Tag: UFC 249 Betting Picks

UFC 249: Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing the big UFC 249 matchup between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje with UFC betting odds and picks.

Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje square off for the lightweight strap in the co-main event at UFC 249 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The card kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, with the main card on pay-per-view.

The highly anticipated bout between Ferguson (26-3-0) and Khabib Nurmagomedov has been scrapped yet again, this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as Khabib returned home to Russia and is not willing to risk fighting. Gaethje (21-2-0) stepped in on short notice as opponent previously, but has not gotten an extra month to prepare after the first card in England was wiped out and this event was pushed back.

Ferguson last fought at UFC 238 on June 8, 2019, and he is 5-0 across his past five bouts, including four wins as a favorite. In addition, he has won two fights either by corner or doctor stoppage, while four of the past five outings have finished inside the distance. In other words, he doesn’t like to leave his fate in the hands of the judges. Five of his past 10 outings have resulted in a submission, too, which isn’t surprising given his 42.86 takedown-accuracy percentage, 0.56 takedown average and 1.40 submission average. While he goes to the mat, he can throw hands, too, and he has a respectable 5.81 significant strikes landed per minute with a 45.33 significant strike-accuracy percentage. He also enjoys a 6.5-inch reach advantage over Gaethje.

Gaethje has no interest in going to the canvas. In fact, he has zeroes across the board in the takedown and submission statistics. He does rain down blows early and often with his fists, posting a heavy 8.57 significant strikes landed per minute, while posting a solid 55.59 significant strike-accuracy percentage. He started just 1-2 in his UFC career, but found his sea legs and has rattled off three straight victories since. All three of those wins came in the first round, so Ferguson will have to be very mindful of the big blow early. In 23 professional bouts, Gaethje has had just two fights go the distance, with wins by decision in each.

Want to place a bet on UFC 249? Place them at BetMGM. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, May 7 at 6:40 p.m. ET.

Gaethje (+145) is a dangerous opponent, but FERGUSON (-176) is worth a roll of the dice on the 2-way line. You’ll definitely want to back that up with other action, though, just in case Gaethje is able to surprise with a big, early blow.

Taking the total number of rounds UNDER 2.5 (-154) is the way to go, while avoiding the rather risky “will the fight go the full 5 rounds” (No, -500) prop. As mentioned, you can avoid the submission as a method of victory, but taking both fighters on the KO/TKO or DQ line isn’t a bad idea. Ferguson (+260) and Gaethje (+170) can both end the night of the opponent quickly, and if there is a knockout by either fighter, you win, even if that’s all you bet. Frankly, that’s too safe for me, and I like to take one fighter or the other, but you can come out ahead that way.

A better way to go might be taking Ferguson to win in a certain round. A Ferguson victory in Round 1 (+350), Round 2 (+520), Round 3 (+750), Round 4 (+1000) and Round 5 (+1400) can all be bet. I think the best bet here is a FERGUSON WIN IN ROUND 2 (+520), if you’re going to try and pinpoint it. Therefore, you’ll also want the FERGUSON BY KO/TKO or DQ (+260) prop attached.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Ferguson (-176) on the 2-way line nets a profit of $5.68. A $10 bet on Ferguson to win by KO/TKO or DQ (+260) nets a profit of $26, while betting $10 on Under 2.5 (-154) returns a profit of $6.49. The big hit would be a $10 bet on Ferguson winning in Round 2 as it would profit $52.

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 249: Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing the big UFC 249 matchup between Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz with UFC betting odds and picks.

Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz tangle for the bantamweight strap in the co-main event at UFC 249 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The card kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, with the main card on pay-per-view.

Cejudo (15-2-0) enters on a five-fight win streak, including a pair of KO/TKO wins against TJ Dillashaw (UFC Fight Night Jan. 19, 2019) and Marlon Moraes (UFC 238 June 8, 2019). The former Olympian has 17 career bouts, and he has never been submitted. On the flip side, he has never won by submission, either, so you can expect him to keep this one upright. Avoid that type method of victory when selecting your wagers. His last loss at the UFC level came April 23, 2016 in a split-decision loss to Demetrious Johnson at UFC 197. He also suffered a split-decision loss to Joseph Benavidez at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale Dec. 3, 2016. He took out his frustrations from those two losses on Wilson Reis with a second-round knockout at UFC 215 (Sept. 9, 2017) and has been on a mission since, a calculated and careful mission, some might say.

