A new light heavyweight champion will be crowned at UFC 327 this weekend when Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg do battle. While the card lost the flyweight title fight between Josh Van and Tatsuro Taira, as it has now been pushed back to UFC 328, the card is still full of fun match-ups. In the new co-main, Paulo Costa faces undefeated Russian star Azamat Murzakanov, and Dominick Reyes meets wild man Johnny Walker. We take a look at my best bets on the UFC 237 card below, with plenty of good value on offer.
UFC 327 Preview & Betting Tips
Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg
With Alex Pereira moving up to heavyweight, Jiri Prochazka has his chance to reclaim the belt. 'BJP' would arguably still be champion if not for ‘Poatan’. Prochazka is 6-2 in the UFC with six finishes and six performance bonuses - with his two losses coming to Pereira. However, he faces a real tough match-up this weekend in Carlos Ulberg.
The Kiwi has a similar build to Pereira, and if he’s smart, he comes in with the same game plan.
Ulberg hasn't lost since his UFC debut, where he gassed out horrendously. Since then, he has reeled off nine straight wins, including three on the bounce against top-ten opposition. While he might not have the highlight reel of Prochazka, he has put on far cleaner striking performances.
This fight simply comes down to whether it is a technical striking battle or a brawl. If Ulberg can keep it at range and clean, he should win without breaking a sweat. However, those who have watched Prochazka know he feeds off chaos and will do what he can to pull his opponent into that world. While originally I was keen to play the underdog Ulberg, I feel he will rock Prochazka and get overzealous, and that will see him waking up to Prochazka doing backflips off the cage and screaming.
Jiri Prochazka by KO/TKO
$2.45 (3 Units)
Nate Landwehr vs. Cub Swanson
UFC legend Cub Swanson will officially retire this weekend, and the UFC has given him a favourable match-up in Nate Landwehr to go out with a bang. Landwehr is 38 and known for being a human punching bag before surging back into the fight with pure grit as his opponents fade. However, his legendary granite chin seems to be crumbling, with two straight knockout losses.
Despite that, Swanson has opened the underdog, and I am keen to jump on that early, as I expect that to not be the case by the time he makes the walk to the Octagon. While Swanson’s prime is long gone, he is still far too technical for a brawler like Landwehr.
Cub Swanson to Win
$2.10 (3 Units)
Charles Radtke vs. Francisco Prado
Francisco Prado is far better than his 1-4 UFC record suggests, and he finally gets a favourable match-up against Charles Radtke. At only 23, Prado is still filling out, and it has meant he has been undersized in the UFC welterweight division. Luckily for him, Charles Radtke doesn’t have the size to bully him up against the cage nor the skillset to trouble him.
Prado should be able to control the centre and pick apart Radtke, either registering a knockout win or a dominant unanimous decision victory. At underdog odds, he is my most confident play on the UFC 327 card.
Francisco Prado to Win
$2.57 (4 Units)
