In a light heavyweight bout on the main card, Dustin Jacoby and Kennedy Nzechukwu meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 50 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 50: Jacoby vs. Nzechukwu odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The prelims are on ESPN/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET and the main card is on ESPN/ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET.
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Records: Jacoby (18-7-1) | Nzechukwu (12-3-0)
Jacoby is looking to turn things around after suffering a split-decision loss to Azamat Murzakov in mid-April and a unanimous-decision loss to Khalil Rountree Jr. in Oct. 2022. Jacoby had been 6-0-1 in his UFC career prior to dropping those 2 bouts. The American fighter has gone the distance on 4 occasions in his last 5 fights with a lone 1st Round KO/TKO over Da Woon Jung in July 2022 as his only finish.
Nzechukwu has posted 3 straight victories heading into this fight, including a pair of KO/TKO wins and a submission victory over Devin Clark last time in the octagon in early May. He has gone the distance just once in the previous 7 bouts.
Nzechukwu, a.k.a. “The African Savage”, takes the walk with an impressive 7-inch reach advantage. The southpaw also has a slight 0.69-to-0.40 takedown advantage and a 50.0% takedown accuracy percentage. Jacoby has a slight 5.44-to-4.89 significant strikes landed per minute advantage while managing a 49.87% accuracy percentage in that category.
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UFC on ESPN 50: Jacoby vs. Nzechukwu odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:10 a.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Jacoby +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Nzechukwu -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Over/Under: 2.5 rounds (Over -140 | Under +110)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -110 | No -120)
UFC on ESPN 50: Jacoby vs. Nzechukwu picks and predictions
Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)
The favorite NZECHUKWU (-165) has an astonishing 7-inch reach advantage, and he’ll use that to keep Jacoby at a distance until he decides otherwise. Jacoby simply won’t be able to get next to him, and the Nigerian-born fighter will dictate the tempo and pace of the fight.
In addition, METHOD OF VICTORY 5-WAY: NZECHUKWU BY KO/TKO, DQ OR SUBMISSION (+175) is a strong value. He has 3 straight finishes, and it’s hard to envision a scenario where Jacoby is able to get into Nzechukwu’s kitchen to start cooking.
If you want to take Nzechukwu by KO/TKO or DQ (+200) on the 7-way line, that pays slightly better, but it’s nice to have a little insurance in case he can tap Jacoby, and it isn’t that much more expensive.
I also like KO/TKO/DQ (+100) for the generic fight finish at even money, and you needn’t declare a winner on that prop.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (+110) is a strong play at plus money. If this one ends as I think, and Nzechukwu gets it done with a stoppage, it will be well before the midway point of Round 3.
In addition, NO (-120): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is slightly more expensive but it’s also a good play if you’re a little more conservative.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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