Lightweights
Evan
Elder (9-2, 2-2 UFC) vs. Gauge Young
(9-2, 0-0 UFC)
ODDS: Elder (-258), Young (+210)
Elder is an underrated prospect, even if it’s unclear how much
long-term upside he has as a rock-solid if unspectacular fighter.
Elder’s UFC career didn’t get off to the best start, as he was
physically overwhelmed by Preston
Parsons up at welterweight and lost via cut stoppage to
Nazim
Sadykhov, but he has gotten to show off his wares with steps
back in competition against Genaro
Valdez and Darrius
Flowers. Elder might run into an athletic ceiling and needs to
continue developing some defensive comfort—he tends to get hit hard
at least once per fight—but at worst, he should be able to plug
away as a gatekeeper, which is where he winds up here against a UFC
newcomer. Young had a bit of hype ahead of his 2024 showing on Dana
White’s Contender Series, where he lost but put in a game effort
against Quillan
Salkilld. A grinder during his best efforts on the regional
scene, Young got frozen out by a longer striker and stifled a bit
by someone who could match his physicality. Elder doesn’t
particularly have that type of neutralizing ability in his game, at
least not yet, so this should be a fairly even scrap. The call is
still that the UFC veteran lands the best offense of the fight. The
pick is Elder via decision.
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