UFC odds lines picks predictions best bets MMA odds

UFC on ESPN 63: Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 63 odds between Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 3-round flyweight bout on the main card, Manel Kape and Bruno Silva battle Saturday at UFC on ESPN 63 at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC on ESPN 63: Kape vs. Silva odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET, also on ESPN2/ESPN+.

Records: Kape (19-7-0) | Silva (14-5-2)

Kape is looking to rebound after a unanimous-decision loss against Muhammad Mokaev in late July at UFC 304. He has ended up going the distance in each of his past 3 fights.

The last time the Portuguese fighter was able to get a finish was a first-round KO/TKO against Zhalgas Zhumagalov Dec. 4, 2021, and he also had a first-round KO/TKO against Ode’ Osbourne at UFC 265 prior to that.

For Silva, he has 4 consecutive victories, all via finish, and he has not lost since a unanimous-decision loss to Tagir Ulanbekov in Oct. 2020.

The southpaw Kape has a 3-inch reach advantage against Silva, and he has a 4.44-to-3.32 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. The 2 fighters are nearly identical in significant strikes accuracy percentage. Silva has a 2.26 takedown average, and Kape has a slight 0.36-to-0.23 submission average advantage.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC on ESPN 63: Kape vs. Silva 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 3:40 p.m. ET.

Fight result (2-way line): Kape -390 (bet $390 to win $100) | Silva +310 (bet $100 to win $310)
Total Rounds: 2.5 Rounds (Over: -196 | Under: +152)
Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -158 | No +124)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC on ESPN 63: Kape vs. Silva picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Kape (-390) will cost you more than 3½ times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not enough reward. Let’s get a little more specific.

Kape is a punching machine, but Silva (+310) has the ability to hang around. He has decent defense, and Kape will be working to use his reach advantage to keep Silva at a distance to try and avoid the Brazilian fighter getting him to the mat.

Kape knows what to do to wow the judges. Bet KAPE BY POINTS (+105) at near even-money on method of victory.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES (-158): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is a little on the expensive side, but it isn’t totally priced out of line.

Again, Kape has ended up going the distance in each of his past 3 bouts. Silva hasn’t made it to Round 3 in the past 4 fights, but this is a big step up in competition.

Over 2.5 Rounds (-196) is a little too expensive, costing you almost 2 times your potential return. Avoid that, and look to the distance prop instead.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]

UFC on ESPN 63: Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 63 odds between Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 3-round featherweight bout on the main card, Cub Swanson and Billy Quarantillo battle Saturday at UFC on ESPN 63 at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC on ESPN 63: Swanson vs. Quarantillo odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET, also on ESPN2/ESPN+.

Records: Swanson (29-14-0) | Quarantillo (18-6-0)

Swanson is looking to bounce back after a split-decision in late June against Andre Fili at UFC 303. He is 2-3 in the past 5 fights, while going 4-7 in the past 11 bouts. His past 2 fights have ended up going the distance, while the 4 bouts prior ended up via KO/TKO.

Quarantillo suffered a second-round submission loss to Youssef Zalal last time out in late March, while going 3-4 in the past 7 fights. In his past 9 fights, he has ended up going the distance 4 times.

The 41-year-old Swanson has managed just 4.67 significant strikes landed per minute to 7.36 for Quarantillo. The 36-year-old fighter has also managed to land 64.16% of those strikes, while posting a 1.24 takedown average and 1.11 submission average.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC on ESPN 63: Swanson vs. Quarantillo 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 3:20 p.m. ET.

Fight result (2-way line): Swanson +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Quarantillo -154 (bet $154 to win $100)
Total Rounds: 2.5 Rounds (Over: -144 | Under: +114)
Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -122 | No -104)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC on ESPN 63: Swanson vs. Quarantillo picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

QUARANTILLO (-154) is a strong play as a moderate favorite against the aging veteran Swanson (+130).

