Prediction: Dione Barbosa via Submission Rd 1
Belbita simply doesn’t have the skill set to stop Barbosa from getting to her strengths, and once the fight hits the mat, it’s only a matter of time before the finish comes.
On the feet, Belbita is aggressive, but she lacks the technical sharpness and defensive awareness to make that style effective against someone with a strong grappling game. She’s hittable, doesn’t have great footwork, and struggles when pressured. Barbosa won’t need to engage in a prolonged striking battle—she just has to close the distance, and Belbita doesn’t have the strength or technique to stop her from doing that. Once Barbosa initiates the clinch or shoots for a takedown, she should be able to secure it without much resistance.
The moment this fight hits the ground, it’s over. Belbita has poor defensive grappling and has struggled against much lower-level submission threats in the past. Barbosa, on the other hand, is aggressive with her jiu-jitsu and doesn’t waste time once she gets top control. She transitions well, hunts for dominant positions, and has the finishing instincts to lock something up quickly. Whether it’s an armbar, a rear-naked choke, or a quick setup from mount, she should be able to wrap this up in Round 1 without much trouble.