Tag: MMA betting odds lines picks predictions best bets

UFC on ABC 3: Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Amanda Lemos odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ABC 3 bout odds and lines between Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Amanda Lemos, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a women’s strawweight bout on the main card, Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Amanda Lemos meet Saturday at UFC on ABC 3 at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Below, we analyze the UFC on ABC 3 Waterson-Gomez vs. Lemos odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 11 a.m. ET, followed by the main card on ABC/ESPN+ starts at 2 p.m.

Waterson-Gomez, a.k.a. “The Karate Hottie”, is in a tailspin, going 1-3 across her last 4 bouts. She has been away from the octagon for the past 14 months due to an injury that she feared might have been career-ending.

The American’s last 8 fights have gone the distance, with her winning 4 of those outings. Her last fight inside the distance was a submission loss to Rose Namajunas in April 2017.

Lemos is looking to bounce back from an embarrassing 1st-round submission loss to Jessica Andrade last time out in the main event in late April. Three of her last 5 fights have finished inside the distance.

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UFC on ABC 3 Waterson-Gomez vs. Lemos odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:55 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Waterson-Gomez +235 (bet $100 to win $235) | Lemos -320 (bet $320 to win $100)
  • Total rounds: Over 2.5 (-240) | Under 2.5 (+165)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (-210) | No (+150)

[tipico]

UFC on ABC 3 Waterson-Gomez vs. Lemos picks and predictions

Records: Waterson-Gomez (18-9-0) | Lemos (11-2-1)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

Lemos (-320) is a heavy favorite, costing you more than three times your potential return. That’s just not a recommended long-term betting strategy, as the return is so little.

Instead, get specific on the method of victory. Waterson-Gomez is a warrior who makes her opponents work for the win. LEMOS BY POINTS (-110) is a much better value.

Over/Under (O/U)

No: Will fight go the distance (-210) is also too rich for my blood. While I expect the fight to require the judges to decide a winner, just roll with Lemos by Points, and don’t risk more than two times your potential return.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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UFC on ABC 3: Li Jingliang vs. Muslim Salikhov odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ABC 3 bout odds and lines between Li Jingliang vs. Muslim Salikhov, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a welterweight bout on the main card, Li Jingliang and Muslim Salikhov meet Saturday at UFC on ABC 3 at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Below, we analyze the UFC on ABC 3 Li vs. Salikhov odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 11 a.m. ET, followed by the main card on ABC/ESPN+ starts at 2 p.m.

Li takes the walk to the octagon looking to bounce back after getting mowed over by Khamzat Chimaev last time out at UFC 267. He was submitted in the 1st round and is eager to get back in the win column. Li has a very ordinary 4-3 record across the past 7 outings, and he has gone the distance just once in the previous 5 events.

Salikhov enters on a 5-bout win streak since losing via submission to Alex Garcia in his UFC debut in Nov. 2017. He has been out of action since a unanimous-decision win over Francisco Trinaldo last June. Each of his previous 3 bouts has gone the distance.

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UFC on ABC 3 Li vs. Salikhov odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:37 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Li +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Salikhov -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
  • Total rounds: Over 2.5 (-155) | Under 2.5 (+112)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (-130) | No (-105)

[tipico]

UFC on ABC 3 Li vs. Salikhov picks and predictions

Records: Li (18-7-0) | Salikhov (18-2-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

SALIKHOV (-160) is a moderate favorite worth playing. He has been on a roll with 5 straight victories, including a pair of KO/TKO wins. Lately, as the competition has gotten better, his fights have ended up going the distance. As such, for method of victory, take SALIKHOV BY POINTS (+170) for a solid profit.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES: FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE (-130) is a strong play based on Salikhov’s tendency to go the distance. Li has had 4 of his last 7 fights finish inside the distance, but he’ll hang around and push Salikhov to the limit Saturday.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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UFC on ABC 3: Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ABC 3 bout odds and lines between Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a featherweight bout in the main event, Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez meet Saturday at UFC on ABC 3 at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Below, we analyze the UFC on ABC 3 Ortega vs. Rodriguez odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 11 a.m. ET, followed by the main card on ABC/ESPN+ starts at 2 p.m.

Ortega lost last time out in a title fight at UFC 266 against Alexander Volkanovski, and he is 1-2 across his last 3 bouts. Both of the losses were title fights, so the record can be a bit deceiving.

His last 2 outings against Volk and The Korean Zombie have resulted in unanimous decisions, but he had 8 straight fights finish inside the distance since arriving at the UFC level prior to those battles.