Quarantillo has tremendous power, and he throws a ton of punches per minute, which also landing those strikes at a dizzying pace. In addition, he will go for takedowns, and he has a 1.11 submission average. He is 5-1 in his career via submission, and his specialty is the armbar or the rear-naked choke.

Over/Under (O/U)

NO (-104): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is a good play at near-even money.

Swanson has gone the distance in each of his past 2 fights, but prior to that he had 4 bouts end via KO/TKO, winning 2 and losing 2 of them.

For Quarantillo, he has managed to go the distance just once in the past 4 fights, while needing the judges in just 4 of his 10 fights since arriving at the UFC level.

UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (+114) at plus-money is worth a roll of the dice, too.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]

UFC on ESPN 63: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 63 odds between Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 5-round welterweight bout in the main event, Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley battle Saturday at UFC on ESPN 63 at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC on ESPN 63: Covington vs. Buckley odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET, also on ESPN2/ESPN+.

Records: Covington (17-4-0) | Buckley (20-6-0)

Covington was stopped via unanimous decision last time out at UFC 296 in a championship bout against Leon Edwards. Covington has ended up going the distance in 3 in a row, and 8 of the past 10 bouts dating back to Dec. 17, 2016.

Buckley scored a third-round knockout against Stephen Thompson at UFC 307, and he has won 5 straight fights with 2 via unanimous decision and 3 KO/TKO victories. His last loss was Dec. 10, 2022, against Chris Curtis at UFC 282.

Buckley holds a 4-inch reach advantage, and the southpaw has a slight 4.13-to-3.88 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. Covington is quite a bit more accurate on those strikes at 52.00% to just 39.64% for the left-hander. Covington has a 3.79 takedown average, too, while Buckley has managed just a 1.96 takedown average and 46.34% takedown accuracy percentage.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC on ESPN 63: Covington vs. Buckley 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 12:55 p.m. ET.

Fight result (2-way line): Covington +198 (bet $100 to win $198) | Buckley -240 (bet $240 to win $100)
Total Rounds: 4.5 Rounds (Over: -138 | Under: +108)
Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -124 | No -102)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC on ESPN 63: Covington vs. Buckley picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

COVINGTON (+198) is an intriguing pick for the chance to nearly double up.

Buckley (-240) has the reach advantage, and he is a punching machine. However, Covington has battled the best of the best in the division, and while he is 2-3 in the past 5 bouts, each of the setbacks were for a championship. He has never lost in a non-championship bout.

Buckley has won 3 of his past 5 fights via KO/TKO, but he doesn’t have the same quality of opponents Covington has.

COVINGTON BY POINTS (+310) for the chance to more than triple up is also worth a roll of the dice for the method of victory.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES (-124): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is worth a look, and it won’t set you back very much.

Again, Covington has gone the distance in the past 3 bouts, and those are each 5-round fights, too. He has just 2 finishes in the past 10 fights since Dec. 2016.

OVER 4.5 ROUNDS (-138) isn’t too pricey if you’d like a little bit of wiggle room in the event of a late Round 5 finish.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]

UFC 310: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 310 odds between Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 5-round flyweight championship bout in the main event, Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura battle Saturday at UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+, while the prelims begin at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2/FX/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on Pay-Per-View (PPV).

Records: Pantoja (28-5-0) | Asakura (21-4-0)

Pantoja secured the flyweight belt at UFC 290 with a split-decision victory over Brandon Moreno, and he has a pair of successful title defenses with unanimous-decision wins over Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg.

Pantoja’s last fight against Erceg was at UFC 301 back in early May. He has 6 straight victories, including 2 via submission, and 4 by way of decision, since his last loss to Askar Askarov in a unanimous-decision setback in a fight night in July 2020.

Asakura is making his UFC debut, and he gets a title shot. The Japanese fighter is a punching machine with tremendous power, and he is known for his knees to the body of the opponent, too, so that will be something Pantoja will want to avoid.

