Charles Johnson vs Su Mudaerji prediction, picks, start time for UFC Fight Night 245

Charles Johnson and Su Mudaerji meet on the main card of UFC Fight Night 245 on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

Last event: 3-3

UFC main cards, 2024: 87-77-3

Charles Johnson vs. Su Mudaerji UFC Fight Night 245 preview

Johnson (16-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) has seemed to be getting things under control since a three-fight skid nearly ended his UFC tenure. He enters the fight as the winner of his last three fights, all of which came in a very busy 2024 campaign. Johnson's decision win over Azat Maksum in February was a Fight of the Night affair, and his third-round finish over Joshua Van in July earned a Performance of the Night bonus. … Mudaerji (16-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC) will look to stay above .500 and get back on the win list after back-to-back outings. Mudaerji's last win was a unanimous decision over Zarrukh Adashev in January 2021.

Charles Johnson vs. Su Mudaerji UFC Fight Night 245 Expert Pick, Prediction

Filling out the main card is a flyweight attraction between Johnson and Mudaerji.

Considering that these two fighters were strangely booked with opposite dynamics in terms of their win and loss streaks, I can understand why the betting public is behind Johnson.

Many, including myself, have gotten solid insight into Johnson's abilities and potential and have wanted to see him do well since he stepped onto the UFC stage. And even though the wins and losses have been stacked up, Johnson appears to be on the right track as a fighter.

Mudaerji, on the other hand, has struggled with everything from injuries and inactivity to persistently difficult matchmaking.

Mudaerji appears to have spent the last two fight camps with Team Alpha Male alongside Song Yadong, so I'm excited to see if the 28-year-old Tibetan finally reaches a turning point in his career as well.

While this might be an easy choice for Johnson, I find myself half-reluctant to take a flight on the other side.

Aside from the fact that it would be hilarious to see an Asian fighter “Inner G” on ice after the borderline racist tweet he sent out this week (which is fine by Johnson's logic since “he likes anime”), Johnson has traditionally fought southpaws and is officially a shaky 1-2 against southpaws at the UFC level.

While admittedly my personal bias is at play, given how annoyed I am by repeated incidents like this involving Asian athletes in this sport/athletic culture, I generally stand by my choice here.

All personal criticisms aside, Johnson is one of the least trustworthy fighters from a gambling perspective, so I stay away from his fights – especially if he's the one favored.

The official pick has Mudaerji Johnson serving much-needed humble pie with a surprise first-round knockout.

Charles Johnson vs Su Mudaerji UFC Fight Night 245 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the American fighter, listing Johnson -225 and Su +180 via FanDuel.

Charles Johnson vs Su Mudaerji UFC Fight Night 245 start time, how to watch

Johnson and Mudaerji are expected to head to the cage around 8:05 p.m. ET (5:05 p.m. PT). The fight will be streamed on ESPN+.

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For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC Fight Night 245 event hub.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Charles Johnson vs. Su Mudaerji prediction, picks, start time for UFC Fight Night 245