Shauna Bannon vs Sam Hughes Odds & AI Prediction

Shauna Bannon vs Sam Hughes Fight Analysis

Fight Overview

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, two rising talents in the Women’s Strawweight division collide on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs Borralho at the historic Accor Arena in Paris, France. The action kicks off at 4:00 PM UTC, but for fight fans across Europe and North America, the clash between Sam Hughes and Shauna Bannon will be a must-watch appetizer before the main card. Both women have carved out impressive UFC résumés in little more than two years inside the Octagon, and this matchup promises to showcase contrasting skill sets, seasoned tactics, and high-pace striking exchanges.

The Favorite and the Underdog

Heading into this bout, Sam Hughes is firmly installed as the betting favorite. Across major sportsbooks—BetOnline.ag, Caesars, DraftKings, BetUS, and BetRivers—her odds hover around -260 (American), reflecting bettors’ confidence in her proven track record. Hughes (10-6-0) has demonstrated well-rounded prowess, boasting a 47% significant strike accuracy, solid 59% strike defense, and a 32% takedown success rate. Known for her freestyle fighting style, she has earned split decision victories over Stephanie Bruna Luciano and Viktoriia Dudakova in her last two outings, illustrating an ability to adapt and outwork opponents over three grueling rounds.

In contrast, Irish prospect Shauna Bannon enters as the underdog at approximately +220. Despite an unblemished UFC run of 7-1-0, Bannon’s path has been more electric than methodical. She holds two knockout wins and one submission finish, all by the second round, and her 12:47 average fight time underscores her penchant for early explosiveness. While her 44% striking accuracy is respectable, her 44% strike defense and 0% takedown accuracy suggest potential vulnerabilities against an opponent with Hughes’s grappling foundation and fight IQ. Still, Bannon’s sole UFC loss—a unanimous decision to Bruna Brasil in July 2023—came before she fully found her stride in Jane Toms’s camp, and her subsequent victories hint at a fighter rapidly evolving her all-around game.

Why This Matters

This clash isn’t just another preliminary bout; it could be a turning point for both competitors. A win for Hughes solidifies her status as a rising strawweight contender, potentially vaulting her closer to a top-15 ranking and setting up a late-2025 showdown with a more experienced opponent. For Bannon, an upset victory over a UFC veteran could ignite European fan fervor and position her as the next breakout star from Ireland’s burgeoning MMA scene.

Whether you’re looking to wager on sharp striking exchanges, early finishes, or a hard-fought decision, the Bannon vs Hughes matchup offers layers of intrigue. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into their styles, strengths, and pitfalls in the sections that follow.

Live odds

Live and historic odds as well as more fighter statistics and insights for Shauna Bannon vs Sam Hughes can be found on the fighter matchup page. All the fighter matchups and live odds for Imavov vs Borralho can be found on the Imavov vs Borralho event page.

Matchup and Fighter Profiles

Sam Hughes: The American Veteran

Age: 32
Country: United States
Fighting Style: Freestyle

Recent Form

Over her last five UFC outings, Hughes has demonstrated durability and tactical acumen:

• Mar. 15, 2025: Win vs. Stephanie Bruna Luciano (Decision – Split)
• Aug. 3, 2024: Win vs. Viktoriia Dudakova (Decision – Split)
• Feb. 24, 2024: Loss vs. Yazmin Jauregui (Decision – Unanimous)
• Apr. 8, 2023: Win vs. Jaqueline Amorim (Decision – Unanimous)
• Oct. 15, 2022: Loss vs. Piera Rodriguez (Decision – Unanimous)

This 2-2 record over her past four fights belies a fighter who has constantly adjusted her approach, trading wins and losses against increasingly dangerous opposition. Her back-to-back split decision victories in 2024 and 2025 underscore an ability to edge out close contests by controlling pace and space.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Striking Efficiency (47% Sig. Strike Accuracy): Hughes lands nearly half of her significant strikes, indicating precision over volume.
• Defensive Prowess (59% Sig. Strike Defense): She thwarts a majority of opponents’ attacks, making her a difficult target in stand-up exchanges.
• Wrestling Base (32% Takedown Accuracy / 60% Takedown Defense): A well-rounded grappler who can mix takedowns into her striking while stifling opponents’ ground attempts.
• Cardio & Durability: An average fight time of 13:53 and three full five-minute rounds in four of her last five outings highlight her gas tank and chin.

