The biggest UFC pay-per-view card of the year comes to fight fans around the globe this weekend out of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event Israel Adesanya looks to defend his Middleweight title against Jared ‘The Killer Gorilla’ Cannonier.
In the co-main, a trilogy fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway is sure to be a back-and-forth affair and rising stars Alex Pereira and Sean O’Malley meet their stiffest tests to date in Sean Strickland and Pedro Munhoz respectively. We take a look at my best bets on this not to be missed card below. I will be adding some additional plays without a preview down the bottom as well so plenty to check out.
UFC 276 Preview & Betting Tips
Israel Adesanya vs Jared Cannonier
Israel Adesanya is coming off his fourth Middleweight title defence, a razor close unanimous decision victory against Robert Whittaker, in which I personally thought Whittaker had won. His opponent Jared Cannonier began his UFC career as a Heavyweight before dropping two weight classes. At Middleweight he is 5-1, with his only loss being a rather one-sided decision loss to former champion Robert Whittaker.
Personally, I believe the only man to beat Adesanya at Middleweight is Whittaker unless some of the Welterweight elites came up to challenge the Kiwi. There is also a reason Adesanya has campaigned for ages to fight ‘The Killer Gorilla’ and that is because he matches up perfect stylistically. If you take a step back, Cannonier presents the exact challenge Paulo Costa did, he is big, strong and explosive. I expect a similar result here as Adesanya doesn’t need to fear the wrestling and can use his length and high level striking to dismantle Cannonier with relative ease on route to a finish.
Adesanya to win by KO/SUB
$2.40 (4 Units)
Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway
I will be honest as a loyal Aussie MMA fan there is no one I cheer harder for than Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker which makes it hard to put on my analyst hat for these types of fights. If I am looking at this fight objectively though, I am backing Holloway to get it done, especially at the odds.
When assessing rematches, you have to look at how this fight will go differently to the previous encounter(s). Personally, I judged both fights in Volkanovski’s favour. In saying that though I have seen some real issues which he will potentially struggle with this time around. The Hawaiian is the sharper boxer with often the higher output. Since losing the second time to the Australian, Holloway completely dismantled Calvin Kattar who recently destroyed Giga Chikadze. He then showed how improved he was again last time out against Yair Rodriguez. Volkanovski to his credit fairly comfortably (except for a shaky minute) beat Brian Ortega and then utterly outclassed The Korean Zombie.
There are three factors that make me lean Holloway though. Firstly, despite winning both fights by decision, Holloway has shown he can sting Volkanovski but the Australian hasn’t been able to really hurt him. Secondly, Holloway is likely to be training as hard as ever and simply has to win this fight as 3-0 means a future fight between the two is near impossible to market. Thirdly, the fight is in America, with an incredibly bias American crowd likely influencing the judges…. If Volkanovski thinks he is being scored a 50/50 round he couldn’t be more wrong. I believe this fight will be more about Volkanovski having to decisively win rounds than Holloway, ‘having to beat the champion’. Therefore back Holloway to get the win, I will be and it might take a bit of the sting off of the Aussie being potentially on the end of a close and debatable decision loss.
Holloway to win
$2.60 (2 Units)
Jessica-Rose Clark vs Julija Stoliarenko
I have been with Jessica-Rose Clark since she returned from knee surgery and I won’t be put off just because she lost last time out to promising Swiss prospect Stephanie Egger. What the Australian does well is mixes up her attacks and that will be the key to getting her hand raised.
Julija Stoliarenko is very similar to Egger and as long as Clark has gone away and worked on her defensive lapse then she has all the tools to win this fight. She is stronger, faster and the better wrestler and simply should be too much for the Lithuanian.
Clark to win
$1.72 (4 Units)
Other Bets:
Sean Strickland to win ($2.00 at Bet365) 2 Units
Robbie Lawler to win ($1.80 at Bet365) 2 Units
Donald Cerrone to win ($2.80 at Bet365) 1 Units
Dricus Du Plessis to win ($1.80 at Bet365) 2 Units
