UFC Vegas 61: Dern vs. Yan Odds, Schedule, Predictions

Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan get the opportunity to headline an event as UFC Vegas 61 goes down at the organization's APEX Facility.

Dern will be serving as a headliner for the second time in her career. Her last bout was the finale of a card, and she lost to Marina Rodriguez via unanimous decision.

Yan will be involved in the final fight for the first time in her career. She's looking to bounce back after suffering back-to-back losses to Rodriguez and Carla Esparza.

In the co-main event, veteran Francisco Trinaldo meets Randy Brown in a welterweight collision.

Here's a look at the complete card as well as previews and predictions for the biggest fights.

Main Card (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

Prelims (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Dern's slotting in the main event even after a loss in her last fight is an example of how much the UFC is trying to push her. The 29-year-old is a unique fighter with an extensive jiu-jitsu background and a penchant for finishing fights on the ground.

It's that knack for securing submissions that has led her to seven wins by tap in her career.

However, Dern's striking continues to be a work in progress, and that's what makes this an interesting matchup.

Yan averages 5.66 significant strikes per minute and isn't afraid to mix it up in a kickboxing match. She has a good takedown game as well but doesn't have to resort to it to win fights.

Her high-volume striking is exactly what can give Dern problems. The ADCC World Champion has struggled with patient strikers who are willing to pick her apart from distance.

However, that's not exactly what Yan does. She's a brawler and wrestler at heart, and both open opportunities for Dern to get this to the ground, where she has the grappling chops to earn another tap.

Prediction: Dern via second-round submission

Neither Randy Brown nor Francisco Trinaldo are anywhere near a title shot, but that doesn't mean they don't make for an intriguing fight.

Trinaldo is 44, and after more than 10 years in the UFC, he's on an impressive 5-1 run looking to make a final impression. Most recently, he took a unanimous decision against Danny Roberts, and he continues to be a thorn in the side of much younger fighters with his savvy striking.

Now, he'll try to keep things rolling against the 32-year-old Brown, who is on a 5-1 streak of his own that includes wins in each of his last three fights.

Brown will have a considerable reach advantage (78" to 70") against the stocky Trinaldo. That should come in handy, as he could benefit from putting his jab in his opponent's face as much as possible to make the veteran deal with a fast-paced fight.

Trinaldo has the power and counter-punching ability to make this an interesting fight, but it still feels like it's Brown's to lose.

Prediction: Brown via decision

Sound the upset alarms, the lead-in to the co-main event could have all the makings of a stunner.

Raoni Barcelos is a sizable favorite over Trevin Jones in the bantamweight bout.

If you just compare the records of these two, it's easy to see why Barcelos gets the nod. He started his career 16-1 and developed a reputation outside of the UFC before winning his first five fights in the promotion.

But you can't look at those fights without acknowledging that the 35-year-old is coming off losses to Victor Henry and Timur Valiev. This is a division that isn't always kind to aging fighters, and the cliff often comes sooner than people think.

Trevin Jones is also coming off two losses but is slightly younger and still has pop in his hands. If Barcelos' skills and athleticism are slipping, Jones is good enough to catch him on the feet or even lock in a surprise submission.

Prediction: Jones via third-round TKO

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