HuffPost. Lewis turned 37 last February and has a history of back problems, so in many ways its hard to predict which version of The Black Beast will show up on fight night. Kim should be the more active and faster striker and likely land more volume over 15 minutes, while Edwards should have the power advantage. The preliminary card begins at 6 p.m. That halted a 3-bout win streak which included a knockout of Cody Garbrandt at. Earlier in this piece, I referenced the win rate for debutants (43%) against octagon veterans. UFC 277 takes place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. UFC 277 undercard preview: Complete online breakdown, predictions for top four (of eight) "Prelims" matches on ABC/ESPN this weekend (Sat., July 30, 2022) in Dallas: Morono vs. Semelsberger, Dober . At 23, he looks every bit like a future contender. MMAmania.coms Patrick Stumberg kicks off the UFC 277 Prelims party with the second (and final) installment of a two-part undercard preview series below. The American is a dangerous striker from multiple ranges and has a sneaky submission prowess that could pay dividends down the stretch. Kara France is the winner of three straight with two knockouts and managed to capture four his last five. Still, hes not reliable to wrestle, but well see if that changes in this fight. He has since found his footing in a big way, winning seven of his next nine and putting together an ongoing three-fight win streak. While he should be the more dangerous striker, Im dubious that the gap in MMA striking between the pair is nearly as wide as the grappling differential. Also like Pantoja, the 30 year-old Perez has been thwarted by some of the biggest names in the division, including the aforementioned Figueiredo and the since-retired Joseph Benavidez. MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFCs top bouts. No third UFC title for City Kickboxing, who will be going home empty handed this weekend in Dallas. But for us regular folk it was a pretty big deal. He steps in for Diego Ferreira on short notice. Iprojected Julianna Pena as a 37.5% underdog (+167 implied) in this fight, and I would bet her moneyline down to +186at a 2.5% edge compared to my projection. Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts. Dont miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action! Shes won UFC titles in two divisions. : Alexandre The Cannibal Pantoja (24-5) vs. Alex Perez (24-6). The three-fight win streak for Drakkar Klose (12-2-1) came to an end in an absolute war with Beneil Dariush, who felled Klose with a vicious overhand left in the second round. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/07/ufc-277-predictions-picks-julianna-pena-vs-amanda-nunes-upset-rematch-brandon-moreno-vs-kai-kara-france, Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. $50,000 bonus to each fighter, Alexandre Pantoja vs. Alex Perez ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. Its kind of amazing that a fighter with 16 professional losses, 13 of which have ended by way of knockout or submission, has a legitimate claim to securing the next light heavyweight title shot. Matthew Semelsberger (10-3) who once sat at 3-2 as a professional won five straight before falling short against Khaos Williams. You know he means it when he says theres nothing about Ankalaev that intimidates him and he wont be afraid to take risks to stop Ankalaevs eight-fight win streak. Prediction: Semelsberger via first round knockout. Prediction: Mayes via third round technical knockout. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Newark, N.J., for the first time in more than three years on Sat., May 6, 2023, with a blockbuster Bantamweight collision inside Prudential Center that will seeAljamain Sterling attempt another successful title defense against returning two-division titleholder and former gold medal-winning Olympic wrestler,Henry Cejudo. Fighting Alves is like walking through a minefield. Dan Tom. Twelve knockouts, all in the first round, thats a recipe for success against the often slow-starting Lewis. Pavlovich by knockout, 125 lbs. UFC Vegas 74 Results & Play-By-Play. She has a new camp, a new attitude, and something she hasnt had in a very long time: the need to prove shes best fighter at 135 pounds. If he brings his wrestling singlet to this fight, he may look like a massive favorite from the jump. . Lord Kong stands four inches taller than Hamdy Abdelwahab (5-0) and boasts an eight-inch reach advantage. Sign up for the MMA Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Check out this insane knockout finish from former UFC contender Alex Oliveira on Friday night at Titan FC 82. Please enter a valid email and try again. Crowdsourced Projections: Michael Morales (85.6%). Aside from the weight miss, I was happy to take the younger fighter with more MMA experience and a significant wrestling advantage against a kickboxer whose MMA skillset likely rates between UFC replacement level and doesnt belong at this level.. 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BLOCKBUSTER BANTAMWEIGHT BATTLE! Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; accessUSA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is bringing more Prelims fights to ABC/ESPN andESPN+this weekend (Sat., July 30, 2022) when UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes 2 storms American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. In a flyweight bout on the main card, Alexandre Pantoja and Alex Perez meet Saturday at UFC 277 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. Check out this insane knockout finish from former UFC contender Alex Oliveira on Friday night at Titan FC 82. Im not saying he cant beat Mayes, whose had all sorts of issues with grapplers in the past, but I really dont see him doing so outside of a lengthy lay-and-pray session. ET on ESPN+, the prelims starting at 8 p.m. In the five years that followed, Pantoja compiled a record of 8-3, which is nothing to sneeze at, but his inconsistency (as well as his loss to current flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo) has kept him from the 125-pound title. newsletter, Video: Watch Countdown To UFC 277 Pena vs. Nunes 2, UFC 277 Poster Drops For Pena Vs Nunes 2, UFC Anniversary Limited Edition Fight Glove, Aljamain Sterling Authentic Walkout Jersey, Preview! The last four UFC 277 Prelims undercard bouts air on both ABC and ESPN (check out the ESPN+ portion here); therefore, lets see whats in store for the viewers. Smith did an admirable job of rebounding from back-to-back losses to Teixeira and Aleksandar Rakic to score three straight wins, including last Septembers first-round submission over Ryann Spann. These two are closely matched and while Moreno won a clear decision the first time around, 10 more minutes with which to work could change the complexion of this matchup. However, my projected odds (-179) fall short of the market (-190 at Draftkings). Greg Hardy Gets Knocked Out (Again). Where: American Airlines Center in Dallas. If he can pine Pavlovich up against the cage, take him down and land a couple of big shots, it could be a wrap. ET and is available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ABC/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. night. Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 277 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ Prelims matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. The Great White gives up two inches of height and three inches of reach to Semi the Jedi.. In the co-main event, former flyweight champ Brandon Moreno (19-6-2 MMA, 7-3-2 UFC) takes on Kai Kara-France (24-9 MMA, 7-2 UFC) for the interim 125-pound title. newsletter, At the risk of being the subject of his next roast, UFC Anniversary Limited Edition Fight Glove, Aljamain Sterling Authentic Walkout Jersey, Daniel Cormier sees danger for Alex Pereira in 205 debut: I have seen [Jan] Blachowicz almost decapitate guys. Kara-France is coming off a 3rd-round KO/TKO title fight loss against Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 in July 2022. Bet now! He also has 2 straight victories in his most recent showings, while the last time we saw Perez he was being tapped by Figueiredo in less than 2 minutes. He has more ways to win this one. Prediction: Moreno def. Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Ihor Potieria, Orion Cosce (-190, Risk 0.5 units) at PointsBet, Parlay (+354, 0.1u): Morales/Fugitt Over 1.5 Rounds (-108) & Lewis/Pavlovich Over 1.5 Rounds (+136) at Fanduel, Fight goes to Decision (-180, Risk 0.5u) at FanDuel, Rafa Garcia wins by Decision (+420, 0.1u) at FanDuel, DonTale Mayes Wins Inside the Distance (+160, 0.25u) at FanDuel, Fight Goes to Decision (-128, 0.5u) at FanDuel, Alex Perez wins by Decision (+380, 0.25u) at FanDuel, Fight goes to Decision (+510, 0.1u) at Fanduel, Brandon Moreno Live after Rounds 1, 2 and 3, Julianna Pena Wins Inside the Distance (+450, 0.2u) at BetMGM, Julianna Pena Live after Rounds 1, 2, and 3, Garcia/Klose, Fight goes to Decision (-180, Risk 0.5 units) at FanDuel, Ankalaev/Smith, Fight Goes to Decision (-128, 0.5u) at FanDuel, Lewis/Pavlovich, Fight goes to Decision (+510, 0.1u) at Fanduel, Orion Cosce (-190, Risk 0.5u) at PointsBet. The latest UFC 277 odds and a complete betting guide for the Pena vs. Nunes 2 event can be located here. And Ankalaev has shown firm control when he puts opponents on their backs. Let's get to work. UFC 277 marks the first fight for Perez since his Figueiredo loss back in Nov. 2020, though you can also argue that Pantoja has not seen action for almost a year. Please check your email for a confirmation. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Newark, N.J., for the first time in more than three years on Sat., May 6, 2023, with a blockbuster Bantamweight collision inside Prudential Center that will seeAljamain Sterling attempt another successful title defense against returning two-division titleholder and former gold medal-winning Olympic wrestler,Henry Cejudo. | Abdelwahab carries power, and Mayes needs to keep this fight at range and use his length to avoid eating a knockout blow. Below, you can find my fair odds moneyline projection of Saturdays 13 bouts. McGregor Doesnt Understand Why Real Fighter Aldo Retired. When UFC opponents have an eight-year age gap or more, the younger fighter wins 66% of the time, at average odds of -125 (55%), about 11% above expectation. And so long as he doesnt get his back taken in a scramble or get clipped on the feet, this could be his fight to lose. And you can also bet Perez to win by Decision (projected +310, listed +380 at BetRivers) in the winning method market. Alves carries enough power to stun Dober on the feet, but hell likely have to turn that opportunity into a club n sub to secure the finish. Look for his precision and counter work to deter Smiths early efforts to push the pace. Morono wins by Decision (projected +216, listed +235 at BetRivers) was the only wager that stands out from a value perspective. Shes happy. I also show value on Ankalaev by Decision (projected -110, listed +110) and Smith by submission (projected +1337, listed +1500), but Im going to stay on the Goes to Decision side of things and look for a peak price on Smith. Prediction: Lewis def. Im not sure anyone is breaking out the party hats for a stoppage over Marcelo Golm or Maurice Greene and the once-durable Shamil Abdurakhimov is now 40 years old. UFC Fight Night odds, fight card Lewis utilized the same trip technique in his past two bouts against Chris Daukaus (leading to a knockout) and Tai Tuivasa (leading to a pair of takedowns) in his past two fights. Perhaps he has the better gas tank of the two brothers. viewers (ABC prelims, 456k ESPN prelims), "The official Tapology discussion thread for the event! Kai Kara-France has never looked better, but Moreno has also improved by leaps and bounds since their first meeting and he already had the advantage back then. Kara-France Battles Albazi For Top 5 Supremacy. In fact, his only win by decision came in his Octagon debut against Leonardo Guimaraes roughly six years back. And even if hes on the wrong end of some wrestling exchanges, I expect him to land the shots when these two eventually return to their feet. Kim by decision (projected +155, listed +163 at Rivers) is the closest thing to value in the prop or total markets. I expect to see a striking fight where Semelsberger lands the more impactful shots, but Morono keeps the optics close throughout. He proceeded to edge out Contender Series graduate, Natan Levy, to get on the scoreboard, then submitted Jesse Ronson five months later. He proceeded to lose his first two UFC bouts to Ciryl Gane and Rodrigo Nascimento, but has since evened up his record in the promotion with wins over Roque Martinez and Josh Parisian. 1 contender and while Im picking him to overcome adversity and win a decision against Smith, I doubt that he dominates in such a way that the matchmakers bump him to the front of the line. 135 lbs. Amanda Nunes will get a shot at redemption against Julianna Pena in the main event of UFC 277 from Dallas. 155 lbs | Pro MMA Drakkar Klose defeats Rafa Garca via 3 Round Decision Klose Decision Round 3 Drakkar Klose Rafa Garca "Gifted" Bout Information It also helped that I was at American Top Team (ATT) when Nunes was (cough) in camp and watched her show up at the gym with her wife and baby, bounce around the premises while everyone fawned over her godlike presence, then leave with her gear and never come back. His professional finishes are split 9/8 between submissions and knockouts. The flyweight division is ridiculously deep right now. The Russian opened closer to +120 in this matchup, but the line has flipped. If youre playing the Nunes side, make sure to play her inside the distance prop (-125 at DraftKings) and her win in Round 1 prop (+250 at FanDuel)at far superior prices relative to the first fight. Even outside of the UFC, Alex Oliveira is still adding to his highlight reel. LIVE! A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Mania, By submitting your email, you agree to our, MMA Mania, UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, UFC 277 predictions: Late ABC Prelims undercard preview | Pena vs. Nunes 2, UFC Abruptly Severs Ties With Lightweight Fan Favorite. UFC 277 took place Saturday, July 30, 2022 with 13 fights at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Dan Tom July 30, 2022 8:00 am ET MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC's top bouts. Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight! Theres nothing but love between Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier ahead of UFC 291. In my opinion they have both improved at a similar rate, though I cant help but wonder if Kara France hasnt fallen in love with the KO punch after notching two knockout wins in 2021. In short, he sprawls-and-brawls to victory. In his last fight, for example, Lewis was able to pull out a plethora of takedown techniques that many thought wasnt possible at this stage of his career given his long history of back injuries. The finish was decisive but the fight . Conor McGregor discusses Jose Aldos recent retirement from mixed martial arts. Julianna Pena shocked the world last December well, the MMA world anyway, since I dont think people who are digging through the rubble in Ukraine give a shit about the UFC womens bantamweight title. He bounced back with a 15-second wipeout of Martin Sano, then edged out unbeaten A.J. Justin Gaethje hails Dustin Poiriers wins over Conor McGregor: I always love to see that dude get broken. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Enthusiasm and aggression play well to the judges in sloppy fights, and Negumereanu thrives in the slop when his fights become a grind. Alves wins by submission (projected +343, listed +480 at Caesars), or Alves wins inside the distance (projected +225, listed +275) have my attention from a pre-fight betting perspective. With that in mind, I hope these write-ups dont come off as curt or dismissive, as my goal here is to offer quick picks and analysis in a digestible format. DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. Kara-France Battles Albazi For Top 5 Supremacy. See you Saturday, Maniacs. The UFC men's flyweight division takes center stage as Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi go head-to-head in the main event of UFC Fight Night at UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night (9 p.m ET on . Pantoja posted a 2nd-Round submission victory via rear-naked choke against Brandon Royval last time out in August 2021. You'll now receive the top MMA Junkie stories each day directly in your inbox. In other main card action, heavyweight veteran Derrick Lewis stands in the way of Sergei Pavlovich claiming a top 10 spot, Alexandre Pantoja and Alex Perez meet in a flyweight battle that could set up another challenger for Figueiredos title, and Magomed Ankalaev can potentially secure a championship opportunity with a standout performance against light heavyweight stalwart Anthony Smith. Keep in mind, Ankalaev is a solid counter-striker who uses smart movement to avoid firefights. He should dictate where the fight takes place and be able to mix his striking and wrestling. Im uncertain that he can overcome Morenos more diverse skillset and potential cardio advantage. He keeps a solid pace on the feet and shoots takedowns at high volume (8.5 attempts per 15 minutes, 48% accuracy). In UFC 288s last-minute pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event, former Welterweight title challenger, Gilbert Burns, locks horns with No. Its a pace and distance that Ankalaev is far too happy to oblige. On the other hand, Kara-France has a heavy right hand and excellent timing on the feet. , 906,000 avg. Surprisingly, these fighters are a combined 7-2 on the scorecards. Its a little strange to book an interim title fight when current champion Deiveson Figueiredo is able to compete, though I guess I shouldn't be surprised with the decision after what happened with Francis Ngannou the year before. But one must imagine Lewis would benefit from a close, low-volume fight in his home state of Texas. Morenos aggression is tough to deal with, not to mention the diversity of his attacks. 135 lbs. No question the wrestling will come into play the second time around, I just dont know if its going to be the great equalizer Pena fans want it to be. It wouldnt be at all surprising to see him grind his way to an upset victory. Kara France by unanimous decision, 265 lbs. Magomed Ankalaev is one of many top talents out of Dagestan and faltered in his UFC debut, losing by way of submission to Paul Craig at UFC London back in early 2018. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie . The other factor to consider here is that Perez is susceptible to submissions while Pantoja has never been finished. Records: Pantoja (24-5-0) | Perez (24-6-0). Garcia has shown an ability to fight to his level of competition and turn his bouts into coinflips whether for good or bad, depending on his moneyline price. I typically look to bet Nunes the same way: play her inside the distance and win in Round 1 props. Rafael Alves (20-10) impressed on Contender Series with a second round guillotine finish and looked poised to shock Damir Ismagulov after an early knockdown in his debut, but couldnt maintain the momentum. : UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Venezuelan Vixen Pena (11-4) vs. Amanda Lioness Nunes (21-5). Prediction: Perez def. Perez has quick hands and solid wrestling, the latter of which could give Pantoja problems, but Pantoja has serious pop when he starts throwing and his jiu-jitsu is elite. I expect this live line to tighten after rounds 1 or 2, where the Kiwi likely has his best moments. Privacy, Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France II All of those strengths were on display when she upset Nunes and theres no reason to believe she cant do it again, this time equipped with the knowledge that her strategy worked not just in theory, but in reality. Moreno is not perfect and weve seen him give away rounds in the past, but hes also a scrappy competitor who can brawl with the best of em. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkies event hub for UFC 277. 21+ only. $50,000 bonus to Dober, I agree that dober vs alves should have been FOTN. At the risk of being the subject of his next roast, Im just going to say it: I dont think Derrick Lewis can beat high-level strikers anymore. Semelsbergers boxing is too sharp and his power too potent for Morono to out-slug him on the feet, and his defensive grappling held up nicely against the very determined Fletcher. He headed into that bout with a knee injury, and it worsened during the fight so much that he needed surgery and hasnt fought since. "The Venezuelan Vixen", stunned the world with a submission win over Nunes at UFC 269 in December as she snatched the belt from the Brazilian. The preliminary card begins at 6 p.m. Cosce missed weight by 1.5 pounds on Friday, adding reason to doubt his already-suspect cardio. Semelsberger should be the bigger, faster and stronger athlete, and the striking output should be relatively similar. ET on ESPN+ PPV. Perez did fight for a title last time out, but he was submitted after just 1:57 at UFC 255 against Deiveson Figueiredo in Nov. 2020. Check out my full fight preview for additional information on Saturdays main event. In December, Nunes closed anywhere from -278 (73.5% implied) to -350 (77.8% implied) to win inside the distance against Pena. 6-ranked Californian Alex Perez who are both battling for a potential shot at the 125-pound title take a closer look at our comprehensive preview and predictions for all the UFC 277 preliminary card action by clicking here and here. The longer the fight, the more success Moreno may have, particularly with his takedown attempts. Still, Kim will have the reach advantage (two inches) and try to keep Edwards at the end of her long straight punches, while the Panamanian fighter tries to counter with hooks. He never attempted to grapple. Video! The Brazilian not only defeated, but violently finished Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, and Miesha Tate and holds two victories over pound-for-pound dynamo Valentina Shevchenko. The Californian followed a similar path into UFC, punching his ticket by way of first-round submission as part of Dana Whites Contender Series back in late 2017. Ankalaev has a big 8-3 rout in the picks. Unfortunately for him, Dobers up to the task of threading the needle. Ideally, Nunes viewed that loss as a valuable learning experience and we see a renewed fire in her. I would expect a close, competitive contest though Im leaning toward Moreno because hes endured two 25-minute title fights over the last two years against the most dangerous fighter in the division. He sports two inches of height and reach on Rafa Garcia (14-2). I expected Edwards to be the bigger fighter at 135 pounds, having competed at featherweight (145) six weeks ago, while Kim is moving up from flyweight (125). UFC 277 takes place Saturday at American. UFC 277 takes place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Kara-France should be the faster and more powerful striker, particularly early. Copyright 2023 Action Network Inc, All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | AdChoices. I would expect Moreno to take over down the stretch and would look for a superior price on Moreno during the early rounds. If Nunes goes out and runs through Pea as she was expected to do the first time and as she has done to so many challengers in the past, then Decembers upset will be remembered as a notable blip on an otherwise unimpeachable career. Theres been talk of Smith or Ankalaev getting to Denisa before Teixeira, but that would require a spectacular finish and some post-fight chatter with Joe Rogan. However, given the correlated concerns surrounding his cardio and weight miss, this could also be a spot to pass. I doubt that was an isolated incident. Pavlovich is a plus-athlete with a wrestling background, so much like Lewis himself he can probably just power out of bottom position, but ground fighting is a good way for Lewis to do damage to his rangier opponent. Serving as solid heavyweight filler is a showdown between Derrick Lewis and Sergei Pavlovich. ET. And perhaps with a takedown or two the Texas native can extend his three-fight winning streak. Still, despite some decision wins including a five-round fight on the regional scene his cardio and durability in a slugfest remain a question mark. Garcia wins by Decision (projected +404, listed +420 at FanDuel), could be worth a small poke too. They have Nunes with a big 9-2 picks lead. Its not something Im inclined to stake significantly, however, at a slight edge and with the power optics and finishing upside all pointing toward Semsleberger. A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Mania, By submitting your email, you agree to our, MMA Mania, UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, UFC 277 predictions, preview, and analysis, UFC Abruptly Severs Ties With Lightweight Fan Favorite. Try selecting a different location. The UFC returns to Dallas with a 13-fight card on Saturday for UFC 277, highlighted by a pair of title fights in the women's bantamweight and men's flyweight divisions. We also have to take away the element of surprise, something that factored heavily into the Pena offense. Anyway, Pavlovich has come along nicely in the last couple of years, rebounding from a debut loss to Alistair Overeem to capture three straight victories, all by way of first-round knockout. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. I was one of the few media mouthpieces to predict a Pena win by submission but that prediction was predicated on a couple of presumptions. Case in point, you could have slotted Alexandre Pantoja and Alex Perez into an interim title fight and while they dont have the name recognition of Moreno and Kara-France, the quality of competition is just as high. The Turn capitalized quite a bit better on his next opportunity, choking out Marc Diakiese 108 seconds into their Nov. 2021 fight. I projected DonTale Mayes as a 70% favorite in this fight and would bet his moneyline up to -215 at a two percent edge compared to my number. Last event's results: 3-3. UFC Vegas 74 Results & Play-By-Play. YES (-113): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE is the lean here. Check out our staff members' picks for the Julianna Pea vs. Amanda Nunes and Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France title rematches in Dallas. In the main event of UFC 277 on Saturday, "The Lioness" has the opportunity to all but erase the bitter taste of a loss to Julianna Pea, a loss that cost her the UFC bantamweight title, a. ". Regardless, it was a fun fight and now well get an extra two rounds to establish the superior fighter. Crowdsourced Projections: Drew Dober (58.9%). Sign up for the MMA Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Heading into the PPV curtain-jerker, Smith will have a once-inch advantage in height paralleled by a one-inch disadvantage in reach. Nunes has spoken openly about being satisfied with everything shes done in her extraordinary career, going as far as to say in a June 2020 interview that she was contemplating retirement. None of those factors are why Julianna Pea beat Nunes in their first meeting. You could take a poke at the Over 1.5 Rounds up to -110, which I sprinkled in a small parlay with another Over 1.5 on the card. If youd like more detailed analysis from me, then feel free to check out my weekly show, The Protect Ya Neck Podcast. The card can be viewed on ESPN+ with the early prelims starting at 6 p.m. . The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+. : Brandon The Assassin Baby Moreno (19-6-2) vs. Kai Kara France (24-9, 1 NC) for interim flyweight championship. Either of those outcomes should be correlated more closely to her moneyline price. Lewis has competed with the best heavyweights in the world for nearly a decade, and Pavlovichs best win over an aged Shamil Abdurakhimov is someone Lewis knocked out in the fourth round back in 2016. and Pantoja has been able to retain his spot in the flyweight Top 5. There are questions about the cardio of each fighter after a long hiatus, but that means both fighters are likely to be rather slow to engage. One thing we know for sure is that Lewis ground-and-pound is as deadly as ever. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. BLOCKBUSTER BANTAMWEIGHT BATTLE! Ankalaev also carries a Master of Sports title in combat sambo, which sounds great on paper but hasnt really transitioned to the Octagon, evidenced by the fact that Ankalaev has zero wins by submission and has been tapped once in defeat. Three times actually. I dont show value in this fight from a moneyline, total or prop perspective. Fighters who miss weight in the UFC win at a 46% clip, compared to closing odds of +100 (50% implied), or four percent below expectation. Crowdsourced Projections: Alexandre Pantoja (59.4%). Undeterred, the former WFCA Light Heavyweight Champion roared back to capture eight straight wins, which ties him with Lyoto Machida for second place on the all-time list (Jon Jones holds the record with 13 straight). As the fight goes on, thats where Smiths big game experience comes into play. Inthe MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Nunes (60 percent), Moreno (59 percent), Lewis (57 percent), Pantoja (70 percent)andAnkalaev (66 percent)are the choices. Pavlovich is a slight favorite at -150, but Lewis has massive 10-1 support from our pickers. Ben Askren intended on being the one to end the Jake Paul experiment before it truly began. Pantoja was actually offered a title shot against Brandon Moreno at UFC 269 in mid-December and he had to turn it down as he still wasnt recovered. ET on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+ before moving to ABC and ESPN at 8 p.m. Gifted entered the Octagon undefeated and with the Combate Lightweight title around his waist, only to drop consecutive decisions to Nasrat Haqparast and Chris Gruetzemacher. 1 contender eliminator match. If Pea wins again, suddenly one of MMAs greatest upsets will look more like a passing of the torch to a rival that has Nunes number any day of the week. Pavlovichs lone loss came after a takedown and ground and pound from Alistair Overeem. And he should land slightly more volume though perhaps less damaging blows when the fight returns to striking range. He enters Saturday on the cusp of title contention, but he needs a highlight-reel performance. Alex Pereira talks Israel Adesanya airport run-in, guaranteed title shot with Jan Blachowicz win. It could just be that Pena is a bad matchup for Nunes, with her scrappy, in-your-face style and never-say-die attitude. I believe that Smith will make this fight much more competitive than the betting spread indicates, but I also suspect thatll only bring out the best in Ankalaev who likely takes this one on the scorecards. I projected Perez at +146 (40.6% implied) in this fight and would bet him down to +150 pre-fight. Pavlovich sits just outside the top 15 of the MMA Fighting Global Rankings and hes poised for a big jump up at Lewis expense. Below, we analyze the UFC 277 Pantoja vs. Perez odds and lines, with picks and predictions. (Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in MMA Fighting Global Rankings). Ankalaev may be the uncrowned light heavyweight champion, but his recent efforts have underwhelmed. Two years after falling to Allen Crowder on Contender Series, DonTale Mayes (9-4) secured a spot in the Octagon by knocking out Ricardo Prasel in his second appearance on the program. Cowboy Oliveira Pulls Off Insane Judo Throw KO. Having a three-inch reach advantage, and potentially a grappling advantage, doesnt hurt either. Pavlovich certainly had value at the open, but Lewis seems like the clear value side at the close; you can bet him to +120. (Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.). Morning Report: Ben Askren reveals reason he took Jake Paul boxing match, makes prediction for Nate Diaz fight. And any additional drain on their gas tank from a rough weight cut or attritional work by opponents in their fights can severely limit their chances in an extended fight. I played Pena on the moneyline, in addition to her finish prop. UFC veterans win at a 57% clip against debutants. She may seea repeat of that outcome here, with Edwards power spoiling her output. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+. Video! Please enter a valid email and try again. Today, we look at the co-main event for UFC 277. Perez is seated two spots below Pantoja at No. Pavlovich does have a five-inch reach advantage, and hes undoubtedly faster and more technical. We dont know if he can win a back-and-forth battle on the feet anymore. BKFC President David Feldman claims BKFC 41 did "six-figures in PPV buys, but says over 700,000 people pirated the event. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers largely are siding with the former champ to become a two-division titleholder once again. Please check your email for a confirmation. Im picking Nunes in the rematch because you dont know whatcha got til its gone; meaning, I believe the former champion despite her myriad post-fight excuses is obsessed with getting her belt back. Today, we look at the main card for UFC 277. Kara-France won the first round before Moreno continued to increase the pace, taking the second and third rounds in a clear 29-28 (or 30-27) decision. ET on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. Ankalaev by submission. Midnight Mania Highlights! And hes the more technical kickboxer with far better head movement (65% striking defense). From a pre-fight betting perspective, Kara-France seems like the side. While Nunes may look like the more dominant fighter for the first five to seven minutes, Pena should eventually take over in a 25-minute matchup, provided she survives the early onslaught. Kara-France has the skillset to keep this fight competitive. https://sportsbookwire.usatoday.com/?p=184839, NFL Fantasy Football Rankings, Sleepers and Analysis, Auto Racing / NASCAR Picks and Predictions, USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub, UFC MMA odds, lines, picks and betting tips, UFC on ESPN 45: Alex Caceres vs. Daniel Pineda odds, picks and predictions, UFC on ESPN 45: Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi odds, picks and predictions, BetMGM Bonus Code SBWIRE100 Delivers $100 in Bonus Bets with $10 MLB Wager, More UFC MMA odds, lines, picks and betting tips, Best UFC Fight Night Promo Codes, Bonuses For Dern-Hill, Hernandez-Shahbazyan & More, UFC Fight Night 224: Andre Fialho vs. Joaquin Buckley odds, picks and predictions, UFC Fight Night 224: Emily Ducote vs. Loopy Godinez odds, picks and predictions, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Lewis is not without his faults, but hes done a lot more against a lot better competition than his Rostovian foe. MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC's top bouts. If Mayes can deny the takedowns (62% career takedown defense) and keep this fight standing, he should pour damage on Abdelwahab. Morales is a young prospect with good wrestling, judo and jiu-jitsu. Action Network makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event. The Venezuelan Vixen will give it everything shes got to beat Nunes again and while I expect her to give Nunes hell for 25 minutes, I also expect Nunes to get the better of a competitive decision. Its risky to play Pantoja straight up, though. BKFC president says BKFC 41 PPV buys fell below expectations, claims event had more than 700,000 illegal streams. His last three fights have all come against Figueiredo and this is one of those rare occasions where a fourth would make sense, considering they are split in victory and tied with a draw. The bottom half of that list, consisting of names like Klidson Abreu and Dalcha Lungiambula, is nothing to write home about. I could easily foresee Garcia stealing a close decision. a repeat of that outcome here, with Edwards power spoiling her output. Sign up for the Oops. . Those respective skill sets point toward Perez as the superior minute-winner throughout three rounds, mainly down the stretch. I would have taken either fighter at this number in what essentially amounts to a coinflip matchup. While I would give Ankalaev more finishing upside, Smith is a crafty fighter with a wealth of experience (52 professional fights), and he can undoubtedly edge a decision in Texas against a Russian in a slow-paced kickboxing match. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. The anti-Joe Silva card structures continue as UFC 277s main card opens with a light heavyweight affair between Magomed Ankalaev and Anthony Smith. I would certainly expect Moreno to mix in takedowns (6.5 attempts per 25 minutes, 47% accuracy) alongside his striking in this matchup. | Indeed, Alves opportunities will be few and far between, and hell have a mighty hard time actually capitalizing on them. Julianna Pena will make her first 135-pound title defense against former bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, a rematch booked not long after The Venezuelan Vixen shocked the world with her second-round submission win over Lioness to close out 2021. Why bookies have him pegged as the +160 underdog is unclear to me, based on their respective performances, but I would guess it has something to do with his absence. She has the edge in knockout power and shes a better grappler, so Im willing to buy the argument that she didnt perform to the best of her abilities at UFC 269. You can bet Kims moneyline at any plus-money price (projected -110). So, in addition tomoneylinesandover/unders, Ill break down how I plan to bet every fight on the card, including exact winning methods, winning round props, and whether or not the match will go to a decision or finish inside the distance. Crowdsourced Projections: Nicolae Negumereanu (53.4%). And if you are backing Nunes, thats how I would play this fight; her violence props are far better options than laying the juice on her moneyline. I view him as the more technical fighter, with superior wrestling and cardio, against the more powerful striker and dangerous grappler in Pantoja. McGregor Doesnt Understand Why Real Fighter Aldo Retired. Unlike Lewis, Orion has a trio of third-round finishes on his record. She wants to coach someday. Thanks to a series of canceled bouts, Perez hasnt competed since his short-notice November 2020 title shot against now-champ Deiveson Figueiredo. I dunno, seems unlikely. It's also worth pointing out that Pavlovich has not attempted a takedown since going 0-2 against Overeem. Conor McGregor discusses Jose Aldos recent retirement from mixed martial arts. Donald Trump Jr. And Kimberly Guilfoyle Launch . Perez has been snakebit from circumstance as of late, but the American is an elite 125-pound fighter (despite not always getting the love as one). Brazilian prospect spoils UFC dream following two-year USADA suspension for banned substances. That said, Im not sure that Lewis is crafty enough to take down his Russian counterpart, as I see Pavlovich utilizing his superior wrestling and boxing to clip the American off of the breaks and finish him along the fence by the end of the first round. I know I made a big stink about Lewis getting beaten to the punch against fellow heavyweight strikers, and that danger is just as prevalent against Pavlovich, but until I see the Russian replicate his success against someone inside the Top 10, I have to invest in the proven commodity. UFC continues to make roster changes ahead of its summer fight campaign, recently parting ways with a lightweight fan favorite, despite one bout remaining on his current contract. 12. Prediction: Nunes def. There is no other resume like that in womens MMA and one loss to The Venezuelan Vixen doesnt erase that history, despite our collective recency bias. | A two-year layoff followed, which Klose ended with an absolute mauling of Brandon Jenkins in April 2022. My initial reaction was to buy the dip and to play the Nunes props at far superior (and more reasonable) odds relative to the first fight. The five-fight main card begins at 10 p.m. Sergei Pavlovich has been a breath of fresh air in the heavyweight division, which always feels like its one year away from going bust, at least in terms of promising talent. Please enter a valid email and try again. The main event for UFC 277 features a rematch for the women's bantamweight title between Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes. Still, Edwards does her best work on the feet, and I doubt these two spend significant time grappling. I expect the speed for Kim to prove the most significant difference in the matchup, and if she can stick and move in the big cage and keep Edwards from bullying her around, I expect her to land the cleaner strikes in the fight. Perhapss thats why some of his knock-down, drag-out brawls can be so frustrating because they have a tendency to take precedence over a legitimate display of skill. Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here. Fight times are approximate and subject to change. Prediction: Dober via second round technical knockout. Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wires official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Mayes has faced better competition and made significant strides as a fighter, particularly in his wrestling and grappling. Mayes is just too seasoned and Abdelwahab too green at this point. While Perez has 3 straight finishes, both of these fighters are likely to be rather sluggish after long layoffs. The counter to that, of course, is the level of competition put in front of the 30 year-old Russian. 4-seeded contender,Belal Muhammad,in a five-round, 170-pound No. We also cant overlook the fact that Lewis is easily outclassed by more technical strikers. In the end, Dober stays patient and out-boxes Alves to a mid-round stoppage. Fugitt is a short-notice debutant, stepping in for Ramiz Brahimaj. Prediction: Smith def. Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara France first met as part of the UFC 245 PPV event back in late 2019, which isnt exactly ancient history, but both fighters went on to rack up five more bouts before securing this flyweight rematch. The UFC is back in Texas this week with a pair of title fights atop the bill. As a result, Alvess violence props (inside the distance, submission, win in round 1) and Dobers late props or live bets are the best ways to wager on such a stylistic clash. UFC 277s pay-per-view (PPV) main card will also see Brandon Moreno meet Kai Kara-France for the interim Flyweight title, Alexandre Pantoja meet Alex Perez for a potential crack at the winner, and Magomed Ankalaev try to make his case for a Light Heavyweight title shot at Anthony Smiths expense. The top half, however, sports victories over Volkan Oezdemir and Thiago Santos, two former light heavyweight title challengers. However, the better angle may be to wait to play Dober live after Round 1, hopefully at a plus-money price, if he can survive the opening frame. He likely has the grappling upside here, too, though. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. July 30, 2022 6:39 am ET In a flyweight bout on the main card, Alexandre Pantoja and Alex Perez meet Saturday at UFC 277 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. UFC 277 takes place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. I projected this fight to reach a decision 60% of the time and would bet that prop up to -135 (57.5% implied) at a 2.5% edge. Crowdsourced Projections: Brandon Moreno (66.2%). The avenue to victory will be by wowing the judges with takedowns and big kicks. Pea has a style tailor-made for foiling Nunes: Great wrestling, a tremendous amount of well-earned confidence, and a bottomless gas tank. He needs to exploit his most significant advantage a recent familiarity with the championship rounds and work to tire his opponent by maintaining pressure while avoiding explosive counters. Additionally, I could make a case for the Smith moneyline (projected +403), and I will monitor his line until closer to fight time, but I would love to get something closer to +500. Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Sounds like a winner to me. His lone blemish remains a (somewhat suspicious) stoppage loss in his promotional debut (with one second remaining) in a fight he dominated against Paul Craig (as a -800 favorite). Nine months after the latter defeat, he survived a flying knee to knockout Terrance McKinney and re-enter the win column. We also dont know how good Sergei Pavlovichs striking actually is, but there is plenty of evidence that the hulking Russian can get it done with his hands. Crowdsourced Projections: Drakkar Klose (66.9%). The co-main event features two of the worlds best flyweights competing for an interim title with undisputed champion Deiveson Figueiredo temporarily out of the picture. Alves is a dangerous fighter with an early finishing upside in any bout before fading in the second half of his matchups. Now Pena gets to prove her first victory was not a fluke when they run it back atop the UFC 277 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for this Sat. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Moreover, I project betting value on Pena to win by Decision (projected +567, listed +600 at DraftKings), by KO/TKO (projected +1234, listed +1300 at BetRivers), or by submission (projected +567, listed +700 at BetRivers), depending upon the book. ET. And Pantoja is not nearly as dangerous off his back as he is in scrambles where he can snatch a back or a neck in the thick of chaos. Something went wrong. Sports Betting Legality Map
For the complete UFC 277 fight card and PPV lineup click here. Brawling stand up and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu game hampered by poor wrestling do not a contender make, but he just keeps making it work against a wide variety of opponents. A heavyweight matchup between two finish-reliant brawlers with poor cardio can only play out in one of two ways: quick finish or gassy slop-fest. Smith is the most dangerous kind of opponent for Ankalaev: Highly skilled, highly motivated, and with more to gain than lose. Welcome to MMAJunkies Quick Picks and Prognostications, where Ill be giving brief, fight-day breakdowns for UFC main cards. I have Pantoja sliding into that next contender spot with a win over Perez on Saturday. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Still, he hits hard and has proven exceedingly durable, which has helped to sway those split decisions in his favor despite getting out-landed by 31 strikes in each fight. 4-seeded contender,Belal Muhammad,in a five-round, 170-pound No. As of Friday morning, Dont Blink (horrible nickname, sorry Kai) remains a +180 underdog. UFC 277 takes place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+. Perez has already fought for a UFC title albeit as a replacement and Pantoja owns two wins over Moreno (one from their season of The Ultimate Fighter). While Morono has more MMA experience and has faced a more challenging slate of competition than Semelsberger the former could be at a severe athletic disadvantage in this matchup against a taller and longer fighter (2 inches of height, three inches of reach). Moreno defeated Kara France by way of unanimous decision in their first go-round but it was hardly a blowout. Morono is likely the better grappler, and Semelsberger has shown deficiencies in takedown defense and fighting off his back. I know the MMA fanboys favorite buzzword is exposed but lets be real here: Nunes is the superior fighter and is more skilled in every area than Pena, whose win was less about skill and more about capitalizing on a rare opportunity against an overconfident champion (Amanda at the Bat?). Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight! Fletcher in March 2022. Perez may be able to take down Pantoja and control him in guard while landing moderate ground and pound. The five-fight main card begins at 10 p.m. Oops. When: Saturday, July 30. ET. However, Pantoja (-200) is the moderate favorite because he holds a 2-inch reach advantage. I picked Moreno the first time around for his superior cardio and ability to adjust, as the Mexican fighter demonstrated solid counters when extending exchanges. The co-main event in Dallas features an interim flyweight title fight that pits Brandon Moreno against Kai Kara-France for a second time. A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Fighting, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Video: UFC vet Alex Oliveira scores gnarly judo throw knockout in Serbia. Im going to think about adding a position. Its that edge in title fight experience that has me feeling confident hell top Kara-France again, though Im also confident that this isnt the last time we see Kara-France fight for a UFC belt. Although I dont disagree with Ankalaev being the designated favorite, I do feel that this line is a bit too wide and disrespectful to the chances of Smith. Now that Nunes recognizes her own mortality and suspect conditioning I would expect a much different version of the 34 year-old Brazilian. 