UFC 309: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 309 odds between Charles Olivera vs. Michael Chandler, with MMA picks and predictions.

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In a 5-round lightweight bout on the main card, Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler battle at UFC 309 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC 309: Oliveira vs. Chandler odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET on hulu/ESPN+, while the prelims get started at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNews/FX/hulu/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on Pay-Per-View (PPV).

Records: Oliveira (34-10-0) | Chandler (23-8-0)

Oliveira is looking to rebound after a split-decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in mid-April. He lost his lightweight strap to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280, and while he followed that up with a first-round KO/TKO of veteran Beneil Dariush at UFC 289, after the loss to Tsarukyan, he is currently considered the No. 2 contender.

Chandler is also looking to bounce back from a loss, as he was submitted by Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in his most recent showing Nov. 12, 2022. He is also looking for redemption, after eating fists at UFC 262 against Oliveira in their first matchup for the title on May 15, 2021. Oliveira won that fight via KO/TKO just 19 seconds into Round 2.

The 35-year-old Brazilian Muay Thai specialist Oliveira has a 2.5-inch reach advantage over the 38-year-old American fighter. Chandler holds a 4.89-to-3.39 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, although Oliveira is a little more accurate at 61.97% to just 51.79% for Chandler.

On the ground, Oliveira is deadly, posting a 2.81 submission average, to just 0.87 for Chandler. Both have a 2.17 takedown average, with Oliveira slightly more accurate on takedowns at 40.0%.

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UFC 309: Oliveira vs. Chandler odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list UFC odds. Lines last updated at 3:10 p.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Oliveira -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Chandler +205 (bet $100 to win $205)
  • Total rounds: 1.5 Rounds (Over -112 | Under -112)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +590 | No -1100)

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UFC 309: Oliveira vs. Chandler picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Oliviera (-250) has done it before against Chandler, knocking him out in short order in the first meeting. However, both fighters are coming off a loss, and risking 2½ times the potential return is not a smart investment. Let’s get a little more specific.

OLIVEIRA BY SUBMISSION (+150) is a much more attractive play, with much less risk, too. When the Brazilian can get fighters to the ground, it usually doesn’t end well for the opposition. He uses punishing Muay Thai kicks to the calves, weakening the legs of his opponent early on, before getting them to the canvas for the finish. He has been one of the best in UFC history, and while Chandler is a tremendous wrestler, it’s hard to come back from those devastating kicks to the calves.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 1.5 ROUNDS (-112) is the best play on the board. While Oliveira will be trying to get this down to the mat early and often, Chandler is smart enough to hang around. This won’t be easy by any stretch, and it will be a lot more entertaining than that farce we saw on Netflix Friday night.

However, you can’t play the distance props as there is literally zero chance this fight goes all the way, yet you can’t play No (-1100): Will the fight go the distance, risking 11 times the potential return. That makes no sense, either.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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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.

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UFC 309: Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 309 odds between Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig, with MMA picks and predictions.

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In a 3-round middleweight bout, Bo Nickal and Paul Craig battle at UFC 309 Saturday at Madison Square Garden on the main card. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC 309: Nickal vs. Craig odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET on hulu/ESPN+, while the prelims get started at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNews/FX/hulu/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on Pay-Per-View (PPV).

Records: Nickal (6-0-0) | Craig (17-8-1)

Nickal has picked up 3 wins in 3 appearances at the UFC level, and he has had finishes in each of the outings. Nickal wasted no time with a first-round submission of Jamie Pickett in his company debut at UFC 285, while making quick work of Val Woodburn in just 38 seconds with a KO/TKO at UFC 290.

Nickal had to go a little deeper against Cody Brundage last time out at UFC 300, but he ended up with the submission win in Round 2, his second victory via the method in 3 UFC battles.

Craig lost via KO/TKO to Caio Borralho last time out at UFC 301, falling in 2 rounds, and he is just 1-4 in the previous 5 fights. His lone win was a KO/TKO is Andre Muniz on July 22, 2023. He has been knocked out twice in the past 5 fights, while losing via submission once, with a unanimous decision setback, too.

