UFC on ESPN 43: Holly Holm vs. Yana Santos odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 43 odds and lines between Holly Holm and Yana Santos, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a women’s bantamweight bout on the main card, Holly Holm and Yana Santos meet at UFC on ESPN 43 at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 43: Holm vs. Santos odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The fights are on ESPN/ESPN+, with the prelims beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET. The main card, also on ESPN/ESPN+, begin at 7 p.m. ET.

Holm looks to avenge a split-decision loss against Ketlen Vieira last time out in the main even on May 21, 2022. Since her stunning KO/TKO of Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, “The Preacher’s Daughter” has been rather ordinary. She is just 4-6 in the past 10 fights, and she has just 1 finish June 17, 2017, against Bethe Correia.

Santos is also looking to rebound after a 1st-round KO/TKO loss to Irene Aldana on the UFC 264 card July 10, 2021. She hasn’t fought in nearly 2 full calendar years, 20 months to be exact, to give birth to a baby with husband Thiago Santos. It’s the 2nd time in her career she pressed the pause button for the birth of a child.

The southpaw Holm holds a 1-inch reach advantage, and 2-inch height advantage, while Santos has a 4.28-to-3.24 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. In addition, Santos is much more accurate at 72.04% on her significant strikes, as opposed to Holm at 48.44%.

Santos can also wow the judges with her takedown ability, posting a 1.53 takedown average, while managing a 53.33% takedown average accuracy percentage.

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UFC on ESPN 43: Holm vs. Santos odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:05 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Holm -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Santos +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
  • Over/Under: 2.5 rounds (Over -290 | Under +220)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -230 | No +155)

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UFC on ESPN 43: Holm vs. Santos picks and predictions

Records: Holm (14-6-0) | Santos (14-6-0)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

The veteran Holm (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s just too expensive, especially for a bout between 2 fighters with identical records.

I do like Holm to get the victory, though, as it’s difficult for a fighter to come back from such a long layoff like Santos (+200) is doing. There is concern about cardio and stamina, especially against an active fighter like Holm.

I don’t think we’ll see a knockout in this one, and it’s likely HOLM ON POINTS (-118) is the most likely outcome.

Over/Under (O/U)

There is no value playing Yes (-230): Fight to go the distance, as you must risk nearly 2 1/2 times your potential return. In addition, Over 2.5 Rounds (-290) is a no-go, too.

PASS, and just stick to the method of victory play.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Plus, try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator and please gamble responsibly.

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