One thing absent from Asakura’s history is wins and losses by way of submission. He last won via the method in July 2, 2016 against Xiaoyang Liu at Road Fighting Championship 32 via rear-naked choke. Meanwhile, Pantoja has 2 victories via the method in his past 5 fights at the UFC level.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura 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 2:45 p.m. ET.

Fight result (2-way line): Pantoja -260 (bet $260 to win $100) | Asakura +215 (bet $100 to win $215)
Total Rounds: 2.5 Rounds (Over: -134 | Under: +106)
Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +186 | No -240)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Pantoja (-260) is going a little bit against the unknown, heading into a fight against Asakura (+215) in his UFC debut. But, we know what we’ll get some Pantoja. While Asakura can deliver devastating knees to the body in close quarters, Pantoja delivers leg kicks with the best of them, too.

In addition, Pantoja knows what it takes to be a champion, successfully defending his strap twice. He isn’t going to lose it to a newcomer. He has 8 victories in his career via KO/TKO, so knows a thing or two about power, too. And, he is outstanding in the clinch, and just a good all-around fighter.

However, you can’t bet Pantoja straight up, risking more than 2 1/2 times your potential return. PANTOJA BY SUBMISSION (+175) might be the best value. He has 2 finishes via the method in the past 5 fights, and he isn’t going to want to go toe-to-toe with a fighter of Asakura’s ilk, even if he is making his UFC debut. Getting into a brawl makes it a 50-50 proposition, but getting the fight to the mat tips the scales in the Brazilian champ’s favor.

Over/Under (O/U)

No: Will the fight go the distance? (-240) is way too expensive, costing you nearly 2 1/2 times your potential return.

However, OVER 2.5 ROUNDS (-134) might not be a bad play. Again, Asakura is a bit of a wild card, and Pantoja might want to do a little bit of feeling out before he elects to get close.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]

UFC 310: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 310 odds between Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 5-round welterweight bout on the main card, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry battle Saturday at UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC 310: Rakhmonov vs. Garry odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+, while the prelims begin at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2/FX/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view.

Records: Rakhmonov (18-0-0) | Garry (15-0-0)

The 30-year-old Kazakh fighter Rakhmonov has won not only all 6 fights at the UFC level, but he has posted 5 submission victories and a first-round KO/TKO win in Feb. 2022. That includes a second-round win at UFC 296 last time out over Stephen Thompson via submission. He has been into Round 3 just once in the 6-bout span.

For Garry, he has won each of his 8 fights at the UFC level, including 3 straight wins via decision. He topped Michael Page by way of unanimous decision at UFC 303. His last finish was a first-round KO/TKO against Daniel Rodriguez in a May 2023 fight night.

Rakhmonov enters with a 2.5-inch reach advantage, while Garry has a 5.50-to-4.12 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. Rakhmonov is much more accurate with those strikes, however, landing 70.92% to just 58.66%.

In takedown average, Rakhmonov has a 1.49 mark, while Garry is just about half that at 0.77, although he has a 55.56% takedown accuracy percentage to only 29.41% for Rakhmonov. The latter has a tremendous 1.79 submission average to 0.31 for Garry.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 310: Rakhmonov vs. Garry 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 2:20 p.m. ET.

Fight result (2-way line): Rakhmonov -355 (bet $355 to win $100) | Garry +285 (bet $100 to win $285)
Total Rounds: 3.5 Rounds (Over: -118 | Under: -108)
Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +164 | No -215)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC 310: Rakhmonov vs. Garry picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

In this battle of unbeaten fighters, not only at the UFC level, but in their mixed martial arts pro careers, it’s surprising to see such a heavy favorite.

Rakhmonov (-355) will cost you more than 3½ times your potential return, but has he been that much more dominant than Garry (+285)?

Perhaps the reach advantage comes into play, as Rakhmonov’s longer arms will be able to push and pull Garry out as he feels necessary. But, Garry is tough, and he knows how to hang around and wow the judges, too.