Rodriguez, a.k.a. “El Pantera”, is also coming off a loss last time out. He suffered a unanimous-decision defeat at the hands of Max Holloway, or perhaps it would’ve been he, not Holloway, that faced Volkanovski for the featherweight belt at UFC 276 two weeks ago.

Like Ortega, Rodriguez has gone the distance in each of his last 2 bouts, but he had 4 straight fights inside the distance prior to those matches.

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UFC on ABC 3 Ortega vs. Rodriguez odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:15 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Ortega -170 (bet $170 to win $100) | Rodriguez +133 (bet $100 to win $133)
  • Total rounds: Over 4.5 (+102) | Under 4.5 (-140)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (+112) | No (-155)

[tipico]

UFC on ABC 3 Ortega vs. Rodriguez picks and predictions

Records: Ortega (15-2-0) | Rodriguez (14-3-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

This is going to be a banger. This bout features two hungry fighters looking to work their way back into position for a shot at the championship belt, and neither can afford a loss.

ORTEGA (-170) is a moderate favorite, but he isn’t a significant risk considering how well he has fought lately. Yes, he has losses to Volkanovski and Holloway, but there’s no shame in those setbacks. He took the current champ the distance, and this is a guy who has knocked out Frankie Edgar and Clay Guida and submitted Renato Moicano and Cub Swanson.

Ortega can do it in many ways, showing off his tremendous technique to wow the judges. ORTEGA BY POINTS (+240) is worth a roll of the dice for the method of victory.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES: FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE (+112) at plus-money is the way to go. Each of these fighters scored plenty of stoppages early in their UFC careers, but as the quality level of opponents has picked up, so have the decisions.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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UFC on ESPN 39: Caio Borralho vs. Armen Petrosyan odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 39 bout odds and lines between Caio Borralho vs. Armen Petrosyan, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a middleweight bout on the main card, Caio Borralho and Armen Petrosyan meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 39 – also known as UFC Vegas 58 – at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas. Below, we analyze the UFC on ESPN 39 Borralho vs. Petrosyan odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the main card on ESPN/ESPN+ starts at 9 p.m.

Borralho made his UFC debut in April with a unanimous-decision victory over Gadzhi Omargadzhiev, and he has posted 10 wins and a no-contest across his past 11 professional bouts. Four of his past 5 fights have ended up going the distance.

Petrosyan also has just 1 fight under his belt under the UFC banner, posting a split-decision win over Gregory Rodriguez in late February. Before his arrival at the UFC, all 7 of his pro bouts resulted in a KO/TKO, with 6 wins.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC on ESPN 39 Borralho vs. Petrosyan odds and lines

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

  • Fight result (2-way line): Borralho -260 (bet $260 to win $100) | Petrosyan +195 (bet $100 to win $195)
  • Total rounds: Over 1.5 (-200) | Under 1.5 (+140)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (+130) | No (-180)

[tipico]

UFC on ESPN 39 Borralho vs. Petrosyan picks and predictions

Records: Borralho (11-1-0) | Petrosyan (7-1-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

Both of these guys are punching machines and knockout artists at the lower levels. However, target Borralho (-260) to win this event, as he enters the fight with a 4-inch reach advantage. The southpaw will use that to keep Petrosyan at arm’s length. He has also been a lot more accurate with his punches.

You can’t take Borralho laying more than 2 1/2 times your potential return, however. Instead, look to the method of victory and take a chance on BORRALHO BY POINTS (+165) for a much better value.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES: FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE (+130) is a good value here. Both fighters have been knockout specialists in the early portion of their careers, but each went the distance in their UFC debut fights. Look for this one to be a rather slow go.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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UFC on ESPN 39: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rafael Fiziev odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 39 bout odds and lines between Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rafael Fiziev, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a lightweight bout in the main event, Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 39 – also known as UFC Vegas 58 – at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas.  Below, we analyze the UFC on ESPN 39 dos Anjos vs. Fiziev odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the main card on ESPN/ESPN+ starts at 9 p.m.

Dos Anjos has bounced back from a 1-4 skid with a split-decision win over Paul Felder and a unanimous-decision at UFC 272 last time out against Renato Moicano.

Each of the past 4 fights for dos Anjos have ended up going the distance, and he has just 1 finish across his past 8 outings.

Fiziev heads into this bout with 5 straight victories, including a third-round KO/TKO win over Brad Riddell last time out in December. He is 5-1 since arriving at the UFC level, with 3 finishes in the past 5 outings.

