It’s UFC Worldwide Struggle Week and meaning a giant pay-per-view occasion on Saturday night time in Las Vegas. UFC 290 encompasses a pair of world title fights on high of the cardboard.
The principle occasion encompasses a unification bout between featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and interim champion Yair Rodriguez. Volkanovski is coming off his first loss in additional than 20 fights after shifting as much as light-weight to face 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev. Whereas he misplaced the combat by unanimous resolution, Volkanovski put in an amazing effort that confirmed he can compete blow-for-blow with the champ one division above.
Whereas Volkanovski was off attempting to beat the light-weight division, the door was opened for Rodriguez to tackle Josh Emmett for the interim belt. Rodriguez scored a triangle choke submission within the second spherical to win the title and line up a bout with Volkanovski.
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Within the co-main occasion, Brandon Moreno will defend his flyweight title towards Alexandre Pantoja. The Brazilian holds a 2018 resolution win over Moreno and brings a three-fight successful streak into the combat.
After a couple of tough occasions for our month-to-month Finest Bets column, issues received a bit again on observe after going 3-2 at UFC 289. Our report for the yr now stands at 18-16.
Let’s check out what we have recognized as our decisions for the very best finest on the UFC 290 pay-per-view important card.
Bo Nickal vs. Valentine Woodburn
Cross
Nickal opened as one of many greatest favorites in UFC historical past when Woodburn stepped in on late discover as a result of Tresean Gore was compelled out because of damage. Woodburn is undefeated at 7-0 and has confronted some first rate opponents however coming in with no time to arrange for one of many UFC’s high prospects ever is a tall process. Woodburn has good knockout energy so it isn’t out of the query for him to land a shot early that catches Nickal chilly, however that may be a pure lottery ticket play. There is not any actual worth in Nickal successful as a -2800 favourite and any line on a fast end is not more likely to pay nicely. The percentages merely aren’t ok and there are too many unknown elements to advocate a play right here.
Dan Hooker vs. Jalin Turner
Jalin Turner (-280) vs. Dan Hooker
It is a bit larger worth than we often play for favorites in our Finest Wager column, however there are causes it’s the proper play right here. Hooker used to reliably wade via numerous injury and incoming offense. He has not appeared as sturdy in latest outings, nonetheless, and Turner is the unsuitable form of fighter to face as your defensive resistance is sporting down. There are fascinating traces on Turner by knockout and submission, however it’s exhausting to pin down precisely how a end will current itself. Turner has by no means gained by resolution and has 9 knockouts and 4 submissions, that will shade you towards a knockout win, however three of Turner’s submission wins have are available his 5 most up-to-date fights as he is put collectively a extra full sport. Based mostly on all that, take the safer play of the Turner moneyline, probably as a part of a parlay.
Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus du Plessis
Robert Whittaker through resolution (+180)Â
I do suppose du Plessis is getting just a little missed coming into this combat, however I can not deliver myself to throw cash at him when Whittaker is just the higher fighter. The favored final result by the chances is Whittaker through KO/TKO/DQ, however he hasn’t stopped anybody for eight consecutive fights, and du Plessis is a tricky fighter who could make issues ugly sufficient to hold round for the complete size of a three-round proper. Whittaker is more likely to simply decide du Plessis aside for quarter-hour and take the win on the playing cards and getting anyplace from +180 to +220 line on the choice is simply too juicy to cross up.
Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Over 3.5 rounds (-175)
Moreno and Pantoja are each harmful fighters able to ending a combat. The stat that stands proud right here is that they’ve a mixed 11 losses with each single one coming by resolution. Each males have fought a who’s who of UFC flyweights whereas not struggling a single stoppage loss. It is potential that modifications Saturday night time, however it feels unlikely. You may get higher odds by taking the combat to go the gap (at present -105), however you can too take over 3.5 rounds to provide some padding and security towards a late stoppage. That feels just like the play.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez
Struggle to go the gap: No (-120)
Volkanovski is not a nice finisher, however he does have the power to overwhelm opponents, equivalent to what he did towards The Korean Zombie. Rodriguez is flashy and harmful and the higher “pure finisher” of the 2. The place issues might go south for Rodriguez is that, regardless of his cardio seeming to enhance in latest outings, it is exhausting to belief his gasoline tank to carry up for 5 full rounds towards somebody who can push the tempo like Volkanovski. Given Rodriguez might rating a stoppage and Volkanovski seemingly will put on Rodriguez down after which discover a option to overwhelm for the end, it is smart to play the combat to not make it to the ultimate bell.