Prediction: Esteban Ribovics Via TKO
Esteban Ribovics vs Elves Brenner is going to be chaos—and that’s exactly why Ribovics is the rightful favorite. Stylistically, this is tailor-made for him. Brenner brings that reckless forward pressure, constantly crashing the pocket and trying to make it a gritty, ugly war. He fights like he’s trying to break your will, but Ribovics isn’t the guy who breaks—he lives for that kind of scrap.
On the feet, it’s not even close in terms of technique. Ribovics has the better shot selection, better accuracy, better combinations, and knows how to mix it up to the head, body, and legs. His flow is clean, and he doesn’t just throw to land—he throws with purpose and layers his offense. Brenner, on the other hand, relies heavily on durability. He walks forward, eats shots, and tries to out-tough his opponent. It’s gritty and entertaining, but it’s also a risky way to live, especially against someone like Ribovics who’s got power, volume, and clean shot placement.
The wild part is Brenner’s pressure might actually work against him here. Ribovics is at his best in back-and-forth brawls. He doesn’t need space or rhythm to get going—he bites down on the mouthpiece and lets it fly. And the difference between the two? Ribovics does that with composure. He knows how to stay dangerous even when things get wild, and when he’s hurt, he stays composed, recovers well, and fires back with smart, tight counters. Brenner gets sloppy. He’s all heart, but his defense is leaky, and he’s been cracked more than once trying to force pace.
Even if the fight hits the ground—which Brenner might try when the striking exchanges start to turn on him—Ribovics doesn’t just accept bottom. He’s got real urgency, solid scrambles, and doesn’t sit still. He’s shown he can work his way back up, or even attack if needed, but the point is, he’s never just holding on. You have to control him every second, or he’ll flip the position or stand and make you pay for it.
This is one of those matchups where Brenner’s style might look overwhelming on paper, but Ribovics is built for this exact fight. He’s sharper, more durable, better conditioned, and mentally tougher when the war breaks out. Unless Brenner finds something early and wild, Ribovics is gonna start taking over the longer it goes—whether it’s by damage, volume, or just better decision-making in the chaos. Ribovics is the side.