The UFC schedule is in full swing now and ya love to see it! Yet another fight night comes to us on ESPN+, one week before a huge card at UFC 259. Here are some of the best value bets that I like this Saturday night:
Sabino Mazo (-210): It may be a big number but she’s worth the price. The 23 year old out of of Columbia is one hell of a striker. She’ll enjoy a 2 inch reach advantage Saturday night and that will be an issue for Alexis Davis. Davis is a solid veteran fighter but I’m afraid she’s on the wrong end of her career. She comes into this fight with 3 straight losses. The “Columbian Queen” is hungry, very accurate, and has a ton of potential. She won’t let this opportunity pass.
William Knight wins (-110): Alonzo Menifield needs a win. At one time Menifield was one of the brightest prospects in the UFC. Then he lost 2 straight to opponents he really should have beaten. Enter opponent #3. William Knight is a dangerous fighter. He looks huge for a light heavyweight and hits even harder. He’s accurate too, landing over 76% of his significant strikes. Although he’ll enjoy a 3 inch reach advantage, I think Alonzo’s brand takes a real shot on Saturday. Menifield likes to pick his spots and unless he lands an enigmatic uppercut or kick, Knight should be the aggressor and I think there’s a good chance he overwhelms Menifield. We’ve seen Alonzo succumb to similar styles before. The UFC isn’t doing him any favors by lining him up against Knight to get off the schneid. Menifield should be ultra-motivated, but I see Knight stealing this one.
Ramazan Kuramagomedov wins (-115): Despite having the most intimidating last name in all of MMA, Ramazan Kuramagomedov is a highly underrated addition to the UFC roster. Quick, athletic, and equipped with a kickboxing arsenal that could wear down or knockout any fighter, Kuramagomedov will be motivated to assert himself in his debut. Alex Oliveira is a veteran in the UFC and at this point seems to be on the back end of his career. Even in recent victories (he lost his last fight in Oct 2020 but won 2 others last year), he’s looked sluggish and worn. This sets up perfectly for the younger fighter to get a debut win. Ramazan Kuramagomedov will be hyped up Saturday and as long as he doesn’t get caught making a rookie mistake, he should win comfortably.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik to win by KO/TKO (+310) or Ciryl Gane to win by KO/TKO (+160): Pick your poison. I don’t think there’s any way this fight goes the distance. This has an alpha-male feel where both fighters will want to prove they’re the baddest dude in the octagon. The price on Gane (-290) is way too high and probably undeserved. I believe in his knockout power and potential, but Rozenstruik has faced some of the toughest heavyweights in the UFC. His only loss was to who I think will become the new heavyweight champion soon, Francis Ngannou. Although it was a bad knockout, it wasn’t a bad loss. Both of these monsters will enter the cage at over 250 pounds Saturday and they’ll be hungry to make a statement. It’s tough to pick a side, but the value bet is on the KO/TKO prop for + money.