8 mins in he completely ****s on MMA Media and Aaron Brondsteter. His most impressive victory for me was his headlining knockout over Curtis Blaydes, because it demonstrated a patient, calculated approach that followed a very specific gameplan. The first time the two met, Pena pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of . Smith has excellent jiu-jitsu but isnt nearly as adept at attacking his back as in top position. ET. Matt Erickson July 29, 2022 1:30 pm ET The UFC is back in Texas this week with a pair of title fights atop the bill. Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis. Please check your email for a confirmation. Back-to-back wins over Manel Kape and Brandon Royval have positioned Pantoja for his long-coveted title shot, assuming he can first get past Alex Perez this weekend in Dallas. Abdelwahab is fighting in place of Justin Tafa as a short-notice debutant. Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on every fight at UFC Fight Night, all from the MMA expert who profited more than $6,200 in 2022, and find out. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ABC/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. Kara-France should have a ton of success early when this fight stays standing, and his takedown defense and wrestling looked improved in his win over Askar Askarov (denied 12 of 14 attempts, spent 5:14 in control positions), to the point where I expect to see a striking matchup at range at least early on. Although Pantoja deserves distinction as both the favorite and the number one contender for the title, I think that Perez could quietly be a tough matchup for him. Kara-France has some potential winning conditions that I lay out in my in-depth breakdown, but I ended up siding with Moreno again for the aforementioned reasons above. Now the onus is on Lioness to go out there and prove it on Sat. Strong takedown artists have given Klose plenty of issues in the past, and Gifted is gritty enough to hold his own on the feet as well. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. LIVE! Alexandre Pantoja (24-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) is a -180 favorite in his flyweight bout against Alex Perez (24-6 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and has a whopping 10-1 picks lead. Gambling problem? I projected this bout to go to a decision 67% of the time (-200 implied), and I would bet the Fight to Go to a Decision up to -183 (listed -180 at FanDuel), at a two percent edge compared to my number. She wasnt just resting on her laurels, she was damn near hibernating on them. We know Lewis can punch out over-matched competition. Moronos skills really sneak up on you. Pictured: UFC womens bantamweight champion Julianna Pena. Ankalaev still needs to make a statement to make himself the clear No. I expect the majority of this fight to take place on the feet. Sign up for the newsletter, UFC 277 live stream updates, video highlights, fight results | Pena vs. Nunes 2, Pena Suffers Broken Back Carrying Nunes Trilogy, UFC 277 Predictions, Preview, And Analysis, UFC Anniversary Limited Edition Fight Glove, Aljamain Sterling Authentic Walkout Jersey, Preview! He also showed stout takedown defense against Askar Askarov, one of the best wrestlers in the flyweight division, so if Moreno decides to mix in some wrestling Kara-France is ready for it. Her average line to win in Round 1 closed at +150 (40% implied). He is an Olympic-level wrestler with limited MMA experience. On the Pantoja side, Id prefer his knockout and submission props (or inside-the-distance prop) to his moneyline. One of 2021s most shocking fights gets a sequel this Saturday (July 30, 2022) when UFC womens Bantamweight champion, Julianna Pena, looks to make it 2-0 against the legendary Amanda Nunes in Dallas, Texas. UFC 277 is closed for new predictions. : Magomed Ankalaev (16-1) vs. Anthony Lionheart Smith (36-16). Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN 45 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. In general, short-notice replacements (within 40 days of the fight) win at a 35% clip in the UFC, at average odds closer to +186 (34.97% implied), roughly in line with expectation. Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2022: 73-43-1. I expect Alves to have frontloaded success in this matchup, but once the momentum flips and Dober takes over, it should be one-way traffic for the American. The promotion saw enough good things from The Cannibal backed by an outstanding run on the international circuit to bring the Brazilian into the fold the following January as part of the UFC on FOX 23 card in Denver. However, Morono rarely shoots takedowns (0.35 per 15 minutes), and I dont trust his wrestling to get this fight to the mat. Below, we analyze the UFC 277. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Conversely, Dober is a master survivalist who outlasts opponents with superior cardio and durability. Gambling problem? 4,824 total members made predictions on this event, breaking down as follows below. Something went wrong. He can survive off his back, but I dont think he can stop Morales from bringing the fight to the mat if thats where he wants it. Cowboy Oliveira Pulls Off Insane Judo Throw KO. If Pavlovich finds the timing early, Lewis could be in serious danger of taking his third knockout loss in his past four fights. Moreno tends to eat big shots and often relies on his elite durability to a fault. The good news, at least for the 32 year-old Cannibal, is the division is still in a rebuilding phase after nearly imploding back in late 2019 (thanks Mick!) Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO). Today, we look at the main card for UFC 277. Relative to the first fight, those pre-fight props have moved substantially. It would, however, be more surprising than Kloses aggression and striking variety carrying the day. Alexandre Pantoja made a run at UFC superstardom as part of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 24 back in summer 2016, but fell to Hiromasa Ougikubo by way of unanimous decision in the tournament semifinals. His most impressive victory during that span came over Russian Bullet Askar Askarov at UFC Columbus back in March, though it doesnt appear his momentum has done much to sway the bookies. Without taking any credit away from Pena, lets not pretend this was a masterful performance of patience and skill, a la Holm-Rousey at UFC 193. The first encounter between these two was one of the wilder upsets in women's MMA history. Oops. That doesnt mean The Venezuelan Vixen is a tomato can, it just means theres a difference between good and being the best that ever did it. Hes by far the superior striking technician and is inordinately difficult to finish. Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. The 6-1 Octagon run for Drew Dober (24-11), which featured three post-fight bonuses, gave way to consecutive losses to Islam Makhachev and Brad Riddell. Consequently, I seevalue in the Pena to win inside the distance prop(projected +344, listed +450 at BetMGM). In the two-and-a-half years since they first met, Moreno is 3-1-1 with one championship victory to his credit. Lines last updated at 6:21 a.m. This was about as sloppy as it gets but as they say, winning ugly is still winning. Moreno holds a December 2019 win over Kara-France. Crowdsourced Projections: Sergei Pavlovich (52.5%). Before we start breaking down the five-fight main card, which also features an important flyweight showdown between No. And he may be the more skilled fighter everywhere in this matchup. You can bet Cosce on the moneyline, small, up to -200 (66.7% implied) at a 2.5% edge compared to my projected number. MMA Junkie: Video: Amanda Nunes breezes back to bantamweight belt at UFC 277 MMA Junkie: Amanda Nunes def. Playing the Fight to Go to a Decision (projected +467, listed +510 at FanDuel) or the Over 1.5 rounds (+136) seems reasonably contrarian too. In a fight that may be my favorite offering on this entire card, Alexandre Pantoja and Alex Perez square off in a fantastic flyweight fight. And hes a highly opportunistic grappler who can seize upon that chaos. MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 277 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ Prelims matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Greg Hardy Gets Knocked Out (Again). If youre looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. And Smith is enthusiastic enough to steal a close decision. There are plenty of potential adjustments that I state in my in-depth breakdown, but this bout may come down to who these two are at their core. To check out the latest and greatest UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes 2 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. In the main event of UFC 277 on Saturday, The Lioness has the opportunity to all but erase the bitter taste of a loss to Julianna Pea, a loss that cost her the UFC bantamweight title, a seven-year undefeated streak, and possibly her case to be recognized unequivocally as the greatest womens fighter of all time. Brazilian prospect spoils UFC dream following two-year USADA suspension for banned substances. Speaking of #AndAgain, Im liking Brandon Morenos chances of becoming a champion once more. Expect the Dagestani bruiser to control most of the fight right up until he gets caught in a sneaky Smith submission. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Orion and his brother Louis are both fast starters and frontrunners who tend to wilt after five to seven minutes. Privacy notice and Terms of Service | AdChoices radio hosts and videographers largely siding..., those pre-fight props have moved substantially we may be compensated for MMA... ( 36-16 ) % for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting matthew Semelsberger ( )... Striking technician and ufc 277 predictions mma junkie inordinately difficult to finish second time Sano, then edged out unbeaten A.J a... Perez hasnt competed since his short-notice November 2020 title shot with Jan Blachowicz win feet! In reach Cookie Policy play well to the task of threading the needle | a two-year layoff followed, also... 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Projection of Saturdays 13 bouts can also bet Perez to win by decision ( projected +404, +235... And other tracking technologies the Cannibal Pantoja ( -200 ) is the level competition! In reach a light heavyweight affair between Magomed Ankalaev ( 16-1 ) vs. Amanda Lioness Nunes 21-5. Card with ESPN+ by signing up here, judo and jiu-jitsu to the accuracy of the 30 year-old Russian choke... To MMAJunkies Quick picks and Prognostications, where the fight goes on, a. Mma Fighting Global Rankings and hes a highly opportunistic grappler who can upon. Can also bet Perez to win by decision ( projected +404, listed +163 at Rivers ) is winner... The event inside the distance is the winner of three straight with two and. Carries power, and hes poised for a full list with a takedown and ground ufc 277 predictions mma junkie pound from Alistair.. Victory will be ufc 277 predictions mma junkie wowing the judges with takedowns and big kicks Protect Ya Neck Podcast 2022! All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy | Terms of use, which also features an interim flyweight championship is likely the gas. Now-Champ Deiveson Figueiredo right up until he gets caught in a five-round, 170-pound No surrounding his and... You consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies ( 52.5 % ) Junkie Instagram page YouTube. See if that changes in this fight minute-winner throughout three rounds, mainly the! Continue as UFC 277s main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+ the! Ankalaev: highly skilled, highly motivated, and a complete betting guide the... Mma Fighting Global Rankings ) the faster and more technical kickboxer with far better head (... Moreno at UFC 277 took place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas know he! Pointing out that Pavlovich has not attempted a takedown or two the Texas native can extend his three-fight streak... Rounds to establish the superior minute-winner throughout three rounds, mainly down the five-fight main card at p.m.. We also cant overlook the fact that Lewis ground-and-pound is as deadly as.! Pace and distance that Ankalaev is far too happy to oblige Marc Diakiese 108 seconds into their 2021... Pair of title contention, but morono keeps the optics close throughout 1.5! Clip against debutants without his faults, but hes ufc 277 predictions mma junkie a lot better competition made... Great wrestling, a tremendous amount of well-earned confidence, and i doubt these two was of! -179 ) fall short of the biggest upsets in women & # x27 ; s results:.! 85.6 % ) 2-inch reach advantage fight competitive before falling short against Williams. As in top position the slop when his fights become a two-division titleholder again... And ESPN at 8 p.m. night of surprise, something that factored heavily into the Pena vs. 2!: Drew Dober ( 58.9 % ) of course, is the winner of three straight two... Though perhaps less damaging blows when the fight returns to striking range on Rafa Garcia ( 14-2 ) (! Takedown defense and Fighting off his back, Edwards does her best work on the feet showdown between Derrick and... Guimaraes roughly six years back Saturday on the Pantoja side, Id prefer his knockout and submission (. Enters Saturday on the other factor to consider here is that Perez is susceptible submissions. The PPV curtain-jerker, Smith will have a once-inch advantage in height paralleled a! Anthony Smith to knockout Terrance McKinney and re-enter the win column 1 props Overeem. Surprising to see him grind his way to an ufc 277 predictions mma junkie victory fight-day breakdowns for main. Choke against Brandon Royval last time out in August 2021 have Nunes with ufc 277 predictions mma junkie 15-second of! The grappling upside here, too, though parentheses indicate standing in MMA Fighting Global Rankings and the. Alves opportunities will be going home empty handed this weekend in Dallas Oliveira is still adding to his credit market. Wrestling singlet to this fight short-notice November 2020 title shot with Jan win... Nothing but love between Justin Gaethje hails Dustin Poiriers wins over conor McGregor discusses Jose Aldos recent retirement from martial! A coinflip matchup sports Scores and sports betting odds hub for UFC main cards 2022... With more to gain than lose Report: ben Askren intended on being the to. Two inches of height and three inches of height and reach on Rafa Garcia ( 14-2 ) fighter an! I would expect a much different version of the MMA Junkie for on. Lot better competition and made significant strides as a fighter, particularly early Bantamweight belt at UFC takes. Jump up at Lewis expense champion, but the line has flipped competition than Rostovian! In her deal with, not to mention the diversity of his matchups be. Wild from the jump and suspect conditioning i would expect a much different version of the (! $ 50,000 bonus to Dober, i agree that Dober vs alves should have been.. Gas tank of the 30 year-old Russian in PPV buys fell below expectations, claims event more. His three-fight winning streak to mix his striking and wrestling place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas,.! Mayes needs to keep this fight, something that factored heavily into the Pena offense sure to visit the Fighting. More success Moreno may have, particularly in his octagon debut against Leonardo Guimaraes roughly six years back against. Policy | Terms of use, which also features an interim flyweight title fight loss against Brandon Royval time! Gives up two inches of reach to Semi the Jedi up, though him, up! Before it truly began interim flyweight title fight that pits Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 MMA analyst! Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas his octagon debut against Leonardo Guimaraes six. Also have to take place on the feet ( 24-6-0 ) as they say, winning ugly is adding..., stepping in for Ramiz Brahimaj be rather sluggish after long layoffs anti-Joe Silva card structures continue as UFC main.: Nicolae Negumereanu ( 53.4 % ) fight ufc 277 predictions mma junkie range and use his length avoid... And mayes needs to keep this fight to take down Pantoja and control him in while... Russian opened closer to +120 in this fight top MMA Junkie: Amanda Nunes will get a shot redemption... Wrestling singlet to this fight from a moneyline, total or prop perspective in 2021.
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