A string of injuries has forced Cruz (22-2-0) from the octagon over the past few years. In fact, the last time we saw “The Dominator” was Dec. 30, 2016 when he left following a unanimous decision loss to Cody Garbrandt for the title at UFC 207. Yeah, it’s been a while, and rust is certainly a concern, especially against a polished pounder like Cejudo. Cruz hasn’t won in the octagon since June 4, 2016 against Urijah Faber. While Cejudo likes to throw hands and try and end it early, Cruz is more calculated and draws his fights out. Seven of his past eight fights have been decided by the judges, winning six of those battles. He is 4-1 across his past five championship bouts, too. Like Cejudo, Cruz doesn’t care much for the mat, last winning via submission Sept. 9, 2006.

Want to place a bet on UFC 249? Place them at BetMGM. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, May 7 at 6 p.m. ET.

It’s hard to bet Cruz (+180) on the 2-way line, only due to the rust. This price is awfully attractive, though. Cejudo (-223) is the moderate favorite, and he is expected to keep his strap, but “The Dominator” represents a real danger when healthy. He is so technical which wows the judges, while Cejudo can play it safe on occasion, working ever so hard to protect what is his.

Looking to method of victory, you should avoid any talk of a submission. Instead, taking Cejudo by KO/TKO or DQ (+275) is worth a look, as is a roll of the dice on Cruz to win by decision/technical decision (+275). If you like to hedge bets, and cheer for a method of victory, not caring which fighter wins, those are the ways to go. Cejudo might try and end this one early, and there are concerns Cruz can go a full distance after such a long layoff. As such, taking UNDER 4.5 (+162) for total number of rounds, and NO (+150) WILL THE FIGHT GO THE FULL FIVE ROUNDS, might be the best bets.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Cruz (+180) to win on the 2-way line returns a $18 profit. A $10 bet on Cejudo to win by KO/TKO or DQ (+275) earns a $27.50 profit. A $10 wager on the Under 4.5 rounds (+162) fetches a net profit of $16.20, while $10 on NO, the fight will not go the full five rounds profits $15.

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 249: Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing the big UFC 249 matchup between Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik with UFC betting odds and picks.

Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik do battle in a heavyweight bout on the main card at UFC 249 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The card kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, with the main card on pay-per-view.

Ngannou (14-3-0) is looking to keep his impressive knockout streak alive against Rozenstruik (10-0-0), who has yet to taste defeat in his professional career. Ngannou, a.k.a. “The Predator,” has made quick work of his prey over the past three bouts, recording knockouts in the first round in each tilt. The fights haven’t been against slouches either, as he defeated Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos in order – not exactly cupcakes in the division. Ngannou has been on a mission since a title-shot defeat to Stipe Miocic in a unanimous decision loss in the main event of UFC 220 (Jan. 20, 2018), followed by another loss at the hands of the judges to Derrick Lewis at UFC 226 (July 7, 2018).

Rozenstruik, who hails from Suriname, presents a big challenge for the 33-year-old Ngannou. Rozenstruik throws a lot of punches, posting 3.72 significant strikes landed per minute to just 2.15 for Ngannou. He also has a 46.99 significant strike accuracy percentage to 37.70 for Ngannou. Neither of these fighters try to go to the mat, so you can avoid any thoughts of this one ending via submission. Since arriving at the UFC level, Rozenstruik has recorded four straight KO/TKO wins, including a Round 1 knockout of Andrei Arlovski at UFC 244 and a Round 5 KO/TKO against UFC veteran Alistair Overeem last time out on Dec. 7, 2019.

Want to place a bet on UFC 249? Place them at BetMGM. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, May 7 at 5 p.m. ET.

Ngannou (-278) is a heavy favorite, but if you were to bet the 2-way line, Rozenstruik (+225) is a much better value in this potential brawl.

Checking out method of victory, NGANNOU BY KO/TKO or DQ (-125) is a better bet than taking him on the 2-way line. This will be a toe-to-toe street fight, with both fighters throwing titanic blows. Ngannou doesn’t throw and land as many as Rozenstruik on average, but the ones he does land can rock his opponent in just one shot. It’s proven throughout his career.

While both of these fighters have ended things rather early in their recent fights, they might feel each other out early, looking to avoid the big blow from each other. As such, taking OVER 1.5 ROUNDS (-106) for the total number of rounds is worth a small-unit bet, too.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Ngannou (-278) to win returns just a $3.60 profit. A $10 bet on Ngannou to win by KO/TKO or DQ (-125) earns a $8 profit, while a $10 play on the Over 1.5 rounds (-106) nets a return of $9.43.

