. Schnell also curbs 55% of the significant strikes his opponents attempt and Erceg is able to curb 49% of them.

ufc picks Matt Schnell ufc predictions best bet odds

UFC Vegas 87	Matt Schnell	Steve Erceg
Opening Odds	+280	-375
Record	16-7-0 (1 NC)	11-1-0
Average Fight Time	7:58	15:00
Height	5'8"	5'8"
Weight	125 lbs	125 lbs
Reach	70"	68"
Strikes Landed Per Minute	4.24	4.27
Striking Accuracy	39%	48%

When it comes to grappling, Matt Schnell is not as efficient of a grappler as he is averaging a takedown 0.63 times per 15 min. Schnell is getting his opponent to the mat on 44% of the times he tries and is stopping 46% of the takedowns his opponents try. Erceg is taking his opponents to the canvas on 33% of the takedowns he attempts and defending 77% of the tries against him. Regarding going for the sub, Schnell is the more skilled of the two fighters by going for 1.1 finishes per 3 rounds while Erceg tries 1.0 finishes per 3 rds.

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In his last fight, Matt Schnell fought Matheus Nicolau and walked away with a loss by way of a punch to the head in round 2. Nicolau ended up landing 40 of 50 total strikes that he threw in that fight. Schnell walked away from this fight having landed 29 of 68 total strikes. Concerning significant strikes, Nicolau landed 32 of 42, which gave him a rate of 76%. He finished the fight landing 23 of 31 significant strikes to the head. In terms of stats for the opponent, Schnell ended up landing 33% of his significant strikes by landing 20 of 59. Out of those significant strikes, he was 16 of 50 aimed at the head. 56% of the significant strikes landed by Nicolau and 100% of them landed by Schnell were thrown at distance.

In the last bout for Steve Erceg, he faced off with Alessandro Costa and wound up taking home the win via unanimous decision in round 3. Costa landed 64% of the significant strikes he tried at a distance while Erceg ended up landing 58% of his significant strikes at distance. Erceg ended up connecting on 59% of the significant strikes he attempted by connecting on 74 of 125. He ended up landing 41 of 87 significant strikes directed at the head. Costa ended up landing 54 of 97 significant strikes in that contest. In terms of accuracy for the significant strikes, he landed 31 of 70 to the head. When discussing total strikes attempted in that contest, Costa landed 85 of 129 while Erceg ended up connecting on 104 of 162 total strikes.

Other fights to watch

An additional bout that shouldn't be missed is when Eryk Anders opposes Jamie Pickett. Anders holds a career record of 15-8-0 (1 NC). The 36-year-old tips the scales at 185 lbs and measures in at 6'1". The southpaw fighter has a reach of 75". Pickett stands in at 6'2" and tips the scales at 185 lbs. The orthodox fighter steps into the Octagon with a mark of 13-10-0. The 35-year-old stretches 80". In terms of takedowns, Eryk Anders gets his opposition to the mat 1.54 times per 3 rds while Jamie Pickett is averaging a takedown 1.44 times per 15 min. Regarding striking, Anders is connecting on 3.56 strikes per minute and lands 47% of his attempted strikes. The other guy in this fight is Jamie Pickett, who lands 48% of the strikes he attempts and is connecting on 2.84 per min.

An additional fight that you're going to want to see is when Javid Basharat is set to face off with Aiemann Zahabi. Zahabi looks to add a victory to his career record of 10-2-0. The 36-year-old tips the scales at 135 lbs and comes in at 5'8". The orthodox fighter reaches 68". Basharat stands in at 5'9" and is fighting at 135 lbs. The orthodox fighter looks to add a victory to his career total of 14-0-0 (1 NC). The 28-year-old stretches 69". In the category of takedowns, Aiemann Zahabi is able to deflect 75% of the takedowns his opponents go for and is scoring a takedown on 16% of his tries. Basharat is finishing his takedowns on 50% of his tries and is able to defend against 85% of the takedowns his opponents attempt. In the category of striking, Zahabi takes 3.40 strikes per minute and he is dishing out 3.04 per min. Basharat, moreover, is absorbing 2.50 strikes per minute and is dealing 5.65 per minute.

Who will win tonight's UFC match against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Steve Erceg (-375)

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Matt Schnell vs Steve Erceg Pick, 3/2/2024 Predictions UFC Vegas 87 Odds

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