Tag: Lightweight Bout

UFC on ESPN+ 30: Marc Diakiese vs. Rafael Fiziev odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 30 fight between Marc Diakiese and Rafael Fiziev, with MMA betting odds, picks, tips and bets.

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Marc Diakiese and Rafael Fiziev tangle in a lightweight bout on the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 30 – also known as UFC Fight Night 172 – Saturday at the UFC’s Fight Island facility on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates. The prelims kick off at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, followed by the main card set for 8 p.m. ET.

Want to place a bet on UFC on ESPN+ 30? Place bets at BetMGM online in CO, IN, NJ and WV! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Marc Diakiese (14-3) will look for his third straight victory after a three-bout losing skid from July 7, 2017 to July 22, 2018. The Briton took care of Lando Vannata by way of unanimous decision last time out on the Hermansson-Cannonier card Sept. 28, 2019. While Diakiese has gotten back on track lately, each of his past three bouts have gone the distance, so that’s something to file away. Diakiese – nicknamed “Bonecrusher” – will try to make like James Smith and knock out Fiziev (7-1). Diakiese has posted six KO/TKO in his 17 career fights, and has never been knocked out.

Fiziev, the switch-stance fighter from Kyrgyzstan, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Alex White on Oct. 26, 2019, erasing the bad feelings of a KO/TKO loss in his UFC debut against Magomed Mustafaev on April 20, 2019. Like Diakiese, Fiziev loves the knockout, with five of his seven career wins coming via KO/TKO. The decision against White was a rarity, too, as his first seven professional fights had finishes inside the distance, including 5-1 via KO/TKO and 1-0 by way of submission.

Marc Diakiese vs. Rafael Fiziev betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 8:30 a.m. ET.

DIAKIESE (-167) is a reasonable play on the 2-way line straight up, and he’ll be able to scratch out a win if he can avoid catching the hands of Fiziev (+140). Diakiese is also the better all-around fighter, and more polished, too. In addition, he isn’t a one-trick pony, as he can brawl toe-to-toe, or can go to the mat and get the finish if need be. He has 2.50 to 0.91 advantage in takedown average, although submissions aren’t the biggest arrow in his quiver.

Looking at the 7-way Method of Victory lines, rolling with DIAKIESE BY DECISION/TECHNICAL DECISON (+125) is worth a roll of the dice, while taking YES (-162): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is also a sound play.

To watch the full card, sign up for ESPN+ now.

If you want some action on this MMA bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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UFC on ESPN 12: Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 12 fight between Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker, with MMA betting odds, picks, tips and bets.

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Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker square off in a lightweight bout on the main card at UFC on ESPN 12 – also known as UFC Fight Night 174 – Saturday at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas. The prelims kick off at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the main card set for 8 p.m. ET on EPoiSPN/ESPN+.

Poirier (25-6) enters as the favorite in this bout despite the fact he faces a three-inch disadvantage in both height and reach. The southpaw does dominate in the other categories, particularly his ability for the takedown. He holds a 1.55 to 0.43 takedown-average advantage, while also leading 37.88 to 28.57 in takedown accuracy and 1.18 to 0.33 in submission average. In other words, Poirier will be looking to get to the ground and pound early and often. However, he can more than handle himself with aplomb when going toe-to-toe, too, holding a 49.08 to 45.85 significant strikes accuracy-percentage advantage. Poirier is coming off a loss, but that was a setback against Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight strap at UFC 242. He has been idle since that Round 3 submission loss Sept. 7, 2019. Keep in mind, five of his past six have finished inside the distance.

Hooker (20-8) posted a split-decision win in the main event Feb. 22 against Paul Felder, for his 10th victory at the UFC level. Hooker is on a 3-0 heater, including a KO/TKO victory over James Vick last July 20. Five of Hooker’s past eight events have ended with a KO/TKO, including four wins. He is also 2-0 at the UFC level with wins by submission, while going 7-2 in his pro career. The Kiwi can win fights a number of ways, and doesn’t like to go very long into the night. Six of his previous eight bouts have finished inside the distance.

Want to place a bet on UFC on ESPN 12? Place bets at BetMGM online in CO, IN, NJ and WV! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, June 26 at 6:10 a.m. ET.

Poirier (-228) is a bit of a heavy favorite, but rightly so. While Hooker (+185) is 3-0 across his past three bouts, and has the ability to win in a number of ways, Poirier is the more well-rounded fighter. His punching ability is tremendous – he has landed seven knockdowns, tied for fourth in the lightweight division. He has an 0.85 knockdown average per 15 minutes, third in the division. Poirier is also second among active lightweights with 6.51 significant strikes landed per minute, while possessing a 1.77 striking differential over his opponents. Taking POIRIER BY KO/TKO, DQ or SUBMISSION (-106) on the 5-way line at near even-money is the way to go.

