Kyle Anthony

THE PLAY: Billy Quarantillo +150

This matchup represents a true battle of the ages.... meaning both these guys are getting old for fighting. Diego Ferreira enters at 41 years old while Billy Quarantillo comes in at 37. Neither man has stayed particularly active in recent years yet both now prepare to face one another on Saturday night. Diego remains a well-rounded competitor whose high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu continues to stand out. He's very opportunistic with his submission attempts and pairs that threat with solid striking power. His combinations can be explosive and he tends to push the pace aggressively in the early going. Billy Quarantillo makes his first career move up to the lightweight division after a difficult 1-3 stretch that ended with a knockout loss to Cub Swanson. I do believe that loss has pushed the odds wider making Billy Q an underdog. Quarantillo thrives as a high-volume striker who loves to exchange heavy in the pocket. He pressures forward relentlessly and overwhelms opponents with pure output. The weight class change looks like a smart adjustment for him. Billy built his reputation on a durable chin and excellent cardio yet those qualities appeared to fade while he struggled to make featherweight. Competing at a more natural weight should leave him fresher and allow a rejuvenated version of his game to emerge. He's going to be the quicker fighter on the night, while recent performances suggest Diego’s overall skills have declined noticeably. Cardio has become a recurring concern for him and Billy’s constant pace could exploit that weakness. When fights start going against Diego he has shown a tendency to wilt under sustained pressure. Billy’s high-volume approach forces continuous activity and that demand may drain Ferreira’s gas tank even faster. Although Diego holds the superior ground game he has struggled to force the action to the mat. Across his last seven contests he secured only three takedowns and those all came in a single fight. Billy therefore carries the wrestling edge and can use it to control rounds from dominant positions when needed. The combination of relentless pace, forward pressure and striking volume should prove too much for the 41-year-old. Will be a scrappy fight and one Billy should edge out the victory at a plus money price tag.

Billy Quarantillo +150