- Gaston Bolanos vs Michael Aswell Jr.
- UFC Vegas 119 Event Highlights
- Venue: Meta Apex, Las Vegas
- Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
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The highly anticipated matchup between Gaston Bolanos and Michael Aswell Jr. is set for UFC Vegas 119 on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Bolanos opens with a moneyline of +330, while Aswell Jr. is favored at -400.
Known as “The Dreamkiller,” Gaston Bolanos holds an MMA record of 8-5-0. At 33 years old, he fights in the featherweight division, weighing in at 145 lbs, and stands 5’7″ tall with a reach of 69 inches. On the other hand, Michael “The Texas Kid” Aswell Jr. at 25 years old also weighs in at 145 lbs and stands slightly taller at 5’8″ with an identical reach of 69 inches. His current record stands at 11-4-0. In terms of striking, Bolanos connects with 3.28 significant strikes per minute, while Aswell Jr. lands a remarkable 7.79. Bolanos manages to land 49% of his attempts compared to Aswell Jr.’s 42%. Defensively, Bolanos absorbs 2.40 significant strikes per minute, while Aswell Jr. takes 7.43. Bolanos successfully defends against 50% of the strikes aimed at him, whereas Aswell Jr. deflects 51%.
| UFC Vegas 119 | Gaston Bolanos | Michael Aswell Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Odds | +330 | -400 |
| MMA Record | 8-5-0 | 11-4-0 |
| Average Fight Duration | 11:21 | 11:41 |
| Height | 5’7″ | 5’8″ |
| Weight Class | 145 lbs | 145 lbs |
| Reach | 69″ | 69″ |
| Strikes Landed/Minute | 3.28 | 7.79 |
| Striking Precision | 49% | 42% |
In terms of grappling skills, Bolanos showcases superior wrestling with an average of 0.66 takedowns per 15 minutes, successfully completing 85% of his attempts while defending 42% of takedowns from opponents. Aswell Jr. matches this takedown accuracy at 85% but is more proficient at defending, stopping 57% of takedown attempts against him. Bolanos averages 0.7 submission attempts per 3 rounds, outpacing Aswell Jr.’s 0.3 attempts.
In his last fight, Gaston Bolanos faced Quang Le, ultimately losing via rear-naked choke in the second round. Le effectively connected with 33 of 38 thrown strikes, while Bolanos managed to land 8 of 23. In significant strikes, Le achieved a striking rate of 71%, landing 10 of 14 attempts, including 9 head shots. Meanwhile, Bolanos landed a mere 5 of 20 significant strikes, with one hit aimed at the head. Every significant strike from both fighters was accomplished at a distance.
Michael Aswell Jr.’s previous outing was against Luke Riley, where he lost through unanimous decision after round 3. Riley showcased impressive accuracy with 90% of his significant strikes at distance, while Aswell Jr. connected on 95%. Overall, Aswell landed 33% of his significant strikes, totaling 61 of 180 attempts, with a notable 48 head strikes among them. Meanwhile, Riley landed 100 of 177 throws, with head strikes landing at a rate of 65 out of 134 attempts. In terms of total strikes, Riley scored 113 of 192, as Aswell Jr. recorded 107 of 233.
Key Upcoming Fights to Watch
One of the matches to keep an eye on is the clash between Bia Mesquita and Melissa Mullins. Mesquita boasts a flawless record of 7-0-0. The 35-year-old competitor fights at 135 lbs and stands at 5’4″, with a reach of 67 inches. In contrast, Mullins, aged 34, is also 135 lbs and stands 5’7″ with a reach of 68 inches. Mesquita excels in grappling, averaging 4.81 takedowns per 15 minutes, while Mullins sits at 2.03. Striking-wise, Mesquita lands 5.78 strikes per minute with a striking accuracy of 60%, while Mullins achieves a 50% connect rate at 3.71 strikes per minute.
Don’t miss the fight between Luana Santos and Karol Rosa. Rosa arrives at this matchup with a record of 19-7-0, ready to compete at 135 lbs and standing at 5’5″ tall with a reach of 67 inches. Santos is at 5’6″, weighing 135 lbs and holds a record of 10-2-0. Rosa effectively defends against 70% of takedowns and successfully completes 48% of her attempts, whereas Santos matches this with a 47% success rate and defends 85% of takedown attempts. In terms of striking, Rosa absorbs 4.59 strikes per minute while delivering 5.88, whereas Santos takes 2.93 strikes per minute while delivering 2.99.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s UFC matchup?
Prediction: Bet on Michael Aswell Jr. (-400)
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