Rakhmonov has taken care of Wonderboy, Geoff Neal and Neil Magny, 3 of the top veteran fighters at this division. However, Gary also has wins over Neal and Magny in the previous 3 fights, and he is a punching machine.

GARRY (+285) is the better value for the chance to nearly triple up.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES: WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? (+164) is worth a look at plus-money.

Rakhmonov has never been taken the distance at the UFC level, or in any of his 18 fights overall. However, Garry is tough as nails and knows how to hang around. Garry has gone the distance in the past 3 fights.

In addition, playing GARRY BY POINTS (+600) is worth a play for the chance to multiply your initial wager by 6 times.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]

UFC 310: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 310 odds between Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 3-round heavyweight bout on the main card, Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov battle Saturday at UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC 310: Gane vs. Volkov odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+, while the prelims begin at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2/FX/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view.

Records: Gane (12-2-0) | Volkov (38-10-0)

The former champ Gane is looking to position himself for another run at the heavyweight title. Since topping Derrick Lewis in Aug. 2021 for the strap, he lost to Francis Ngannou in his first title defense in Jan. 2022 at UFC 270, and he was defeated by Jon Jones in another title shot at UFC 285 in March 2023.

In his past 5 bouts, Gane has ended up finishing inside the distance in 4 outings, with his past 3 victories each coming via KO/TKO.

Volkov enters with a 4-bout win streak, including 3 finishes. He has 2 KO/TKO victories during the span, with a submission victory at UFC 293 over Tai Tuivasa. Last time out he topped Sergei Pavlovich in June on a fight night card.

Gane has a 1-inch reach advantage and a slight 5.49-to-5.13 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. He is also a little more accurate with those strikes at 62.80% to 61.47%.

In the ground game, Gane has managed a 0.48 submission average to 0.19, while Volkov has a 63.64% takedown accuracy percentage to just 21.43% for Gane.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 310: Gane vs. Volkov 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 11:59 a.m. ET.

Fight result (2-way line): Gane -360 (bet $360 to win $100) | Volkov +290 (bet $100 to win $290)
Total Rounds: 2.5 Rounds (Over: -310 | Under: +225)
Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -260 | No +190)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC 310: Gane vs. Volkov picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Backing Gane (-375) straight up is quite expensive, costing you nearly 4 times your initial wager. That’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward.

Instead, let’s get a little more specific with the method of victory. It’s a matter of choice here, and the difference can be substantial. GANE BY KO/TKO, DQ OR SUBMISSION (+275) on the 5-way line will net you quite the return. GANE BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+350) on the 7-way line is a little more lucrative, but if the Frenchman wins by submission, you obviously lose with the latter.

Gane’s past 3 victories have come via KO/TKO, but he does have 2 submission wins at the UFC level in 11 bouts.

Over/Under (O/U)

NO: WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? (+190) might be the best play on this entire card, and for the opportunity to nearly double up, it’s worth a roll of the dice.

Volkov has ended up needing the judges to determine a winner just once in his past 5 fights, with 2 wins via KO/TKO while going 1-1 by way of submission. He also had the unanimous-decision win over Pavlovich last time out.

For Gane, he also has just one decision, a 5-round loss to Ngannou, in his previous 5 fights. He has 3 KO/TKO wins in the span, with a submission loss to Bones Jones.

UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (+225) is also a strong play for the chance to more than double up.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]

UFC Fight Night 248: Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 248 odds between Song Kenan and Muslim Salikhov, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 3-round welterweight bout on the main card, Song Kenan and Muslim Salikhov battle at UFC Fight Night 248 Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Cotai, Macau. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC Fight Night 248: Song vs. Salikhov odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 3 a.m. ET, with the main card beginning at 6 a.m. ET. All events can be viewed or streamed on ESPN+.

