UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi 2 · Women's Bantamweight · 3 rounds
Opening locked Aug 19, 2026 · Bia Mesquita 77% · Submission · Round 1 · scored hit (Bia Mesquita / Submission)

BrazilBia Mesquita
“The Lady Goat”
Unranked · 8-0 · grappler · Orthodox · 35 · IQ B+ 77
American Top Team · Brazil
Bia Mesquita
76.6%
Melissa Mullins
23.4%
Model win probability · confidence 73%
No market posted yet.
Why the model leans this way
Bia Mesquita is the model side at 76.6% because the largest live edges sit where this fight is likely to be fought. Grappler historical edge: Mesquita (ground 87) into Mullins (TD reaction 56). Ground game is the clearest separator: Mesquita 87 (A) vs Mullins 36 (D). Mesquita brings 3.6 TD/15 and 6 sub wins into Mullins's 77% takedown defense.
Ground game
MesquitaMesquita 87 (A) vs Mullins 36 (D). Mesquita brings 3.6 TD/15 and 6 sub wins into Mullins's 77% takedown defense.
Fight IQ
MesquitaMesquita 77 (B+) vs Mullins 57 (C). Problem-solving and win-lane diversity sit with Mesquita (B+ vs C).
Durability
MullinsMullins 85 (A) vs Mesquita 70 (B). Mullins has been finished by strikes 0 times; Mesquita 0.
Punching agility
MesquitaMesquita 63 (C+) vs Mullins 51 (C). Hand speed / output lean Mesquita (4.5 SLpM at 69%).
Path · Mesquita
Mesquita has to wrestle early, chain the second shot, and make Mullins defend the neck instead of throwing. That is the percentage path.
Path · Mullins
Mullins has to stuff the first takedown (56 TD-reaction), keep this standing, and hunt a pocket that grades 67 on defense. Wrestling is the death lane.
This is a firm lean, not a lock. The upset script is Mullins attacking counter punching with durability.
Style and location. Wrestling entries, fence control, and mat time should decide the scorecards — or the finish. Mesquita is built as: Submission hunter. Mullins is built as: Pocket striker. Fight IQ delta is +20 toward Mesquita — that is composure, win-lane diversity, and whether they solve a second problem when the first look dies.
The edges that move the number. Ground game: Mesquita 87 (A) vs Mullins 36 (D). Mesquita brings 3.6 TD/15 and 6 sub wins into Mullins's 77% takedown defense. Fight IQ: Mesquita 77 (B+) vs Mullins 57 (C). Problem-solving and win-lane diversity sit with Mesquita (B+ vs C). Durability: Mullins 85 (A) vs Mesquita 70 (B). Mullins has been finished by strikes 0 times; Mesquita 0.
The finish path leans the mat (55% submission). Once a takedown sticks, the neck becomes the whole fight. This is a firm lean, not a lock. The upset script is Mullins attacking counter punching with durability. These trait marks are derived from FightMetric rates, career method shares, and loaded bout rows — reaction time and agility are proxies, not stopwatch numbers. The model folds the same scores into win probability, so a hole on this card is a hole in the percentage.
Fight IQ, ground game, defense, counter punching, reaction, agility, and takedown reaction — scored from tape and folded into the win number above.
Wrestling entries, fence control, and mat time should decide the scorecards — or the finish.
R1
31%
R2
21%
R3
24%
Dist
24%
Most likely: Round 1. Expected 8.8 minutes.
Grappler historical edge: Mesquita (ground 87) into Mullins (TD reaction 56).
Ground game (tape)
87 vs 36
Grappling composite
TD avg × acc × def + control + submission threat (adj.)
Fight IQ
B+ 77 vs C 57 — composure, win-lane diversity, adjustments
Striking differential
1.50 vs 0.41 SLpM−SApM (recency / opp. adjusted)
Striking efficiency
69% vs 54%
Damage ratio
1.50 vs 1.12 landed/absorbed
Durability
0 vs 0 KO losses
Recency form
Opp.-adjusted last 0/0 UFC rows
Takedown reaction
71% vs 77% hips on the shot
Punching agility
Output × accuracy × age curve
Output (SLpM)
4.52 vs 3.71
Style interaction
Grappler historical edge: Mesquita (ground 87) into Mullins (TD reaction 56).
Counter punching
53 vs 49
Timing & reaction
Defense + absorb + knockdown timing proxy
Striking defense
59% vs 61%
Pocket defense (tape)
C+ vs C+
Age-adjusted curve
35 vs 35
Reach / length
67.5" vs 68.0"
Takedown mismatch
TD def 71% vs 77%
Cardio proxy
Output sustainability + distance rate
Strength of schedule
Opp. quality 50 vs 50
Layoff / rust
Time since last fight
Championship / 5-round
Three-round fight
No recent UFC tape in the book.
No recent UFC tape in the book.
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