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 249: Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing the big UFC 249 matchup between Jeremy Stephens and Calvin Kattar with UFC betting odds and picks.

Jeremy Stephens and Calvin Kattar tangle in a featherweight bout on the main card at UFC 249 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The card kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, with the main card on pay-per-view.

Kattar (20-4-0) is the heavy favorite in this one, and most of the stats are heavily skewed in his favor. First off, “The Boston Finisher” holds a two-inch height advantage and a one-inch reach advantage. More impressively, he has a 5.12-3.09 advantage in significant strikes landed per minute, while posting a 41.08 significant strike accuracy percentage.

Kattar has won each of his past three UFC wins by KO/TKO, including the past two in Round 1. His only two losses at the UFC level have come by unanimous decision. One thing to remember, when looking to method of victory, is that Kattar has never won or lost one of his 16 professional bouts by submission. He is 2-0 across his past two UFC fights as the favorite.

For Stephens, he is just 15-14-1 in 30 bouts at the UFC level, including 0-3-1 with one no contests across the past four. Like Kattar, he doesn’t go to the mat very often, and none of his 26 professional fights have results in a submission win or loss, so this fight will be one either by KO/TKO or points. Across the past seven fights, Stephens is 2-4-1 as an underdog, too.

Want to place a bet on UFC 249? Place them at BetMGM. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, May 6 at 8:50 p.m. ET.

Kattar (-250) is a rather heavy favorite on the 2-way line, but that’s the way to go. It’s very hard to envision a way Stephens (+200) gets it done against the more consistent fighter.

In addition, we mentioned above that Kattar doesn’t go to the mat for the finish, so avoid being tempted by Kattar to win by submission (+1100). Instead, focus on the KO/TKO or DQ WIN PROP BY KATTAR (+300), which can help you triple up your initial bet. Lastly, if you look to the Total number of rounds, UNDER 2.5 (+145) is quite attractive with two fighters standing toe-to-toe looking to land big knockout blows. “The Boston Finisher” will finish Stephens early, perhaps even in the opening round, which makes KATTAR TO WIN IN ROUND 1 (+550) an attractive play as well. If not, hedging on Kattar to win in Round 2 (+800) is also worth a look.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Kattar (-250) to win returns a $4 profit. A $10 bet on Kattar to win by KO/TKO or DQ (+300) earns a $30 profit, while a bet on the fight going less than 2.5 rounds (+145) returns a $14.50 profit. The real nice hit would be if Kattar wins in Round 1 (+550), profiting $55 on a $10 wager.

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 249: Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing the big UFC 249 matchup between Greg Hardy and Yorgan De Castro with UFC betting odds and picks.

Greg Hardy and Yorgan De Castro square off in a heavyweight bout on the main card at UFC 249 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The card kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, with the main card on pay-per-view.

Hardy (5-2-1), the former Dallas Cowboys player, has had mixed results since making his UFC debut Jan. 19. 2019 in a disqualification loss to Allen Crowder. He has knockout wins over Juan Adams and Dmitri Smoliakov, but also a no-contest against Ben Sosoli and a unanimous-decision loss against Alexander Volkov last time out at UFC Fight Night on Nov. 9, 2019.

Hardy has been involved in eight professional fights, but he has neither won or lost via submission, so remember that when choosing method of victory in this one. In addition, each of his five professional wins have come via KO/TKO, so you know what you’re getting with Hardy – a brawl. As a favorite he has posted a 1-1-1 record, so not much to glean there.

As far as the 33-year-old De Castro (6-0) is concerned, he made his UFC debut at UFC 243 with a Round 1 KO/TKO win over Justin Tafa on Oct. 5, 2019. De Castro, who hails from the Cape Verde Islands, was a slight underdog in that fight against Tafa. Five of his six professional victories are also by KO/TKO, so like Hardy, he likes to fight upright and try to land big punches rather than ground and pound. Four of his professional victories have come in Round 1.

Want to place a bet on UFC 249? Place them at BetMGM. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, May 6 at 6:15 p.m. ET.

Hardy (-200) is the chalk here, and risking two times your potential return isn’t terribly attractive. In addition, he hasn’t exactly dominated in his previous fights, posting rather uneven results. However, he is a brawler, and he is up against a rather inexperienced fighter, especially at the UFC level. You have to figure De Castro is going to walk into a big blow, and it’s over, especially since Hardy holds a ridiculous 6.5-inch reach advantage.