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UFC on ESPN 39 dos Anjos vs. Fiziev odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:40 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Dos Anjos +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Fiziev -220 (bet $220 to win $100)
  • Total rounds: Over 4.5 (-155) | Under 4.5 (+112)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (-170) | No (+122)

[tipico]

UFC on ESPN 39 dos Anjos vs. Fiziev picks and predictions

Records: dos Anjos (31-13-0) | Fiziev (11-1-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

Fiziev (-220) is a little on the expensive side, costing more than 2 times your potential return. While he is expected to roll in this fight, get a little more specific.

Dos Anjos (+170) tends to go the distance, and Fiziev is not strange to the judges deciding a winner in his fights, either. Take FIZIEV BY POINTS (+135) for a much better value.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 4.5 ROUNDS (-155) isn’t terribly out of line if you want a little wiggle room in the event of a late finish. Still, it’s a much better value than playing Yes (-170): Fight to go the distance.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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UFC 276: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 276 bout odds and lines between Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a featherweight championship bout in the co-main event, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway meet Saturday at UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Below, we analyze the UFC 276 Volkanovski vs. Holloway odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The early prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. The main card on Pay-Per-View starts at 10 p.m.

Volkanovski snatched the featherweight strap from Holloway at UFC 245 via unanimous decision, and he defended his title in the second installment against Holloway at UFC 251. The champ enters on an impressive 20-bout win streak, including each of his 11 fights at the UFC level since debuting in Nov. 2016.

Since arriving at the UFC, 7 of his 11 bouts have ended up needing the judges to score a winner, obviously deciding in his favor each time. That includes the first 2 fights of this trilogy.

Holloway has picked up a pair of unanimous-decision wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez to get one final title shot. He has ended up going the distance in each of his past 6 fights, with 3 wins during the span.

Holloway stands 5 inches taller than his Australian counterpart, but the Hawaiian fighter gives up 2.5 inches in reach. While Holloway has a slight 7.38-to-6.63 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, the champ is way more pinpoint with his strikes at 59.38% to just 48.82% for the challenger.

If Volkanovski can get this fight to the ground and pound, it’s going to be favorable for the champ, too. He has a 1.95 takedown average to just 0.31 for Holloway. While the submission average arrow points slightly in Holloway’s favor, the difference is rather negligible. Style points count, and takedowns might wow the judges in Volkanovski’s favor.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 276 Volkanovski vs. Holloway odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:40 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Volkanovski -205 (bet $205 to win $100) | Holloway +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
  • Total rounds: Over 4.5 (-260) | Under 4.5 (+180)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (-210) | No (+150)

[tipico]

UFC 276 Volkanovski vs. Holloway picks and predictions

Records: Volkanovski (24-1-0) | Holloway (23-6-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

Volkanovski (-205) will cost you more than double your potential return, and that’s just too rich for my blood. These 2 fighters know each other well, since this is a trilogy, and Holloway (+155) will not go quietly into the night.

Instead of playing the defending champ straight up, consider playing VOLKANOVSKI BY POINTS (+120) at plus-money. Of course, if he gets the finish via knockout or submission, you’re toast. But going the distance is the best bet. Beating the same guy 3 times is difficult.

Over/Under (O/U)

While yes, I expect this to go all the way to the judges, you cannot play Yes (-210): Fight to go the distance. Risking more than 2 times your potential return is just too risky unless you can work it into a 4- or 5-way parlay to mitigate the risk somewhat.

PASS on playing this as a standalone wager.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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UFC 276: Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 276 bout odds and lines between Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a middleweight bout on the main card, Sean Strickland and Alex Pereira meet Saturday at UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Below, we analyze the UFC 276 Strickland vs. Pereira odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The early prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. The main card on Pay-Per-View starts at 10 p.m.

Strickland, the 31-year-old Xtreme Couture fighter, heads into this one searching for his 7th-consecutive victory. During his 6-bout win streak, he has 2 finishes via KO/TKO and 4 decision victories, including a split-decision win last time out over Jack Hermansson.

Strickland’s last finish was a second-round KO/TKO of Brendan Allen in Nov. 2020. In 28 career pro bouts, he has 11 finishes via KO/TKO (10-1), with 4 submission results (4-0).

