UFC Vegas 122: Allen vs. Duncan continues on the main card with a fight between Loopy Godinez and Ketlen Souza in the strawweight division. Check out our UFC Vegas 122 odds series for our Godinez-Souza prediction and pick.
Loopy Godinez (14-6, 9-6 UFC) suffered a second-round rear-naked choke loss to Tatiana Suarez in April, ending her two-fight winning streak. Previously, she beat Jessica Andrade by unanimous decision in August, showcasing her contender credentials before that setback, as she comes into her fight this weekend against Ketlen Souza on Saturday.
Ketlen Souza (17-6, 4-3 UFC) knocked out Ariane Carnelossi with punches and a head kick in June, finishing in 1:34 of the opening round. Previously, she beat Bruna Brasil by unanimous decision in February, building momentum as she comes into her fight this weekend against Loopy Godinez seeking three straight wins.
UFC Vegas 122 Odds, courtesy of Betonline.ag:
UFC Vegas 122 Odds: Loopy Godinez-Ketlen Souza Odds
Loopy Godinez: -230
Ketlen Souza: +193
Over 2.5 Rounds: -300
Under 2.5 Rounds: +247
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Why Loopy Godinez Will Win
Loopy Godinez should beat Ketlen Souza because her wrestling gives her the strongest opportunity to dictate where this fight takes place. Souza’s striking power deserves respect, but Godinez can reduce its influence by closing distance safely and making the Brazilian defend repeated grappling exchanges.
The key is blending punches with takedown attempts rather than shooting predictably from outside range and leaving herself exposed during every entry. Short combinations can create defensive reactions, allowing Godinez to establish clinches and attack the hips before Souza sets her feet for counters.
Godinez has also consistently faced stronger opposition, giving her experience against opponents who demand adjustments instead of allowing a comfortable opening round. That background should help her remain composed if Souza lands early, preventing one difficult exchange from becoming an unnecessarily reckless striking battle.
Her defensive striking provides another advantage, with Godinez defending sixty-two percent of incoming strikes across her recorded UFC appearances entering this matchup. Combined with selective pressure, that defense could let her score effectively while avoiding the clean power shots that make Souza dangerous.
Souza’s best chance is punishing entries, so Godinez must prioritize position and avoid forcing takedowns after losing balance or falling behind combinations.
Why Ketlen Souza Will Win
Ketlen Souza can beat Loopy Godinez by making every wrestling entry costly and keeping enough of this contest in striking range. Her first-round knockout of Ariane Carnelossi demonstrated the finishing threat Godinez must respect before committing to sustained pressure or repeated attempts to close distance.
The key is establishing straight punches early, forcing Godinez to enter from farther away rather than allowing comfortable transitions into clinches. If Souza can maintain space, she can make Godinez defend combinations before changing levels, increasing the difficulty of executing an effective wrestling attack.
Souza has specifically identified that scenario, saying she expects Godinez to wrestle and intends to stop takedowns before exploiting accumulated fatigue. That is a plausible winning strategy, although her confidence should not be mistaken for proof that her defensive wrestling will hold up.
Her recent victories over Bruna Brasil and Carnelossi provide momentum, but the tactical priority remains disciplined positioning rather than chasing another highlight. Circling away from the fence and maintaining balance after combinations would give Souza better opportunities to counter instead of defending from underneath.
Article Continues BelowGodinez’s grappling remains the biggest obstacle, so Souza needs defensive execution before her punching power can become the decisive factor on Saturday.
Final Loopy Godinez-Ketlen Souza Prediction & Pick
Loopy Godinez is my pick to beat Ketlen Souza, with her wrestling providing the clearest route to controlling this matchup. Godinez expects her grappling and pressure to play major roles, which fits the tactical challenge.
Souza remains dangerous at distance, particularly after her knockout of Ariane Carnelossi demonstrated her finishing power. Godinez must respect those weapons by entering behind punches rather than attempting predictable takedowns from outside range without preparation.
The key is making Souza defend several threats instead of settling into a comfortable striking rhythm. Clinches, level changes and short combinations should create opportunities for Godinez to dictate exchanges and accumulate effective offense.
Souza believes she can stop takedowns and capitalize when Godinez tires, making defensive execution her priority. However, Godinez’s wrestling advantage should become decisive if she maintains balance and avoids rushing entries after difficult exchanges.
Expect competitive striking before Godinez establishes control through timely grappling. I favor Godinez by decision after winning the positional battles.
Final Loopy Godinez-Ketlen Souza Prediction & Pick: Loopy Godinez (-230), OVER 2.5 Rounds (-300)