If you look to method of victory, HARDY BY KO/TKO or DQ (+140) is quite attractive. In addition, it’s extremely unlikely the judges are needed for this one, so playing NO (-250) WILL THE FIGHT GO THE FULL 3 ROUNDS? is the way to go. If you are looking to De Castro to spring the slight upset, he is attractive to win by KO/TKO or DQ (+210), while fetching +165 to win on the 2-way line.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Hardy (-200) to win returns a $5 profit. A $10 bet on Hardy to win by KO/TKO or DQ (+140) earns a $14 profit, while a bet on De Castro to win by KO/TKO or DQ (+210) returns a $21 profit.

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 249 – How to watch Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje, full fight card and betting odds

All of the details you need around Saturday’s UFC 249 fight card, featuring Ferguson-Gaethje and Cruz-Cejudo, including how to watch.

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UFC 249 will finally take place this Saturday at 10 p.m. ET at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The pay-per-view event will stream in HD on ESPN+, and will feature two championship title bouts as Tony Ferguson takes on Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title. Henry Cejudo battles Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight crown.

UFC 249 was originally scheduled to take place Saturday, April 18 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UFC 249 fight card

All odds via BetMGM Sportsbook; last updated Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. ET.

Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson vs. Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje

Oct 6, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Anthony Pettis (blue gloves) during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena. (Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA TODAY Sports)

Ferguson is the No. 1 contender in the lightweight division and will get his shot at the interim title against the third-ranked Gaethje. Ferguson (-175) is a sizable favorite over Gaethje (+145) with a record of 26-3, while his opponent enters at 21-2. Both fighters stand 5-foot-11, but Ferguson holds a reach advantage of 76.5″ to 70″ for Gaethje.

Henry ‘The Messenger’ Cejudo vs. Dominick ‘The Dominator’ Cruz

Jun 8, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Henry Cejudo (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Marlon Moraes (blue gloves) during UFC 238 at United Center. (Photo Credit: Jerry Lai – USA TODAY Sports)

Cejudo enters UFC 249 on a five-fight win streak, including his June 8, 2019 fight against Marlon Moraes, in which he claimed the bantamweight title with a TKO win. At -223, he’s a heavy betting favorite over Cruz (+180), who suffered his first loss his last time out against Cody Garbrandt to drop to 18-1 for his UFC career.

Want to place a bet on UFC 249? Place them at BetMGM. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Francis ‘The Predator’ Ngannou vs. Jairzinho ‘Bigi Boy’ Rozenstruik

Jun 29, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Francis Ngannou (red gloves) reacts after beating Junior Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Target Center. (Photo Credit: David Berding – USA TODAY Sports)

Ngannou (-278) is the biggest favorite on UFC 249’s main card. The Cameroonian enters at 13-3 and is the No. 2 contender in the heavyweight division. Rozenstruik (+225) is 10-0 for his career and enters as the No. 6 contender in the division. All but one of his wins has been via knockout.

Jeremy ‘Lil’ Heathen’ Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar

Oct 18, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Jeremy Stephens walks to his corner in between rounds of a fight against Yair Rodriguez (not seen) in a featherweight bout during UFC Fight Night at the TD Garden. (Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara – USA TODAY Sports)

The veteran Stephens enters with a 28-17 record and one no contest. He’s a +200 underdog vs. the 20-4 Kattar (-250). Stephens and Kattar rank seventh and ninth, respectively, in the featherweight division.

Greg ‘Prince of War’ Hardy vs. Yorgan ‘The Mad Titan’ De Castro

Oct 18, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Greg Hardy (red) reacts before a fight with Ben Sosoli (blue) in a heavyweight bout during UFC Fight Night at the TD Garden. (Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara – USA TODAY Sports)

Hardy (-200) is 5-1 with a no-contest in his career and battles the 5-0 De Castro (+165) in the first heavyweight bout of the main card. Hardy holds significant advantages in height (6-foot-5 to 6-foot-1), weight (265 pounds vs. 250 pounds) and reach (80″ to 74″).

When is UFC 249?

UFC 249 is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, at 10 p.m. ET. The main event should begin around midnight ET.

Where is UFC 249?

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.

How/Where can I watch UFC 249?

Catch the entire UFC 249 fight card, including the Ferguson vs. Gaethje and Cejudo vs. Cruz title fights, on pay-per-view on ESPN+ streaming service. Sign up for ESPN+ now and don’t miss any of the action.

Where can I bet on UFC 249?

Get some action on UFC 249 by placing a legal sports bet at BetMGM.

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and on 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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