The reach length for both fighters is identical at 76 inches. The southpaw Nickal has just 1.64 significant strikes landed per minute, but he is very accurate at 72.94% on those strikes. He also has a ridiculous 7.46 takedown average and submission average. Once you go to the mat with Nickal, it’s not going to end well.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 309: Nickal vs. Craig odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list UFC odds. Lines last updated at 2:27 p.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Nickal -1400 (bet $1,400 to win $100) | Craig +830 (bet $100 to win $830)
  • Total rounds: 1.5 Rounds (Over +142 | Under -180)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +610 | No -1100)

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UFC 309: Nickal vs. Craig picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Nickal (-1400) will set you back 14 times your potential return. It’s not wise to bet such a strong favorite straight up. Even if it seems like a sure thing, there is just no value betting such a heavy favorite for such a small return. Even as part of a multi-leg parlay, it makes no sense.

You can make money in this fight by playing a 4-leg Same Game Parlay, however, using these plays:

  • Nickal by submission: Method of victory (+200)
  • Nickal: Most significant strikes (-235)
  • Under: 1.5 total rounds (-180)
  • No: Will the fight go the distance?

If you bet this 4-LEG SAME-GAME PARLAY (+444), a $10 wager nets a profit of $44.40 with a total payout of $54.40.

Over/Under (O/U)

If you prefer not to do the SGP above, or are perhaps worried about the potential of a knockout, UNDER 1.5 ROUNDS (-180) is pricey, but still the best play in terms of fight length. You can’t mess with No: Will fight go the distance? (-1100) as that requires risking 11 times the return.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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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.

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UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 309 odds between Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, with MMA picks and predictions.

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In a 5-round heavyweight championship bout in the main event, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic battle at UFC 309 Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET on Hulu/ESPN+, while the prelims get started at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNews/FX/Hulu/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view.

Records: Jones (27-1-0) | Miocic (20-4-0)

Jones returned to the octagon after a 3-year absence, posting a first-round submission win over Ciryl Gane to snatch the heavyweight strap at UFC 285 in his step up to the heavyweight division. The 37-year-old is making his way back from a torn pectoral muscle, which pushed this event back more than a year.

Miocic last fought at UFC 260, losing in a second-round KO/TKO against Francis Ngannou in a championship bout. The greatest heavyweight in UFC history now gets a shot at the most decorated fighter in company history in an epic showdown between 2 fighters at the tail end of their careers.

Miocic is a punching machine who will want to try and keep this an upright brawl, while Jones will want to get him down to the canvas to get all serpentine on the former champ, looking for a submission victory.

Jones has a 4.5-inch reach advantage, while the difference in significant strikes landed per minute, as well as the accuracy on those strikes, is fairly negligible.

Jones has an ever-so-slight 1.93-to-1.86 takedown average, with a 45.36% takedown accuracy percentage, to just 34.25% for Miocic. Bones has a 0.48 submission average, too, which he’d love to improve.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list UFC odds. Lines last updated at 1:24 p.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Jones -700 (bet $700 to win $100) | Miocic +475 (bet $100 to win $475)
  • Total rounds: 2.5 Rounds (Over +110 | Under -145)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +300 | No -500)

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UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Jones (-700) will cost you more 7 times your potential return, if you’re looking to back him straight up. That’s way too much risk for not enough reward.

As far as Miocic (+475) is concerned, the layoff has just been too much, and that makes him a super risky pick. It would be an amazing upset, and frankly, it’s stunning to see the former champ, and one of the most dominant heavyweights in UFC history, as such a heavy underdog. It’s tempting to play him straight up.

The best course of action is to take JONES BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+100) at even money. Miocic has been away a while, and it won’t end well against Jones, one of the best to ever do it.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (-145) may be the best play on the board.

Jones has actually ended up going the distance in 3 of his past 4 fights, but those distance bouts were from March 2019 to Feb. 2020. In his most recent bout in March 2023, he needed just 2:04 to submit Gane.

For Miocic, he has seen just 2 of his past 10 fights go the distance, and 5 of those fights didn’t make it out of the first round. It would be stunning to see this one last into the night.

As far as No (-500): Will fight go the distance?, that’s just way too much risk for not nearly enough reward.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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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.

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