Juliana Miller vs Carli Judice Prediction And Fight Breakdown

The upcoming women’s flyweight showdown Juliana Miller vs Carli Judice, at UFC Houston, has fight fans buzzing.

This matchup, scheduled for February 21, 2026, presents a classic contrast of styles: a seasoned grappler against a rising striking force.

Both athletes have compelling backgrounds and paths to this pivotal contest, making this one of the most intriguing clashes on the card at the Toyota Center.

Fighter Profiles: Who Are They?

Juliana “Killer” Miller is a 29-year-old American flyweight competing out of San Diego, California.

She has a professional MMA record of approximately 5 wins and 3 losses and is known for a well-rounded game that blends submissions and striking.

Miller’s strong grappling background, sharpened through training at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, makes her dangerous on the ground and in scrambles.

Her ability to secure early takedowns and work for dominant positions can frustrate opponents who prefer stand-up exchanges.

On the other hand, Carli “Crispy” Judice is a younger competitor at age 26 and carries a professional record of 5-2.

Her moniker comes from her striking power and finishing ability, highlighted by an undefeated stoppage rate.

Judice has shown that once she gets comfortable in the pocket, she can deliver fight-changing blows from range. She fights southpaw, which can complicate timing and angles for orthodox fighters like Miller.

Both fighters stand 5’7” tall, but Judice holds a slight reach advantage (68 inches vs 66 inches), giving her a longer striking range to use against Miller.

Comparing Skill Sets

To predict how this fight plays out, we need to compare where each fighter excels and where they struggle:

Striking

Judice is clearly the more dangerous striker. According to official statistics, she lands over 10 significant strikes per minute with a solid 52% accuracy, while absorbing fewer incoming strikes due to disciplined defense. Her output and precision make her a threat in every stand-up exchange.

Miller’s striking numbers are more modest, with a lower pace and slightly less accuracy. Her intent in stand-up has historically been to set up takedowns rather than outpoint foes on the feet.

When she does engage in striking, it’s often to create openings for clinches or grappling entries.

Grappling and Ground Control

This is where Miller holds a potential edge. Her grappling pedigree and submission skill set have been responsible for some of her most notable wins, as she is comfortable working from top control and mixing attacks.

The ability to change levels, bully opponents against the cage, and advance position could disrupt Judice’s rhythm.

Judice’s takedown offense isn’t a core part of her game. She averages under one takedown attempt per fight and hasn’t relied on ground control to win bouts.

Therefore, if Miller can get this fight to the mat early and often, she could tilt the balance in her favor.

Momentum and Recent Form

Momentum matters in MMA, and both women come into this fight with contrasting trends:

Miller recently snapped a two-fight slide with a unanimous decision win over Ivana Petrovic in May 2025.

That victory, which showcased improved wrestling and control, helped her regain some confidence after a long layoff.

In contrast, Judice is riding a two-fight win streak, both via stoppage. One was a highlight-reel head kick knockout early in the opening round, and the other was a damaging body shot followed by ground strikes at UFC 318.

These emphatic performances have boosted her stature within the division and made her a big betting favorite.

Bookmakers have offered extreme odds in favor of Judice (as high as -700), showing how much confidence oddsmakers have in her finishing ability.

Miller, on the other hand, is widely considered the underdog heading into this fight.

Prediction: Juliana Miller vs Carli Judice

When breaking down this matchup, several pivotal questions could determine the winner:

• Can Miller get this fight to the ground? If she neutralizes Judice’s striking and keeps the fight on the mat, she can rack up control time and look for submissions. Every minute spent in Judice’s striking range increases the risk of damage.
• Will Judice keep the distance? Using her reach and southpaw stance, Judice can pepper Miller with combinations and hurt her before she shoots for takedowns. Her superior striking defense will also be tested if Miller tries to bring wrestling into the fight early.

Given Judice’s recent stoppage wins and high striking output, she enters as the more likely victor in a stand-up battle.

If Judice controls the range and tempo, she can wear Miller down and open the door to power shots.

However, fighting is unpredictable. If Miller imposes her grappling early, she can potentially grind out a decision or even hunt for a submission late.

Prediction: Carli Judice wins via TKO or late stoppage if striking remains predominant. If Miller can establish early takedowns and control, the fight could go the distance, with a close decision slightly favoring Judice due to volume striking.