In a middleweight bout on Saturday’s main card, Joaquin Buckley and Alessio Di Chirico meet at UFC on ABC 1 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The event is also known as UFC Fight Island 7. The prelims kick off at noon ET on ESPN+, followed by the main card on ABC/ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET.
Buckley (12-3) heads into this one standing two inches shorter than his counterpart, but he does possess a two-inch reach advantage. The southpaw holds a 4.89 to 3.25 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, although Di Chirico (12-5) is more accurate at 40.73 to 38.10 significant strikes-accuracy percentage. In addition, Di Chirico is more superior in takedown average at 1.66 to 0.66 and takedown-accuracy percentage at 45.83 to 16.67.
Since arriving at the UFC level, Buckley has won two of his three outings, including a second-round KO/TKO of Jordan Wright at UFC 255. In fact, all three of his UFC level fights, and each of his past five pro bouts, have resulted in KO/TKO, winning four of them.
Di Chirico enters on a three-bout losing skid, all by way of unanimous decision, including his loss to Zak Cummings Aug. 29, 2020. Overall, he has dropped five of his past eight bouts, and finished inside the distance just twice in the past nine pro fights.
This event will be broadcast on network television for the first time since a FOX broadcast in December 2018. It will also be the first time a limited number of fans can attend since UFC 248. The UFC is expecting around 2,000 fans, or less than 10 percent capacity.
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Di Chirico vs. Buckley: Betting odds, predictions and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 1:55 p.m. ET.
Buckley (-275) will cost you nearly three times your potential return, so it’s not a good idea unless you plan to toss him into a multi-fighter parlay. Instead, get a little more specific.
BUCKLEY BY KO/TKO, DQ or SUBMISSION (-105) is nearly even money, and the only way you lose is if he does or if he wins on points. Since each of his past five outings have ended by way of knockout, it’s likely the judges don’t get close to being involved.
That being said, take UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (-125) for a nice value. If you don’t want to bet a specific fighter, but just the fight finish, roll with the KO/TKO/DQ (-135) at a good value.
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