UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 continues on the early prelims with a fight between Ryan Gandra and Ozzy Diaz in the middleweight division. Check out our UFC 331 odds series for our Gandra-Diaz prediction and pick.
Ryan Gandra (10-1) is red-hot heading into UFC 331, riding a five-fight win streak entirely by first-round knockout. He blitzed Jose Medina in February 2026 and followed it up by finishing Zach Reese via punches at UFC 329 in July, showcasing devastating early power as he comes into his fight this weekend against Ozzy Diaz.
Ozzy Diaz (10-4) has struggled to find footing inside the Octagon, dropping his last outing to Ateba Gautier via second-round TKO in May 2026 after previously earning a unanimous decision over Djorden Santos in March 2025. That inconsistency leaves him at 1-2 in his UFC tenure as he comes into his fight this weekend against Ryan Gandra.
UFC 331 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC 331 Odds: Ryan Gandra-Ozzy Diaz
Ryan Gandra: -550
Ozzy Diaz: +410
Over 1.5 rounds: +195
Under 1.5 rounds: -260
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Why Ryan Gandra Will Win
Gandra's explosiveness is his biggest weapon, having ended all six of his UFC wins in the first round with a blistering 12.6 output per minute out of the gate. That early pace makes him dangerous before a fight ever settles into a rhythm, and Diaz has historically started slower with just 3.7 output per minute in opening rounds.
Diaz's chin has been a genuine liability. He was knocked out in his most recent outing against Ateba Gautier and has been finished by strikes in all four of his career losses, exactly the kind of finishing power Gandra brings to every fight.
Gandra also carries better all-around efficiency, absorbing far less per minute in round one than Diaz allows, while Diaz sits in the bottom of the division for head-strike defense despite ranking near the top offensively.
Neither fighter shows meaningful takedown ability, which likely keeps this fight standing and squarely in Gandra's wheelhouse. Given his perfect first-round finishing rate, superior early pace, and Diaz's documented tendency to get hurt and finished by strikes, Gandra looks well-positioned to add a sixth straight knockout to his resume before this one reaches deeper waters.
Article Continues BelowWhy Ozzy Diaz Will Win
Diaz brings significant size to this fight, standing roughly three inches taller with an eight-centimeter reach advantage over Gandra. That length gives him tools to keep a shorter, aggressive knockout artist at range and pick his shots from distance rather than engaging in close-quarters exchanges.
Diaz also holds legitimate finishing power of his own, with seven of his ten career wins coming by knockout and six of those finishes arriving in the first round. If Gandra presses forward recklessly the way he has in his recent knockout streak, Diaz has shown he can capitalize on careless entries with power counters.
Experience matters here too. Diaz has already tasted the adversity of adjusting after a knockout loss to Ateba Gautier, and fighters who've been hurt before sometimes fight more cautiously and defensively in the very next outing, exactly the kind of composure needed against an opponent who thrives on fast starts.
Gandra remains largely unproven against durable, well-rounded UFC-level competition given his short stint in the promotion. If Diaz uses his reach to survive the opening exchanges and drags Gandra into deeper rounds, his superior size and finishing instincts could turn the tide once Gandra's pace inevitably slows.
Final Ryan Gandra-Ozzy Diaz Prediction & Pick
This fight likely hinges on whether Gandra's explosive early pace can overwhelm Diaz before his reach and power become factors. Gandra has finished all six of his UFC wins in the first round with an aggressive 12.6 output per minute, and Diaz's slower 3.7 opening-round pace suggests he could get caught before finding his rhythm.
Diaz's chin remains the biggest question mark after his recent knockout loss to Ateba Gautier, and his history of being finished by strikes in every career defeat plays directly into Gandra's strengths.
Diaz does hold real size and reach advantages that could let him pick shots from distance if he survives the early storm, and his own knockout power means one clean counter could change everything.
Given Gandra's blistering start and Diaz's documented durability issues, expect Gandra to press forward immediately, find an opening, and add a sixth straight first-round knockout to close out this middleweight clash.
Final Ryan Gandra-Ozzy Diaz Prediction & Pick: Ryan Gandra (-550), UNDER 1.5 Rounds (-260)