UFC Fight Night 197: Miguel Baeza vs. Khaos Williams odds, picks and prediction

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 197 odds and lines between Miguel Baeza vs. Khaos Williams, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a welterweight bout on the main card, Miguel Baeza meets Khaos Williams Saturday at UFC Fight Night 197 – also known as UFC Vegas 42. Below, we analyze the UFC Fight Night 197 Baeza vs. Williams odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The card can be viewed on ESPN+ with the prelims at 1 p.m. ET and the main card at 4 p.m. ET.

Baeza enters the octagon standing two inches taller than Williams, but he gives up 2.5 inches in reach. Baeza holds a slim 5.30-to-5.20 significant strikes landed per minute lead, with a 51.01-to-42.73 significant strikes accuracy percentage advantage.

Baeza lost to Santiago Ponzinibbio by unanimous decision his last time out in June, his first loss in four fights at the UFC level. His previous three fights ended as victories via stoppages, including two second-round knockouts.

Williams picked up a unanimous-decision win over Matthew Semelsberger his last time out in June. Like Baeza, Williams is 3-1 in four fights since arriving at the UFC level, with two first-round knockouts and a pair of decisions.

UFC Fight Night 197 Baeza vs. Williams: Odds and lines

Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:37 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Baeza -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Williams +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
  • Over/Under: 2.5 rounds (Over -107 | Under -127)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +130 | No -180)

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UFC Fight Night 197 Baeza vs. Williams: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Records: Baeza (10-1-0) | Williams (12-2-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

I like WILLIAMS (+120) for the slight upset here. These two fighters are very evenly matched, but Khaos is a better value, and I like his slight reach advantage to keep Baeza at bay and perhaps deliver a knockout victory.

As such, WILLIAMS BY KO/TKO (+225) is worth a small-unit play for a chance to more than double up.

Over/Under (O/U)

NO (-180): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE is a little on the steep side, but it’s worth a look. Both of these guys have a high punch rate and are very energetic, not looking for the judges to decide their fate.

I also like a two-round block on WILLIAMS TO WIN IN ROUND 2 (+720) and WILLIAMS TO WIN IN ROUND 3 (+1500). Yes, you’ll lose one of the ends even if he wins in Rounds 2-3, but you’ll still be quite a bit ahead.

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Khaos Williams vs. Michel Pereira added to UFC Fight Night on Dec. 19

If it wasn’t expected already, there’s a good chance something crazy will happen at the UFC’s year-end event thanks to the latest addition.

If it wasn’t expected already, there’s a good chance something crazy will happen at the UFC’s year-end event thanks to the latest addition.

That’s because [autotag]Khao Williams[/autotag] is set to make a five-week turnaround and fight [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] on Dec. 19 at UFC Fight Night 184. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but requested anonymity since the UFC has yet to make an announcement. UFC broadcast partner ESPN first reported the news.

The matchup of welterweights should have fight fans salivating, given what Williams (11-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Pereira (24-11 MMA, 2-2 UFC) bring to the cage.

Williams, who made his promotional debut this year, has won his first two UFC bouts in impressive fashion, with neither lasting longer than 30 seconds. He knocked out Alex Morono in 27 seconds at UFC 247 then, in his most recent bout Nov. 14, knocked out Abdul Razak Alhassan with a one-punch straight right hand in 30.

Pereira, he of back flip and moonsaulting fame, has dazzled fans with his flashy fighting style since stepping foot inside the octagon, but to mixed results. He knocked out Danny Roberts with a flying knee and punch in his UFC debut in May 2019 before losing two in a row, which included a disqualification against Diego Sanchez last February because of an illegal knee. Pereira, though, rebounded with a “Performance of the Night” in his most recent bout in September, submitting Zelim Imadaev by third-round rear-naked choke.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night 184 card now includes:

  • Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev
  • Geoff Neal vs. Stephen Thompson
  • Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Vera
  • Rob Font vs. Marlon Moraes
  • Antonio Braga Neto vs. Deron Winn
  • Belal Muhammad vs. Dhiego Lima
  • Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamie Pickett
  • Rick Glenn vs. Carlton Minus
  • Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell
  • Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja
  • Misha Cirkunov vs. Ryan Spann
  • Sijara Eubanks vs. Pannie Kianzad
  • Michel Pereira vs. Khaos Williams