UFC on ESPN 45: Tim Elliott vs. Victor Altamirano odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 45 odds and lines between Tim Elliott vs. Victor Altamirano with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a flyweight bout on the main card, Tim Elliott and Victor Altamirano meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 45 — also known as UFC Vegas 74 — at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 45: Elliott vs. Altamirano odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims are on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, with the main card on ESPN/ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Elliott takes the walk to the octagon looking to build off of his unanimous decision win at UFC 272 against Tagir Ulanbekov in March 2022. It was a solid win after his unanimous decision setback against Matheus Nicolau in Oct. 2021 in his previous bout. He has gone the distance in each of his last 4 outings.

Altamirano has registered consecutive wins against Daniel Lacerda in March and Vinicius Salvador in August 2022. It has been a nice bounce back after El Magnifico’s split-decision setback against Carlos Hernandez in his UFC debut in late Feb. 2022. He’s gone the distance in 4 of his last 5 pro bouts.

UFC on ESPN 45: Elliott vs. Altamirano odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:02 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Elliott -185 (bet $185 to win $100) | Altamirano +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -225 | No +165)

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UFC on ESPN 45: Elliott vs. Altamirano picks and predictions

Records: Elliott (19-12-1) | Altamirano (12-2-0)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

The southpaw Elliott (-185) is a rather heavy favorite despite the fact he’s an inch shorter than his counterpart and has a 4-inch reach disadvantage. Elliott is also 4 years older than his opponent.

The Mexican ALTAMIRANO (+150) has a 6.15 significant strikes landed per minute to just 3.58 for the southpaw Elliott. Altamirano is much more accurate, too, landing his significant strikes at 65.97%, although Elliott is still rather accurate at 59.52%.

This won’t be easy, but the value play is on the underdog.

Over/Under (O/U)

Will the fight go the distance? Yes (-225) is too expensive, as it will cost you more than 2 times your potential return.

Look instead to the round betting or method of victory, and take ALTAMIRANO ON POINTS (+300) for a chance to triple up if he pulls off the victory after going the distance.

I believe this will be a very close fight, and a split decision or majority decision could be in play. As a result, YES (+375): FIGHT TO BE WON BY SPLIT OR MAJORITY DECISION is worth a small-unit wager.

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. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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UFC on ESPN 45: Alex Caceres vs. Daniel Pineda odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 45 odds and lines between Alex Caceres vs. Daniel Pineda with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a featherweight bout on the main card, Alex Caceres and Daniel Pineda meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 45 — also known as UFC Vegas 74 — at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 45: Caceres vs. Pineda odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims are on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, with the main card on ESPN/ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Caceres got back on track with a 1st-round KO/TKO of Julian Erosa in December after suffering a unanimous decision setback against Sodiq Yusuff in mid-March 2022. “Bruce Leeroy” is now 6-1 across his last 7 bouts, including 3 unanimous-decision wins, the KO/TKO victory and a pair of submission wins.

Pineda has had an interesting recent history. Since arriving at the UFC level, he has a pair of stoppage wins, a KO/TKO loss to Cub Swanson and a No Contest against Andre Fili. The title winner from Fury FC back in 2018, Pineda hasn’t gone the distance in any of his 4 UFC bouts.

UFC on ESPN 45: Caceres vs. Pineda odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:34 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Pineda +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Caceres -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over -190 | Under +145)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +130 | No -175)

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UFC on ESPN 45: Caceres vs. Pineda picks and predictions

Records: Caceres (20-13-0) | Pineda (28-14-0)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

CACERES (-175) on the 2-way line is the safe play, as the veteran takes on a relative UFC newcomer that’s had a roller coaster start to his career with the company.

The favorite has managed finishes in 3 of his past 5 fights, with a KO/TKO win and a pair of submission victories.

CACERES BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+250) on the 7-way Method of Victory line is worth a roll of the dice for a chance to multiply your initial wager by 2 1/2 times.

If you don’t want to declare a winner, but still want action on the fight, taking KO/TKO/DQ (+175) for the method of victory, regardless of who gets their hand raised, is also a solid wager.

Over/Under (O/U)

NO (-175): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE? is a little on the steep side, but it’s worth a play. I believe Bruce Leeroy gets the knockout victory. In addition, Caceres knocked out Erosa in Round 1 last time out, and 2 of his 3 KO/TKO results at the UFC level came in the first 3-plus minutes.

As a result, I like UNDER 1.5 ROUND (+145) at plus money for a solid value.

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. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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UFC on ESPN 45: Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 45 odds and lines between Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a flyweight bout in the main event, Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 45 — also known as UFC Vegas 74 — at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 45: Kara-France vs. Albazi odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims are on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, with the main card on ESPN/ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Kara-France is coming off a 3rd-round KO/TKO title fight loss against Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 in July 2022. That halted a 3-bout win streak which included a knockout of Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269 in Dec. 2021.

Kara-France has secured victories in 7 of his 10 fights since arriving at the UFC level, with 6 of those 10 bouts needing the help of the judges to decide a winner. He has 2 wins via KO/TKO, with one loss via the KO/TKO, and he was also submitted by Brandon Royval at UFC 253 in Sept. 2020.

Albazi is on a 5-fight win streak, including all 4 of his fights since arriving at the UFC level. He picked up a 3rd-round KO/TKO against Alessandro Costa last time out in mid-December and just one of his fights has ended up going the distance.

The 30-year-old Kara-France holds a 4.70-to-3.54 significant strikes landed per minute at the UFC level, although Albazi easily has the advantage in the ground game with a 2.47 takedown average and 0.82 submission average, compared to a 0.51 takedown average and 0.00 submission average for Kara-France.

UFC on ESPN 45: Kara-France vs. Albazi odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:02 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Kara-France -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Albazi -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
  • Over/Under: 3.5 rounds (Over -165 | Under +125)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +110 | No -140)

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UFC on ESPN 45: Kara-France vs. Albazi picks and predictions

Records: Kara-France (24-10-0) | Albazi (16-1-0)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

KARA-FRANCE (-105) is a slight underdog, but this opponent is a huge step up for Albazi.

It’s been more than 8 calendar years since Kara-France has lost consecutive fights, falling in the 3 straight outings at the Australian Fighting Championship, Malaysia Invasion 2 Grand Finals and Kunlun Fight 18, back in 2014 and 2015.

Kara-France throws a lot of punches, although he isn’t nearly as accurate as Albazi. “The Prince” Albazi lands his significant strikes at 53.77% rate compared to just 44.58% for the underdog.

As long as Kara-France can avoid going to the mat, where Albazi is a stud, he should be able to outlast the Iraqi flyweight who fights out of Xtreme Couture.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES (+110): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE? is a solid value play at plus money. Kara-France will look to frustrate Albazi and keep the fight upright.

While Albazi has gone the distance in just 1 of his 4 fights at the UFC level, Kara-France has needed the assistance of the judges to figure out a winner in 6 of his 10 fights in the UFC.

OVER 3.5 ROUNDS (-165) is not priced out of line if you’d like a little wiggle room for a potential finish in the 2nd half of Round 4 or all of Round 5.

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. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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