Briedis vs Opetaia

Who won Briedis vs Opetaia?

Jai Opetaia beat Mairis Briedis by unanimous decision in their 12 round contest on Saturday, July 2nd, 2022, at Gold Coast Convention Centre, Queensland.

The scorecards were announced as 116-112, 115-113, 116-112 in favor of winner Jai Opetaia.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 12 rounds in the Cruiserweight division, which meant the weight limit was 200 pounds (14.3 stone or 90.7 kg).

This contest was for the unified cruiserweight championship of the world, with the IBF, and The Ring belts on the line.

Briedis vs Opetaia stats

Back in July 2022, Mairis Briedis stepped into the ring with a record of 28 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws, 20 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Jai Opetaia made his way to the ring with an unblemished record of 21 wins and 0 draws, with 17 of those by knockout.

The stats suggested Opetaia had a slight advantage in power over Briedis, with a 81% knockout percentage compared to Briedis' 71%.

Mairis Briedis was the older man by 10 years, at 37 years old.

Opetaia had a height advantage of 2 inches over Briedis. That also extended to a 1-inch reach advantage.

Mairis Briedis fought out of the orthodox stance, while Jai Opetaia was a southpaw.

Briedis was the more experienced professional fighter, having had 8 more fights, and made his debut in 2009, 5 years and 9 months earlier than Opetaia, whose first professional fight was in 2015. He had fought 59 more professional rounds, totaling 179 compared to Opetaia's 120.

Jai Opetaia was ranked number 4 by the IBF in the 200lb division.

Briedis vs Opetaia form

Briedis had won 5 of his most recent fights, stopping 2 of them, going the distance 3 times.

In his last fight before this contest, he had won against Artur Mann on October 16, 2021, by technical knockout in the 3rd round in their IBF World Cruiserweight championship fight at Arena Riga, Riga, Latvia.

Prior to that, he had won against Yuniel Dorticos on September 26, 2020, by majority decision in their IBF World Cruiserweight and The Ring Cruiserweight championship fight at Plazamedia Broadcasting Center, Munich, Germany.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Krzysztof Glowacki on June 15, 2019, by technical knockout in the 3rd round in their WBO World Cruiserweight championship fight at Arena Riga, Riga, Latvia.

Before that, he had defeated Noel ‘Gevor’ Mikaelian on November 10, 2018, by unanimous decision in their 12 round contest at UIC Pavilion, Illinois, United States.

He had won against Brandon Deslaurier on July 21, 2018, by unanimous decision in their 10 round contest at Olimpiyskiy, Moscow, Russia.

Activity check

Briedis' last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 11 months and 11 days, which means he had been fighting approximately every 9 months and 15 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 40 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 8 rounds on average.

Opetaia's last 4 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 5 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 8 months and 24 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 27 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 6.8 rounds on average.

What time did Briedis vs Opetaia start?

The fighters were expected to ringwalk at around 11:00 AM UTC at Gold Coast Convention Centre, Queensland, Australia, which was 7:00 AM EST or 4:00 AM PST on the West Coast of America, or 12:00 PM BST in the UK.

Who broadcast Briedis vs Opetaia?

The ESPN+ show began at 5:00 AM EST / 2:00 AM PST. The TrillerTV PPV UK broadcast of the card started at 9:30 AM (BST).

What were the odds on Briedis vs Opetaia?

Mairis Briedis was a 51/100 (-200) favorite going into the contest, while Jai Opetaia made his way into the ring at 8/5 (+160) with oddsmakers.