Weaknesses:

• Finishing Rate: Only three first-round finishes in 16 pro fights suggest a tendency to rely on decisions rather than decisive stoppages.
• Pace Management: In high-action bursts, Hughes can be susceptible to volume fighters who force her into firefights.

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Shauna Bannon: The Irish Contender

Age: 31
Country: Ireland
Fighting Style: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Recent Form

In three UFC appearances, Bannon has shown explosive potential:

• Mar. 22, 2025: Win vs. Puja Tomar (Submission – R2, 3:22)
• Jul. 27, 2024: Win vs. Alice Ardelean (Decision – Split)
• Jul. 22, 2023: Loss vs. Bruna Brasil (Decision – Unanimous)

Her 2-1 UFC record features two finishes and one razor-thin decision loss, highlighting both her finishing instincts and areas for growth.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Early-Fight Explosiveness: A 12:47 average fight time and two finishes before Round 3 show Bannon’s tendency to seize openings quickly.
• Power & Versatility: Two knockouts and one submission win in her seven victories illustrate multi-dimensional finishing capacity.
• Reach Advantage: With a one-inch reach edge over Hughes (65" vs. 64"), Bannon can dictate distance in striking exchanges.

Weaknesses:

• Striking Defense (44% Sig. Strike Defense): She absorbs more than half of her opponents’ significant strikes, leaving her exposed against precise strikers.
• Wrestling Deficit (0% Takedown Accuracy / 43% Defense): Bannon has yet to record a takedown in the UFC and struggles to defend them, creating a potential path for Hughes to exploit.
• Decision Experience: Only one decision win and no decision finishes may test her stamina if the fight extends beyond two rounds.

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Head-to-Head Dynamics

• Hughes’s combination of technical striking and wrestling presents a stern test for Bannon’s defensive lapses.
• Bannon’s power and early-finish mindset force Hughes to avoid prolonged firefights and pace her output.

This clash between seasoned strategist and explosive newcomer promises a chess match of styles—will Hughes grind out another decision, or will Bannon land the knockout that upends the odds?

Odds and Betting Trends

Current Betting Lines

• Sam Hughes (Favorite)

  • BetOnline.ag: -263
  • Caesars: -260
  • DraftKings: -258 ← Best line for Hughes
  • BetUS: -265
  • BetRivers: -265

• Shauna Bannon (Underdog)

  • BetOnline.ag: +223 ← Best line for Bannon
  • Caesars: +210
  • DraftKings: +210
  • BetUS: +218
  • BetRivers: +200

Sam Hughes is firmly installed as the favorite at around –260, implying heavy market confidence in her all-around game. Shauna Bannon sits in the underdog role at roughly +210 to +223, offering a sizable payout for those backing her upset potential.

Line Movement & Market Dynamics

Sam Hughes

• Aug. 20: -265 → Aug. 24: -225 → Aug. 25: -263
  • A swing of 40 cents toward Hughes between Aug. 23–24 suggests sharp money backing her mid-week.
  • The rebound to -263 on Aug. 25 indicates late arrivals of additional heavy action as bettors locked in the favorite.

Shauna Bannon

• Aug. 20: +225 → Aug. 24: +190 → Aug. 25: +223
  • Bannon’s line dipped as low as +190—her shortest underdog price—to attract contrarian money.
  • A sharp shift back to +223 reflects either balanced action or sportsbooks reloading their liability on her potential upset.

These swings reveal an active market reacting to breaking news, weight-cut reports, and bettor sentiment on both sides.

Best Sportsbooks to Target

• DraftKings holds the juiciest price for the favorite at -258.
• BetOnline.ag offers the most generous payout for the underdog at +223.

Potential Payouts & Implied Win Chances

• Betting $1,000 on Sam Hughes at -258

  • Payout: Approximately $1,387 total return (about $387 profit)
  • Implied Win Probability: Around 72%

• Betting $1,000 on Shauna Bannon at +223

  • Payout: Approximately $3,230 total return (about $2,230 profit)
  • Implied Win Probability: Around 31%

While Hughes’s line implies a strong likelihood of victory, Bannon’s underdog price still commands respect for bettors seeking a high-upside play. Whether targeting small, more certain returns or swinging for a big upset score, knowing where the shifting value lies can make all the difference on fight night.