Records: Song (22-8-0) | Salikhov (20-5-0)

Song takes the walk to the octagon with a 1.5-inch reach advantage, and he’ll likely have a pro-China crowd on his side in nearby Macau, too. He holds a 4.57-to-3.32 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, although the veteran Salikhov is a lot more accurate on those strikes at 52.86%. He is also better in the takedown average department, posting a 1.12 mark, to just 0.43 for Song.

Kenan has needed the judges in each of his past 3 fights, winning 2 of those outings, including a unanimous-decision win over Ricky Glenn at UFC 305. For Salikhov, he picked up a split-decision win over Santiago Ponzinibbio last time out in mid-July, halting a 2-bout skid.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 248: Song vs. Salikhov odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list UFC odds. Lines last updated Friday at 10:50 a.m. ET.

Fight result (2-way line): Song +156 (bet $100 to win $156) | Salikhov -186 (bet $186 to win $100)
Total rounds: 2.5 Rounds (Over -164 | Under +128)
Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -132 | No +104)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC Fight Night 248: Song vs. Salikhov picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Salikhov (-186) is just a little too expensive to play straight up. The 40-year-old veteran, a.k.a. the “King of Kung Fu,” has seen it all in his illustrious career. He won’t be fazed by what is expected to be a pro-Song crowd.

While, yes, Salikhov is 2-3 in his past 5 fights, he has fought some of the top fighters in the division, and he had a KO/TKO of Andre Fialho Nov. 2022 during the 5-bout span.

Song (+156) has ended up going the distance in each of his past 3 fights, and he hasn’t fought the same type of top-tier welterweights that Salikhov has faced, nor does he have nearly the same experience.

BACK SALIKHOV BY POINTS (+185) for the chance to nearly double up.

Over/Under (O/U)

Over 2.5 Rounds (-164) is a little more pricey, but you couldn’t be blamed for playing it if you want a little wiggle room in the even of a late finish in Round 3.

Still, the preferred play is simply going YES: WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? (-132) at a much more economical price. With Song going to the judges in each of the past 3 fights, this could be the best play on the board.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]

UFC Fight Night 248: Yan Xiaonan vs. Tabatha Ricci odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 248 odds between Yan Xiaonan and Tabatha Ricci, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 3-round women’s strawweight bout on the main card, Yan Xiaonan and Tabatha Ricci battle at UFC Fight Night 248 Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Cotai, Macau. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC Fight Night 248: Yan vs. Ricci odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 3 a.m. ET, with the main card beginning at 6 a.m. ET. All events can be viewed or streamed on ESPN+.

Records: Yan (18-4-0) | Ricci (11-2-0)

Yan had a shot at the women’s strawweight title last time out against Zhang Weili, but she suffered a setback via unanimous decision. The 35-year-old Chinese fighter is now just 2-3 across the past 5 fights. Her last victory came via first-round KO/TKO against Jessica Andrade at UFC 288 in May 2023.

For Ricci, she won against Angela Hill via unanimous decision last time out on Aug. 24, 2024. She has won 2 in a row, and 6 of the past 7, while she has ended up going the distance in 4 straight outings. Her last finish was a second-round submission against Jessica Penne at UFC 285.

Yan holds a 2-inch reach advantage over Ricci, with a slight edge in significant strikes landed per minute and significant strike accuracy percentage, too. Ricci is much better with a 2.99 takedown average, although Yan is significantly more accurate on takedowns at 73.33%.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 248: Yan vs. Ricci odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list UFC odds. Lines last updated Friday at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Fight result (2-way line): Yan -184 (bet $184 to win $100) | Ricci +154 (bet $100 to win $154)
Total rounds: 2.5 Rounds (Over -410 | Under +290)
Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -350 | No +250)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC Fight Night 248: Yan vs. Ricci picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Yan (-184) is fighting in Macau, which is much closer to her native China, so the crowd will presumably be behind her.

