Tim Welch is picking Diego Lopes to defeat Alexander Volkanovski by decision, noting Lopes enters the fight on a significant winning streak featuring quality victories over fighters like Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, Sodiq Yusuff, Dan Ige, and Brian Ortega. Welch highlighted Lopes' significant height advantage, youth at 30 years old, and power boxing combined with considerable momentum against Volkanovski, who is aging at 36 and currently on a two-fight KO losing streak. This stylistic scenario favors Lopes to win by decision over five rounds.