I think Hooker has the ability to hang around and make Poirier work deep into the night for this win, although ultimately the favorite wins it inside the distance. Still, OVER 2.5 ROUNDS (-106) is the way to go. For a small-unit wager, I’d play POIRIER TO WIN IN ROUND 3 (+1000) and/or POIRIER TO WIN IN ROUND 4 (+1400). If you bet both and he wins in either of those rounds, you’re cashing big.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Poirier (-228) to win on the 2-way line returns a profit of just $4.39. A $10 wager on Poirier (-106) to win by submission, or OVER 2.5 total rounds (-106), results in a return of $9.43. Selecting Poirier (+1000) to win in Round 3 returns a profit of $100 on a $10 bet, while a win in Round 4 by Poirier (+1400) would fetch a profit of $140 on $10 bet.

To watch the full card, sign up for ESPN+ now.

If you want some action on this MMA bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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UFC on ESPN 9: Billy Quarantillo vs. Spike Carlyle odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 9 fight between Billy Quarantillo and Spike Carlyle, with MMA betting odds, picks, tips and bets.

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Billy Quarantillo and Spike Carlyle hook up in a catch weight bout on the main card at UFC on ESPN 9 – also known as Fight Night 176 – at the UFC’s Apex Facility in Las Vegas. The card kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+.

Quarantillo and Carlyle step into the spotlight of the main card after Kevin Holland (shoulder) was forced to withdraw from his welterweight bout with Daniel Rodriguez. Gabriel Green will make his UFC debut in place of Holland, but the bout was moved to the prelims, while Quarantillo and Carlyle were shifted to the main card.

Quarantillo (13-2) doesn’t land quite as many punches as Carlyle (9-1), but when Quarantillo does land, he is accurate. He has an 81.38 significant strike-accuracy percentage to Carlyle’s 68.97, although the latter holds a 14.12 significant strikes landed per minute to 10.77 advantage. Still, those are very, very high numbers, and are mostly from the lower levels, as each fighter has just one fight under their respective belts at the UFC level.

Each of Quarantillo’s past five fights have finished inside the distance, including four via KO/TKO and a submission win in Round 2 against Jacob Kilburn in his UFC debut.

For Carlyle, each of his past three fights have all ended the same, a KO/TKO win. He knocked out Aalon Cruz after just 85 seconds in his UFC debut Feb. 29, 2020. On the flip side, Carlyle has never been knocked out in 10 career professional bouts, winning three times by KO/TKO, and he has never lost by submission, either, while winning three times on the mat.

Want to place a bet on UFC Fight Night? Place bets at BetMGM online in CO, IN, NJ and WV! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Billy Quarantillo vs. Spike Carlyle betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, May 28 at 7:10 a.m. ET.

QUARANTILLO (-152) is a moderate favorite in the newly-minted main card bout, while Carlyle (+125) enters as a short dog.

Both of these fighters will be looking to brawl early on, but they might tire themselves if they do not pace themselves. Based upon their histories at the lower levels, this one isn’t going to go the distance. The books agree as NO (-167): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is an even steeper price than the 2-way line on the fight. Still, a bet on NO is warranted, as it’s hard to envision this one as a boring fight with few fireworks.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Quarantillo (-152) to win returns a profit of $6.58. A $10 bet of No (-167) on the fight going the distance pays a $5.99 return.

To watch the full card, sign up for ESPN+ now.

If you want some action on this MMA bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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UFC on ESPN 9: Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 9 fight between Roosevelt Roberts and Brok Weaver, with MMA betting odds, picks, tips and bets.

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Roosevelt Roberts and Brok Weaver tangle in a lightweight bout on the main card at UFC on ESPN 9 – also known as Fight Night 176 – at the UFC’s Apex Facility in Las Vegas. The card kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+.

Roberts (9-1) is coming off a unanimous decision victory against Alexander Yakovlev last time out (Nov. 19, 2019). All three of Roberts’ fights at the UFC level have ended up going the distance, winning two of them. His ability in the clinch looks to be his ticket to stardom

Weaver (15-4) will be looking to fire out of the chute and rain blows down upon Roberts early and often. Weaver has a distinct advantage with 5.57 to 2.87 in the significant strikes landed per minute category, and 73.61 to 46.46 in the significant strikes-accuracy percentage department. The southpaw isn’t likely to be keen on going to the mat, as Roberts has won four of 10 career professional fights by submission.

Want to place a bet on UFC Fight Night? Place bets at BetMGM online in CO, IN, NJ and WV! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, May 28 at 6:40 a.m. ET.

Roberts (-358) is an overwhelming favorite over Weaver (+275) in a battle between inexperienced, yet very talented prospects about to climb the ladder in the lightweight division.

Weaver is a brawler, while Roberts appears to be a little more well-rounded. Taking Roberts straight up on the 2-way line is a lot of chalk. The most attractive bet on the board might be taking the NO (+135): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? prop, as Roberts can do good work on the mat, and Weaver has the potential to end the bout anytime with just one punch. Backing ROBERTS BY KO/TKO, DQ or SUBMISSION (+200) is also worth a roll of the dice.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Roberts (-358) to win returns a profit of just $2.79. A $10 bet of No (+135) on the fight going the distance pays a $13.50 return, and a $10 bet for Roberts to win by KO/TKO, DQ or Submission (+200) profits $20.

To watch the full card, sign up for ESPN+ now.

If you want some action on this MMA bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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