Pereira, a.k.a. “Poatan”, takes the walk to the octagon on a 5-bout win streak, including a unanimous-decision victory over Bruno Silva last time out. Before that, he had 4 straight KO/TKO, including his debut with the company at UFC 268 against Andreas Michailidis.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 276 Strickland vs. Pereira odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:20 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Strickland -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Pereira -102 (bet $102 to win $100)
  • Total rounds Over 1.5 (-220) | Under 1.5 (+155)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (+120) | No (-165)

[tipico]

UFC 276 Strickland vs. Pereira picks and predictions

Records: Strickland (25-3-0) | Pereira (5-1-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

STRICKLAND (-125) is the more accomplished fighter, and he easily has the larger sample size.

We saw Strickland take care of Hermansson last time out in a fight that really could’ve gone either way. So he is vulnerable to the upset. However, he has impressive wins over Uriah Hall and Krzysztof Jotko, as well as a KO/TKO of Nordine Taleb during this win streak. Pereira’s quality of competitor pales in comparison, and this will be a major step up from the tomato cans he is used to facing. It won’t end well.

Over/Under (O/U)

Over 1.5 rounds (-220) is a little on the expensive side, and there is just value there, although I think this fight easily goes past that mark.

The better play is taking YES (+120): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE, as Pereira had the judges decide his fate in his most recent UFC event, while Strickland has ended up going the distance in 3 straight; 4 of the past 5; and 10 of his past 14 fights overall.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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UFC 276: Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 276 bout odds and lines between Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a welterweight bout on the main card, Robbie Lawler and Bryan Barberena meet Saturday at UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Below, we analyze the UFC 276 Lawler vs. Barberena odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The early prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. The main card on Pay-Per-View starts at 10 p.m.

Lawler and Barberena were bumped up to the main event after the bout between Miesha Tate and Lauren Murphy’s scrap was wiped out due to a positive COVID test for Murphy.

“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler stopped a 4-bout skid with a third-round KO/TKO victory over Nick Diaz in late Sept. 2021 at UFC 266. It was also his first knockout win since July 2015 against Rory MacDonald way back at UFC 189. Four of his past 6 fights have ended up going the distance, with 3 resulting in unanimous-decision setbacks.

Barberena is looking for his first 3-fight win streak since arriving at the UFC level. He picked up a split-decision victory against Matt Brown last time out in late March. In fact, he has ended up going the distance in 4 straight, with his last stoppage coming in a KO/TKO loss against Randy Brown in June 2019.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 276 Lawler vs. Barberena odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Lawler -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Barberena -114 (bet $114 to win $100)
  • Total rounds Over 2.5 (-200) | Under 2.5 (+140)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (-175) | No (+125)

[tipico]

UFC 276 Lawler vs. Barberena picks and predictions

Records: Lawler (29-15-0) | Barberena (17-8-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

Lawler (-110) is in the twilight of his illustrious career. While the 40-year-old has a lot of fans, BARBERENA (-114) has 7 years less tread on the tires, and a lot less wear and tear physically.

Barberena gives up 1.5 inches in the reach department, but he holds a 5.61-to-3.73 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, while landing 60.57% of his significant strikes to just 51.27% for Lawler.

Over/Under (O/U)

Over 2.5 rounds (-200) is a little too expensive for my liking, so skip risking twice your potential return.

However, YES (-175): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE is not out of line. Barberena has ended up going the distance in 4 consecutive fights, while Lawler has had just 2 stoppages in his past 6 outings. These are 2 veteran fighters who are likely to go the distance, without much flair and dramatics. There is a reason this one was originally slated for the preliminary round.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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UFC 276: Pedro Munhoz vs. Sean O’Malley odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 276 bout odds and lines between Pedro Munhoz vs. Sean O’Malley, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a bantamweight bout on the main card, Pedro Munhoz and Sean O’Malley meet Saturday at UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Below, we analyze the UFC 276 Munhoz vs. O’Malley odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The early prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. The main card on Pay-Per-View starts at 10 p.m.

Munhoz takes the walk to the octagon as the overwhelming underdog. The Brazilian fighter, a.k.a. “The Young Punisher”, has mostly been punished himself lately, going 1-4 across his first 5 outings. Each of those fights have ended up going the distance, with the only win a unanimous-decision victory over Jimmie Rivera in Feb. 2021.

Munhoz’s latest showing resulted in a unanimous-decision loss to Dominick Cruz at UFC 269. The 135-pounder has the physical disadvantage, too, as O’Malley stands 5 inches taller while holding a reach advantage of 7 inches.

O’Malley is known for his wild colored mop of a haircut, but he is much more than just a gimmick. He is a knockout machine, registering 5 KO/TKO wins in his past 6 fights, while getting knocked out himself against Marlon Vera at UFC 252. In 16 career pro fights, 12 have resulted in KO/TKO (11-1).

