Nikolay Veretennikov vs Khaos Williams Fight Choice, 05/16/2026 Insights UFC Vegas 117 Odds

• Nikolay Veretennikov vs Khaos Williams
• UFC Vegas 117
• Meta APEX in Las Vegas
• Saturday, May 16, 2026

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Nikolay Veretennikov is set to face off against Khaos Williams at UFC Vegas 117 on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The odds show Veretennikov at +110 and Williams at -130.

Nikolay “Gladiator” Veretennikov brings a fight record of 14 wins and 7 losses to the Octagon. At 36 years of age, he weighs in at 170 lbs and stands 6’1″ tall, showcasing a reach of 74″. His opponent, Khaos “The OxFighter” Williams, is 32 years old, stands 6’0″, and also weighs 170 lbs, with a longer reach of 77″. Williams aims to improve his record of 15 wins and 5 losses. In significant strikes, Veretennikov lands an average of 2.69 strikes per minute, while Williams connects on 4.94. In terms of accuracy, Veretennikov strikes successfully 56% of the time, compared to Williams’ 39%. Defensively, “Gladiator” absorbs 3.30 significant strikes per minute, whereas “The OxFighter” sustains 5.39. Veretennikov defends against 45% of the strikes thrown at him, while Williams manages to block 40%.

In the grappling department, Nikolay Veretennikov has a takedown average of 0.42 per 3 rounds, securing 16% of his attempts, while defending against 62% of takedowns initiated by opponents. In contrast, Khaos Williams achieves a takedown success rate of 15% and defends against 51% of attempts. When it comes to submissions, Veretennikov exhibits caution with just 0.4 attempts per 15 minutes, while Williams is more aggressive, attempting 0.8 submissions per 3 rounds.

In his most recent fight, Nikolay Veretennikov faced Niko Price and emerged victorious with a first-round knockout via punch. Price landed 12 of 27 total strikes in that bout, while Veretennikov connected on 20 of 31, resulting in a striking accuracy of 63%. Price’s significant strikes totaled 9 out of 23, with an accuracy of 39%. Veretennikov’s striking performance yielded 19 of 30 significant strikes, demonstrating impressive precision, particularly with 12 strikes aimed at the head.

Khaos Williams’ last appearance in the Octagon was against Andreas Gustafsson, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss in the third round. Gustafsson’s striking output was marked with 27% accuracy at distance, while Williams managed to connect 66% of his strikes from range. Overall, Williams landed 39 of 74 significant strikes, including 29 of 63 to the head, while Gustafsson secured a total of 98 of 128 strikes, with a head accuracy of 67%. In total strikes, Gustafsson landed 151 of 185, outperforming Williams who achieved 95 of 134.

Key Fights to Watch

Another exciting fight on this card features Tuco Tokkos taking on Ivan Erslan. Tokkos arrives with a record of 11-5-0, standing 6’4″ tall and weighing 205 lbs. The orthodox fighter boasts a reach of 76″. His opponent, Erslan, measures 6’2″ and also fights at 205 lbs with a reach of 72″. Tokkos takes down opponents an average of 4.21 times per 15 minutes, while Erslan averages 0.45 takedowns per 3 rounds. In terms of striking, Tokkos delivers 2.12 strikes per minute with a 40% accuracy rate; Erslan connects on 46% of his attempts, landing 2.55 strikes per minute.

Don’t miss the clash between Andre Petroski and Cody Brundage as well. Brundage brings a record of 11-9-1 (1 NC), weighing in at 185 lbs and measuring 6’0″ tall. The orthodox fighter has a reach of 72″. Petroski is also 6’0″ and weighs in at 185 lbs, with a record of 13-5-0. In takedown stats, Brundage defends 68% and successfully takes down opponents 41% of the time, whereas Petroski achieves a 51% takedown success rate with an impressive 86% defense. Striking stats show Brundage averaging 2.26 strikes landed per minute, absorbing 3.02, while Petroski lands 2.81 and absorbs 2.79 strikes per minute.

Who will triumph in tonight’s UFC match against the spread?

Prediction: Back Nikolay Veretennikov (+110)