In a light heavyweight bout on the main card, Magomed Ankalaev meets Volkan Oezdemir Saturday at UFC 267 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Below, we analyze the UFC 267 Ankalaev vs. Oezdemir odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The card can be viewed on ESPN+ with the prelims at 10:30 a.m. ET and the non-PPV main card at 2 p.m. ET.
Ankalaev enters on a six-bout win streak, including a unanimous-decision victory over Nikita Krylov last time out Feb. 27 on the Rozenstruik-Gane card. That was his only fight to go the distance in the last four, with a pair of first-round KO/TKO wins against Ion Cutelaba before that fight.
Ankalaev’s last setback was a submission loss to Paul Craig back in March 2018. In fact, that’s his only loss in 16 career professional fights.
Oezdemir has a 5.03-to-3.41 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. He was knocked out last time out against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 251 in July 2020, and he hasn’t fought since due to a knee injury. He had a pair of victories prior to that loss, including a KO/TKO over Ilir Latifi Aug. 10, 2019.
The Swiss fighter had posted just two wins in his last six fights, but one of those setbacks was a title fight loss to Daniel Cormier at UFC 220, and losses to Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes are nothing to be ashamed about.
UFC 267 Ankalaev vs. Oezdemir: Odds and lines
Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:05 a.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Ankalaev -340 (bet $340 to win $100) | Oezdemir +250 (bet $100 to win $250)
- Over/Under: 2.5 rounds (Over +110 | Under -150)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +145 | No -205)
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UFC 267 Ankalaev vs. Oezdemir: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Records: Ankalaev (15-1-0) | Oezdemir (17-5-0)
Fight result (2-way line or money line)
Ankalaev (-340) will cost you over three times your potential return, and there’s just no value there. Get more specific instead.
Playing ANKALAEV BY TKO/KO (+100) at even money is a much better value, as four of his last six victories have come via knockout. Oezdemir was knocked out by Prochazka in his most recent showing – two of his last four losses have been by that method – and he is coming off a long-term injury.
Over/Under (O/U)
NO (-205): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE is a little on the expensive side, but it’s worth playing. Six of Oezdemir’s past eight fights have finished inside the distance, with Ankalaev recording stoppages in five of his seven bouts at the UFC level. UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (-150) is a little cheaper, and also a good play.
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