UFC 298 showcases an exhilarating lineup of bouts, with a particular focus on a heavyweight clash featuring the 15^th-ranked Marcos Rogerio De Lima facing Justin Tafa in the preliminary card. The preliminary action kicks off on Saturday, February 17, at 8:00 PM ET at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. De Lima holds a slight moneyline edge, with odds set at -140.

De Lima is coming off a first round, 33-second, knockout defeat against Derrick Lewis back at UFC 291 in July of last year. This ended his previous two-fight win streak, dating back to October of 2022.

He has clinched 21 victories, including 14 knockouts, three submissions, and two decisions. Impressively, 15 of his triumphs occurred in the initial round, but he faced defeat in five of his nine losses due to submissions.

Known as "Pezao," he showcases a 57 percent accuracy in striking and a 48 percent success rate in takedowns. Boasting a significant strike ratio of 3.61 per minute and an absorption rate of 2.96, these statistics hold importance for his upcoming battle, indicating a slightly positive balance between the two averages.

De Lima maintains an average of 1.34 takedowns and 0.54 submissions per 15 minutes. His defense stands out with a 52 percent success rate against significant strikes and a 59 percent success rate against takedowns.

Tafa has won his last three fights, as well as experiencing a No Contest. His most recent success was a first round knockout over Austen Lane back in September of last year at UFC 293.

He boasts seven victories under his belt, with all  seven coming by knockout. Five of these wins have ended in the opening round of action. As for his losses, two out of the three have come by decision.

"Bad Man" demonstrates a remarkable 55 percent accuracy in striking, with no recorded takedowns. His combat statistics indicate an average of 5.13 significant strikes landed per minute and absorbing only 5.93, highlighting a notable difference between the two aspects.

During a typical 15-minute bout, there is no ground activity on average. His defensive prowess is evident with a 49 percent success rate in defending significant strikes and an impressive 100 percent success rate in thwarting takedowns.

MyBookie showcases the best UFC 298 odds, with Marcos Rogerio De Lima as a favorite to win. Both fighters offer the chance at finishing this fight early, especially with strong knockout power.

Tafa has a great shot to win, but he is usually all or nothing when it comes to striking. This could put him in a vulnerable situation that would likely knock him out against a good striker.