[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
In a 5-round featherweight bout in the main event, Sodiq Yusuff and Edson Barboza meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 230 — also known as UFC Vegas 81 — at UFC Apex. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s around the UFC Fight Night 230: Yusuff vs. Barboza odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The prelims can be viewed on ESPN+ starting at 4 p.m. ET with the main card following on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.
Records: Yusuff (13-2-0) | Barboza (23-11-0)
Yusuff made quick work of Don Shainis last time out in Oct. 2022, recording a submission victory in just 30 seconds at this very same venue in a fight scheduled for 3 rounds. He has posted an impressive 6-1 record since arriving at the UFC level, and the finish was his first in the past 4 bouts.
Barboza also scored a 1st-round finish last time out, recording the KO/TKO against Billy Quarantillo in mid-April. That halted a 2-bout losing streak which saw the Brazilian lost to Bryce Mitchell via unanimous decision, while falling via KO/TKO in the third round to Giga Chikadze prior to that. While 3 of his past 4 fights have finished inside the distance, he has gone the distance in 4 of the past 7.
Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.
UFC Fight Night 230: Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:47 a.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Yusuff -178 (bet $178 to win $100) | Barboza +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
- Over/Under: 3.5 rounds (Over +108 | Under -138)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +188 | No -250)
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
UFC Fight Night 230: Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edzon Barboza picks and predictions
Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)
YUSUFF (-178) is a little on the pricey side, but he has been impressive since making his way to the UFC, and he is a prospect on the rise. The 30-year-old Team Lloyd Irvin fighter has managed a 6-1 record with the company, with a lone setback to Arnold Allen via unanimous decision.
Barboza has been all over the board lately, and the 37-year-old veteran is just 4-7 across his past 11 fights overall, including 3 losses via knockout.
As such, it’s worth playing YUSUFF BY KO/TKO (+230) for a chance to more than double up your initial wager. While he gives up 4 inches in reach to Barboza, Yusuff also holds an impressive 5.29-to-4.00 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, and he is much more accurate at 52.94% on those strikes, too.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 3.5 ROUNDS (-138) is worth a roll of the dice, even though Yusuff has ended up going the distance in 3 of his previous 4 outings.
Win or lose, Barboza has been involved in plenty of knockouts lately, and I don’t think Yusuff wastes much time trying to rain down punches on the Brazilian fighter. He won’t want to leave it up to the discretion of the judges, that’s for sure.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2559]