In a heavyweight title fight in the main event, Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane meet Saturday at UFC 270 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Below, we analyze the UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The early prelims can be viewed on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET, the prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, with the main card starting at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view.
Ngannou dumped Stipe Miocic in a rematch title fight at UFC 260 in March 2021 to secure the heavyweight strap for the first time. Now, he looks to retain that belt and keep the French challenger and interim champ Gane from swiping it and making things official.
Ngannou has won five consecutive fights via KO/TKO, including four in the first round. His win over Stipe came in the second round. He has seven finishes, all via knockout, in the previous nine events, and he has ended up going the distance just twice in 13 bouts at the UFC level.
Three months after his win against Miocic, Ngannou was asked to fight and he declared he wouldn’t be ready. So, Gane stepped in and beat Derrick Lewis to be named interim heavyweight champ.
Now, these former sparring partners will fight each other in one of the most intriguing fights in quite some time. Gane knocked out Lewis at UFC 265, but three of his past five fights have gone the distance.
UFC 270 Ngannou vs. Gane: 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 6:17 a.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Ngannou +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Gane -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +200 | No -290)
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UFC 270 Ngannou vs. Gane: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Records: Ngannou (16-3-0) | Gane (10-0-0)
Fight result (2-way line or money line)
NGANNOU (+120) enters this bout with a huge chip on his shoulder. He has been involved in a contract dispute with the UFC, and he ghosted Gane and his former coach backstage at UFC 268.
This is a strange place for Ngannou. He is fighting his former sparring partner. He is angry about his contract situation, and he has made no bones about the fact he’d like to make a switch to boxing. His contract states that if he wins Saturday, he’ll need to fight at least one more time at the UFC level.
So, what desire is stronger?
Ngannou beating his rival, and his former coach, who is now in Gane’s corner? I think Ngannou snags the belt he feels is rightfully his, putting off his boxing ambitions for at least one more year.
Over/Under (O/U)
NGANNOU BY TKO/KO (+155) is the play. When he wins, it’s with a knockout, and it comes in rather short order. Gane knows the Cameroonian fighter well, and won’t go quietly.
Make two bets here: NGANNOU IN ROUND 2 (+750) and NGANNOU IN ROUND 3 (+1300). If he wins in one of the two rounds, sure, you’ll lose one, but you’ll still be well ahead by winning the other.
I like the round-block betting and method of victory wagers much better than the more expensive, and simple, No (-290): Fight to go the distance bet.
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