Ricci can match Yan in the significant strikes department, but the favorite is much more accurate, and that will likely mean the difference when the judges go to the scorecards.

We’re expecting this fight to go the distance because 3 of Yan’s past 5 fights, and 9 of her 11 fights at the UFC level, have ended up going all the way.

For Ricci, she also gets the judges involved frequently, with 4 straight decisions, while going the distance in 6 of the past 7 outings.

Play YAN BY POINTS (-105) at near even-money for the best play on the board.

Over/Under (O/U)

You can’t play Over 2.5 Rounds (-410) or Yes: Will the fight go the distance? (-350), whether it’s straight up or as part of a multi-leg parlay. The risk outweighs the reward way too much.

PASS, and simply focus on the Method of Victory and winner instead.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]

UFC Fight Night 248: Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 248 odds between Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 5-round bantamweight bout in the main event, Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo battle at UFC Fight Night 248 Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Cotai, Macau. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC Fight Night 248: Yan vs. Figueiredo odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 3 a.m. ET, with the main card beginning at 6 a.m. ET. All events can be viewed or streamed on ESPN+.

Records: Yan (17-5-0) | Figueiredo (24-3-1)

Yan, a former champ, is looking to work his way back to the top of the division. He lost his strap to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 in a split-decision setback April 9, 2022.

Yan also lost via split decision to Sean O’Malley at UFC 280, before a unanimous-decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili in March 2023. He finally stemmed the tide of losing with a unanimous-decision victory over Song Yadong at UFC 299. You’re probably noticing a pattern, as that’s 5 straight fights to go the distance.

Figueiredo, also a former champ, has posted 3 straight wins over quality opponents since losing his belt to Brandon Moreno at UFC 283 in the fourth fight of their rivalry. Figueiredo topped Rob Font via unanimous decision, he submitted Cody Garbrandt in Round 2 at UFC 300, and he won via unanimous decision against Marlon Vera in Aug. 2024.

Figueiredo holds a slight 1-inch reach advantage, while Yan has a solid 5.14-to-3.01 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. The difference is negligible in significant strikes accuracy percentage, with Figueiredo holding an advantage by less than 1%.

The same holds true in takedown average, with Yan leading 1.73 to 1.68, although he is much more effective at 51.02% in takedown accuracy percentage, to just 35.94% for the Brazilian. When Figueiredo gets you on the canvas, though, he is much more effective with a 1.60 submission average, to just 0.14 for Yan.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 248: Yan vs. Figueiredo odds

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

Fight result (2-way line): Yan -310 (bet $310 to win $100) | Figueiredo +250 (bet $100 to win $250)
Total rounds: 4.5 Rounds (Over -174 | Under +138)
Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -172 | No +132)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC Fight Night 248: Yan vs. Figueiredo picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Call me crazy, but FIGUEIREDO (+250) looks like a live ‘dog at this price. He will help you more than double up, and really, he has been fighting better than Yan (-310) lately.

The Brazilian has 3 straight victories over Font, Garbrandt and Vera — some of the biggest names in the division — as Figueiredo looks to position himself for 1 final shot at the strap.

If he is to win this bout, he’ll need to avoid a toe-to-toe brawl with Yan, and it would behoove him to get to the canvas as early as possible. Figueiredo will win this bout with a solid showing with plenty of top position, especially since neither of these fighters has had a lot of finishes lately, and it’s all about style points.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 4.5 ROUNDS (-174) is slightly more expensive, but it gives you a little big of wiggle room in the event of a potential late finish in Round 5. Yes: Will fight go the distance (-172) is slightly cheaper, but not as good of a play.

Again, Yan has ended up going the distance in 5 consecutive fights, while Figueiredo has ended up going all the way in 3 of the previous 5 outings.

FIGUEIREDO ON POINTS (+460) is also too tempting to pass up. If you like the underdog to win, that’s certainly worth a roll of the dice.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]

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.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

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%.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

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)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

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.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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]