Two title fights headline the final Pay-Per View card of the year in what is as deep of a fight card as you will ever see as former champion Dominick Cruz, Featherweight contenders Dan Ige and Josh Emmett and fan favourite Tai Tuivasa all feature on the undercard.
In the main event Charles Oliveira looks to make his inaugural defence of the Lightweight title against Dustin Poirier while in the co-main Julianna Pena looks to end the seemingly unstoppable reign of Amanda Nunes. We take a look at the two title fights and one on the undercard below.
UFC 269 Betting Tips
Charles Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier
Honestly this fight has all the makings for an absolute iconic title fight. Charles Oliveira rode out some danger to secure the belt against Michael Chandler last time out to secure the title. While he was in trouble, he has shown an ability to fight through adversity. Despite this his striking has drastically improved in the past couple of years and he is a different beast to what he once was.
Dustin Poirier comes into this fight off back-to-back wins over former double champ Conor McGregor. While beating McGregor is a feather in his cap, that match up was stylistically perfect for the Louisianan brawler.
Oliveira will test Poirier’s jiu jitsu and I don’t think it will stack up. His ground game really isn’t all what it is made out to be. If Oliveira is able to get him down with time to work, I see him submitting him. Against Oliveira he is going to have to be prepared for the shot at any moment, which means he won’t just be able to walk forward and load up on his punches. This is Oliveira’s coming out party and the start of a new dominant Lightweight reign.
Value: By Submission ($4.00)
Amanda Nunes vs Julianna Pena
At this stage the only challenge for Nunes is Shevchenko and I do believe that this should be another one-sided fight.
I actually don’t think Pena gets knocked out though as the biggest discrepancy here isn't in the well documented Nunes power punching, it is in her submission skills. Pena is tough on the feet and presses forward, which should lead to an easy takedown for the champ. On the mat Nunes can either choke her out or tear one of her limbs off as Pena has historically been relatively easy to submit. I expect a striking battle in the first round before Nunes takes the road of least resistance and submits Pena on the mat. $5 is absolute madness.
Nunes to win by submission
$5.00
Andre Muniz vs Eryk Anders
My most confident bet of the card comes on the undercard as Andre Muniz looks perfectly set to dispatch Eryk Anders.
Muniz earnt his UFC contract on the Contender Series where he beat Taylor Johnson before pulling off an unbelievable armbar on Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Ronaldo Souza, breaking it in the process.
His opponent Eryk Anders will have a big advantage on the feet but he just won’t be able to keep it there. Muniz lacks the striking to beat the best in the division but Anders is not the man who is going to expose his lack of striking. Muniz either chokes him out quickly or controls him on the mat for 15 minutes.
