UFC 300 predictions, best bets, odds: Max Holloway, Alex Pereira among top picks to consider on the main card

UFC 300 goes down this Saturday from Las Vegas and the lineup is stacked with intriguing fights. The UFC has tried to place collectively a card the place each bout from the opening prelim to the primary occasion options acquainted names and significant stakes.

The primary occasion sees the return of UFC mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira as he seems to make his first protection of the crown towards former titleholder Jamahal Hill. Pereira earned the the title in November with a knockout of Jiri Prochazka. Hill was compelled to vacate the title final yr after struggling a torn Achilles whereas enjoying basketball.

Plus, girls’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili defend her belt towards her countrywoman Yan Xiaonan within the co-main occasion. Weili has gained three straight whereas reclaiming her title alongside the best way. Xianoan, in the meantime, has picked up back-to-back wins, together with a knockout of former champion Jessica Andrade.

After going 2-3 with our greatest bets for UFC 299, we’re sitting with a report of 6-9 on the yr. That is not a profitable report, however there’s loads of time to show issues round and hopefully we have recognized the appropriate performs for a worthwhile UFC 300.

Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage

Bo Nickal to win in Spherical 1 (-190)

I hate betting on fights like this. Nickal is a -2000 favourite, so the moneyline is out except you are feeling as if Brundage is ready to attain an enormous upset. Nickal has by no means been out of the primary spherical, along with his longest struggle up to now lasting 2:54. Brundage has twice been stopped within the first spherical, so it solely is sensible to play Nickal to get it completed inside of 5 rounds. However, ultimately, somebody goes to pull Nickal previous the five-minute mark and betting on the short end on that evening will sting. Fortunately, issues appear to have lined up effectively sufficient for this struggle, and the UFC matchmakers seem to have been going for a really particular kind of outcome for his or her blue-chip prospect on an enormous stage.

Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan

Beneath 1.5 rounds (+105)

This can be a powerful struggle to name. Oliveira at +165 intrigues me, however I worry private bias might play into that as Oliveira has lengthy been certainly one of my favourite fighters to look at. Each Oliveira and Tsarukyan have robust ending potential and have a number of UFC stoppage victories earlier than the midway level of Spherical 2. With that in thoughts, and figuring out the high-stakes nature of the struggle, I feel each males will probably be in search of the end reasonably than enjoying it protected. Nearly every little thing on this struggle looks like a coin flip however we’ll roll with the underneath right here.

Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway

Max Holloway moneyline (+130)

The issue with giving a wager for each struggle on the primary card each pay-per-view is that so typically the most effective recommendation on sure fights is “keep away from the volatility, do not wager on this one.” I do not suppose Holloway stops Gaethje, however I do suppose Gaethje has the ability to crack Holloway’s unimaginable chin. That stated, Holloway has the higher boxing general so he might pile up factors and take the struggle on the scorecards. This being a five-round struggle boosts Holloway’s probabilities a bit if he can put a heavy tempo on Gaethje and put on him down because the struggle wears on. It is almost even cash on whether or not the struggle goes the gap and if that occurs, I feel Holloway’s work price edges issues out for him on the playing cards.

Weili Zhang vs. Yan Xiaonan

Weili Zhang by way of KO/TKO/DQ (+125)

This can be a unhealthy struggle for Xiaonan. Zhang is the higher fighter just about in all places the struggle can go, but it surely’s the bottom sport that’s notably troubling for the challenger. If Zhang feels she is not having sufficient success within the hanging, she has the wrestling sport to modify techniques. Xiaonan does not have the abilities to cease these takedowns and has regarded misplaced when she’s been placed on her again up to now. The champ ought to discover a method to end this a method or one other, be it on the ft or on the bottom.

Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill

Alex Pereira moneyline (-140)

I want one stat to resolve that Pereira is the simple name right here: Hill has a complete of zero takedowns in his UFC profession. Pereira has improved his grappling a bit however that is not even actually a priority coming into the struggle except Hill has fully overhauled his sport. If this can be a hanging battle and nothing extra, the world champion kickboxer with crushing energy is the man to throw your cash behind. Add in that Hill’s final struggle was greater than a yr in the past and he is coming off a extreme damage and I see no motive why Pereira is simply -140.

Who wins UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill, and the way precisely does every struggle finish? Go to SportsLine now to get detailed picks on UFC 300, all from the MMA knowledgeable who profited greater than $6,200, and discover out.