UFC Fight Night 244: Chidi Njokuani vs. Jared Gooden odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 244 odds between Chidi Njokuani vs. Jared Gooden, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 3-round welterweight bout on the main card, Chidi Njokuani and Jared Gooden meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 244 — also known as UFC Vegas 98 and UFC on ESPN+ 102 — at the UFC Apex. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC Night Night 244: Njokuani vs. Gooden odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, and the main card begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Records: Njokuani (23-10-0) | Gooden (23-9-0)

The 35-year-old Njokuani halted a 3-bout losing skid, all at the middleweight division, with a split-decision win over Rhys McKee last time out in late March in his return to welterweight. It was just his 2nd fight to go the distance in 6 bouts at the UFC, with the other 4 resulting in KO/TKOs. He is 2-2 in those 4 fights which ended in knockout.

For Gooden, he is making his 2nd tour in the UFC. He was 1-3 with the promotion back from Nov. 21, 2020 to Oct. 9, 2021 before being dismissed. He returned with a unanimous-decision loss to Carlston Harris on March 11, 2023, before choking out Wellington Turman in the 2nd round on Dec. 2.

Njokuani has a 3-inch reach advantage, while Gooden holds a 5.08-to-4.09 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. Both fighters aren’t terrible gifted in the ground game, and the difference in negligible in submission average.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 244: Njokuani vs. Gooden odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of UFC odds. Lines last updated at 11:15 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Njokuani -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Gooden +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over -165 | Under +135)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +150 | No -210)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC Fight Night 244: Njokuani vs. Gooden picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

NJOKUANI (-165) is worth a look as a moderate favorite, as he will use his 3-inch reach advantage to pull Gooden (+135) in and out at his discretion.

The favorite won’t want to play around with the challenger too much in close quarters, but he will be able to push and pull him out, choosing the right time to strike and go for the kill. He is much better at welterweight than middleweight, when he was in over his head.

If you’re looking for a method of victory, NJOKUANI BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+150) at plus-money is worth a look, too.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 1.5 ROUNDS (-165) is worth playing, although it’s a bit on the expensive side.

Njokuani has ended up going the distance in 2 of his past 3 fights, while Gooden has gone the distance in 4 of his 6 bouts at the UFC level.

However, No (-210): Will the fight go the distance? is just a little too expensive. Stick with the Over/Under or the method, for much better results.

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 244: Brad Tavares vs. Junyong Park odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 244 odds between Brad Tavares vs. Junyong Park, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 3-round middleweight bout on the main card, Brad Tavares and Junyon Park meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 244 — also known as UFC Vegas 98 and UFC on ESPN+ 102 — at the UFC Apex. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC Night Night 244: Tavares vs. Park odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, and the main card begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Records: Tavares (20-10-0) | Park (17-6-0)

Tavares heads into this bout looking to bounce back from a 3rd-round KO/TKO against Gregory Rodrigues in mid-February, and he is just 1-3 in the past 4 bouts.

The 36-year-old fighter for Team Xtreme Couture has been with the promotion since making his debut at UFC 125 on New Year’s Day 2011. In the past 22 bouts since July 2, 2011, including TUF Finale fights, he has ended up going the distance in 16 of those outings.

Park is looking to rebound after a split-decision setback to Andre Muniz in early December. That halted a 4-fight win streak, including 3 straight submission victories from Oct. 2022 to July 2023.

Tavares holds a slight 1-inch reach advantage, while Park is ahead with a 4.53-to-3.38 significant strikes landed per minute. Park is much more accurate with those strikes at 58.77%, while Tavares checks in at 48.21%. Park is better in the takedown game, too, posting a 1.83 takedown average and 50.0% takedown accuracy percentage, while posting a 1.05 submission average.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 244: Tavares vs. Park odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of UFC odds. Lines last updated at 10:45 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Tavares +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Park -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -200 | No +150)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC Fight Night 244: Tavares vs. Park picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

PARK (-190) is a little on the expensive side, but he isn’t a bad play if you were to include him in part of a multi-leg parlay.

While Tavares (+160) holds a slight lead in reach advantage, that’s about the only area he is ahead. He’ll want to avoid going down to the canvas with Park, or this will be a short outing. He has been involved in 3 submissions in his entire career, with a rear-naked choke loss to Court McGee June 16, 2010 at the TUF 11 Semifinal in his most recent bout via submission.

PARK BY SUBMISSION (+800), for the chance to multiply up by 8 times, is a tremendous value, and you need to make that part of wagers.

Over/Under (O/U)

NO (+150): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE is a great idea.

Park by submission is certainly worth a roll of the dice, and if that happens, both of these wagers go hand in hand.

Yes, Tavares has gone the distance in 16 of his past 22 professional bouts, but he has finished inside the distance in 2 of the past 3 outings.

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 244: Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 244 odds between Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

In a 5-round flyweight bout in the main event, Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 244 — also known as UFC Vegas 98 and UFC on ESPN+ 102 — at the UFC Apex. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC Night Night 244: Royval vs. Taira odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, and the main card begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Records: Royval (16-7-0) | Taira (16-0-0)

Royval got a crack at the championship at UFC 296, but he lost via unanimous decision to Alexandre Pantoja in mid-December. He bounced back with a split-decision win over Brandon Moreno, as he looks to position himself for another title chance. He has ended up going the distance in 2 straight, and 3 of the past 5 fights, while going 4-1 in the span.

If Royval wants to get back to a championship fight, he needs to take care of the rising prospect Taira, who has never lost in 16 career bouts, including 6 at the UFC level. Taira knocked out Alex Perez in the 2nd round in mid-June, and he has 4 finishes inside the distance in the past 5 outings.

Taira has a 2-inch reach advantage over Royval, while the southpaw has a 4.33-to-3.56 significant strikes landed per minute advantage over Taira. The Japanese fighter has a 2.35 takedown average, and a 2.09 submission average.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 244: Royval vs. Taira odds

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

  • Fight result (2-way line): Royval +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Taira -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
  • Over/Under: 3.5 rounds (Over -140 | Under +105)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +120 | No -165)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

UFC Fight Night 244: Royval vs. Taira picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

ROYVAL (+240) is hungry to get back to a championship fight, and the quickest way for the veteran to do that is to get past an unbeaten Taira (-300).

This is going to be a good fight, as Taira has been a punching machine in his time with the company, and he has really developed a good clinch game.

However, Royval can get the job done in a number of ways, either with the knockout, or submission. He’ll be looking to work the legs of Taira, trying to wow the judges.

ROYVAL ON POINTS (+400) is worth a roll of the dice for the chance to multiply up by 4 times.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES (+120): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is a strong play at plus-money.

Royval has ended up going the distance in 2 in a row, and 3 of the past 5 fights since Jan. 2022.

For Taira, while he has gone the distance just once in the past 5 fights, Royval has the tools to take him all the way, similar to the Edgar Chairez fight back at UFC 290.

If you’re not quite feeling a distance fight, OVER 3.5 ROUNDS (-140) is an alternative that isn’t too costly.

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]