The favorite holds a 8.26-to-5.50 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, while also posting a 63.01% significant strikes accuracy percentage, to just 45.52% for Munhoz. The takedown and submission average numbers are basically the same for both fighters.

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UFC 276 Munhoz vs. O’Malley odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:45 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Munhoz +225 (bet $100 to win $225) | O’Malley -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
  • Total rounds Over 2.5 (-125) | Under 2.5 (-110)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (+105) | No (-145)

[tipico]

UFC 276 Munhoz vs. O’Malley picks and predictions

Records: Munhoz (19-7-0) | O’Malley (15-1-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

O’Malley (-300) will cost you 3 times your potential return, so avoid that. There is just no value playing the favorite straight up.

However, while Munhoz (+225) has never been knocked out in his career, he hasn’t faced a fighter with the rapid-fire punching ability of O’Malley. He never leaves things in the hands of the judges to decide. There is a special BOOSTED prop bet titled: Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk: SEAN O’MALLEY TO WIN BY KO/TKO (+180) to nearly double your return.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (-110) is a good bet here despite the fact Munhoz has ended up going the distance in each of his past 5 outings.

O’Malley just doesn’t mess around, and 4 of his past 6 fights haven’t even gotten out of the first round, with 2 PPV events going into the third. As such, NO (-145): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE looks to be the safest play on the board, if you want a little more time as insurance.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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UFC 276: Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 276 odds and lines between Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a middleweight championship bout in the co-main event, Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier meet Saturday at UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Below, we analyze the UFC 276 Adesanya vs. Cannonier odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The early prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. The main card on Pay-Per-View starts at 10 p.m.

Adesanya – a.k.a. “The Last Stylebender” – heads into this one looking to successfully defend his strap for the 5th straight outing. He won the belt from Marvin Vettori in June 2021, and defended it with another unanimous-decision win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 in February.

Stylebender went the distance in each of his past 3 outings. The Nigerian-born champ has had finishes in just 3 of his past 11 bouts. He does it with flare and technical ability, wowing the judges, but he was on the wrong side of things against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 (March 2021), and certainly can be beaten, although that fight was an unsuccessful step up to the light heavyweight division.

Cannonier knocked out Derek Brunson at UFC 271, following up a unanimous-decision win over Kelvin Gastelum in the main event in August 2021. As far as common opponents, Cannonier lost a unanimous-decision fight at UFC 254 to Whittaker.

The challenger – a.k.a. “The Killa Gorilla” – had KO/TKO finishes in 5 of his past 7 UFC bouts, winning 4 of those showings. He holds his own in terms of significant strikes landed per minute vs. Adesanya, with the champ holding a slight 3.84-to-3.76 edge. Cannonier is a little more accurate at 54.32% to 53.04% for Adesanya.

The ground game favors Adesanya, should it get to that point, as Cannonier has never had a submission result at the UFC level, and he hasn’t had a submission win since April 2013 –  at the AK Entertainment level. Adesanya has a 0.21 submission average, but he has yet to win or lose a fight by that method, so toss that out when finalizing your ticket.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 276 Adesanya vs. Cannonier odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:44 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Adesanya -500 (bet $500 to win $100) | Cannonier +340 (bet $100 to win $340)
  • Total rounds: Over 4.5 (-107) | Under 4.5 (-127)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (-117) | No (-116)

[tipico]

UFC 276 Adesanya vs. Cannonier picks and predictions

Records: Adesanya (22-1-0) | Cannonier (15-5-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

There is absolutely no value playing Adesanya (-500) straight up, or even as part of a 3- or 4-fighter parlay.

The champ, who holds a 2.5-inch reach advantage, and 5-inch height advantage, should win Saturday night. The books seem to feel that there is a slight edge to the fight not going the distance, which would seem to mean it will be Cannonier’s kind of fight, as Adesanya rarely gets finishes. However, Adesanya is heavily favored, so it’s a bit contradictory.

Instead, take ADESANYA BY POINTS (+122), as he has gone the distance in 3 straight, and 6 of the past 8 fights, and he will dictate the pace of the fight from the start.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES (-117): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE is a decent value. Adesanya has had just 2 finishes since November 2018. It’s not to say he isn’t capable, as he has a devastating fist, but it’s just not his game. Cannonier might try and impose his will early, looking for the big blow, but Adesanya will weather the storm and the champ will make the challenger fight at his slow, methodical speed.

Neither of these fighters throw a ton of punches per minute, and this will be a technical bout, needing the judges decide whose style was better.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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