Prediction: Austin Vanderford via Decision
Brahimaj is always dangerous in that opening round. He’s explosive, aggressive, and if he gets to your back or locks up a choke early, the fight can be over before you know it. But the issue with Brahimaj has always been what happens when that first burst doesn’t work. When he can’t just overpower guys in the grappling, his game falls apart quick. The cardio fades, the setups get sloppy, and suddenly he’s the one folding under pressure.
Vanderford’s whole style is built around high-pace wrestling, constant pressure, and making opponents work every second of the fight. He doesn’t need to blow you out of the water early because he knows his grind adds up. Against someone like Brahimaj who struggles when he can’t dictate the grappling, that’s a recipe for breaking him. Vanderford can survive the early storm if he’s smart defensively, and once they get past that dangerous first round, the control and pace are going to be too much for Ramiz to handle.