The UFC returns this weekend with another pay-per-view offering, UFC 274, which goes down at the Footprint Center in Phoenix on Saturday. As is customary with pay-per-view events, the UFC has stacked the card with two title fights and a bevy of other high-profile matchups. In the co-main event, Rose Namajunas will defend her strawweight title in a rematch with inaugural champion Carla Esparza. Then in the main event, lightweight champion Charles Oliveira looks to silence the last of his doubters when he defends his belt against former interim champion Justin Gaethje. Weve got 15 fights this weekend, and plenty of opportunity to get some action down, so lets get to it.
As always, all odds are courtesy of our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Mauricio Rua, +195
In all honesty, this is probably a dumb bet. Shogun is 40 years old and has been washed for at least five years but I cant help it, because for as washed as Shogun may be, so is Ovince Saint Preux! In his most recent fight, OSP lost to Tanner Boser because he simply didnt do anything. He landed nine total strikes in over seven minutes of fighting. Thats, well ... its not good. Saint Preux is clearly on the decline, and while he may have more juice left than Shogun, OSPs style is one that will fall off drastically as his athleticism wanes. Add in that Shogun still hits like a drunken moose and probably has a cardio advantage and with this sort of line, Im willing to take a flier on one final moment of glory for the old guard. Pride Never Die.
Randy Brown, +105
This is a sweaty-palm play, but one I still feel OK about. Randy Brown is longer, faster, and a better striker than Khaos Williams, and in a fight that is likely to take place primarily on the feet, that all should serve him well. The main concerns here are that Williams has a great chin, hits like an angry elephant, and has good low kicks (a weakness of Browns). But he also gets reckless a lot of times, and I believe Brown can capitalize on that, especially given his natural physical advantages. At plus-money, there is value here.
Marcos Rogerio de Lima, +120
Another sweaty-palm fight. Betting on bad heavyweight MMA is never the easiest thing in the world to do, but there are enough things working in RDLs favor here that I believe this is a value play. This is Blagoy Ivanovs first fight in two years, and in his last time out, he didnt look great. Hes lumbering and not an especially big hitter for the weight class. De Lima, meanwhile, is coming off the best performance of his career and looks to be finally putting things together. The ground game is always a concern, but the speed advantage should be so prominent for him that I think RDL can avoid getting taken down and get the hands going early, even against an iron-headed guy like Ivanov.
Justin Gaethje by KO/TKO, +200
Justin Gaethje vs. Charles Oliveira is a two-outcome fight: Either Oliveira can submit Gaethje, or he gets knocked out. What will determine which of those outcomes prevails is the wrestling, and while Oliveira is a solid takedown artist, Gaethje is a better takedown defender. Oliveira is not the wrestler Khabib Nurmagomedov is, and I see this fight ultimately looking like Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler, only with Gaethje finishing the job.
Rose Namajunas by KO/TKO, +300
Simply put, I think Rose is going to run over Carla Esparza in this rematch. Esparzas current winning streak is a little bit of smoke and mirrors as she shouldve lost at least one of those fights, and arguably lost three of them. Rose, meanwhile, has been fighting and beating more physically imposing and, frankly, difficult competition, and shes still developing. Esparza is not anywhere near good enough to strike with Rose for extended periods, and though Namajunas isnt the best defensive wrestler in the world, shes good enough to keep things upright for the most part. From there, Esparza is a sitting duck.
Michael Chandler/Tony Ferguson Over 1.5 Rounds, -160
Tony Ferguson certainly appears to be on the crispier side of cooked, but for all his recent struggles, Fergusons chin has not been the problem. Hes slower and his reflexes have dropped off, but he remains a supremely conditioned athlete and exceedingly durable. Chandler is not going to be able to haymaker El Cucuy out of there early, and so this one should make it past the halfway mark.
Joe Lauzon to win in Round 1, +800
For his entire career, Joe Lauzon has been a barnstormer. The man starts fights with guns blazing, and as a result, 18 of his 28 career victories have come in the first round. Conversely, Donald Cerrone has long been known as a slow starter in MMA, with seven of his 16 career losses coming in the first round. This is a fight between two guys who are well beyond their primes, but Lauzon certainly looked better than Cerrone did their last times out, and given how their careers have gone, theres value in a play on this juiced line.
Rose Namajunas, -200
As mentioned above, I think Namajunas is going to roll over Esparza this week. Honestly, shes my most confident bet, and I think the safest, smartest course of action is to simply bet her straight at these odds. But the people love parlays, and this is as solid of a parlay piece as I think you will find. I just dont see Rose losing this one.
Chiasson/Dumont Fight To Go To Decision, -200
Chiasson and Dumont have each only been stopped once in their careers, and I dont see either woman adding a second one on Saturday. This is probably going to be a lot of Dumont jabbing Chiasson for 15 minutes.
Parlay these two bets together for +125 odds.
Tony Ferguson by Submission, +1400
Tony Ferguson is probably going to lose this fight. He hasnt won a round in nearly three years, and at 38 years old, hes clearly past his peak. That being said, Michael Chandler is not the same sort of fighter nor is he as good as the men Ferguson has been losing to. Its entirely possible that Chandler just repeatedly takes Ferguson down and holds him there. But I have a feeling that Chandler is going to try and blow through Ferguson, which will create some chances for El Cucuy to sink in his famous DArce choke and become the first man to submit Chandler.
In case you were unaware, The MMA Hours Conner Burks and I have a new gambling podcast on the MMA Fighting podcast network called No Bets Barred! Every week we will be breaking down our plays on the event and just generally chopping it up about the fight cards before and behind us. Give it a listen and lets do the damn thing this weekend.
Good luck yall, and gamble responsibly!
All information in this article is provided to readers of MMA Fighting for entertainment, news, and amusement purposes only. It is the responsibility of the reader to learn and abide by online gambling laws in their region before placing any online sports betting wagers.
Follow this link:
UFC 274 gambling preview: Best bets, parlays, and long shot of the week - MMA Fighting
- Riverside smoke shop raided in suspected gambling and narcotics investigation - The Press-Enterprise - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Sports gambling creates a windfall, but raises questions of integrity here are three lessons from historic sports-betting ... - The Conversation... - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Casino Hubs: 5 Airports That Serve Major Centers Of The Gambling Sector - Simple Flying - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Dear Abby: Dad worries gambling boyfriend will get his hands on money he leaves his daughter - OregonLive - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers cancel NFL Rookie of the Year bet - USA TODAY - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Louis Ferrari expected to plead guilty in gambling ring case - Democrat & Chronicle - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Regulator who ushered in Louisiana gambling expansion resigns, bullish on Shreveport-Bossier - Yahoo Finance - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Alabama's push to legalize gambling dies in the state Senate - Montgomery Advertiser - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Researchers reveal the double-edged-sword effect of overconfidence on gambling - Medical Xpress - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter agrees to plead guilty in $17M sports gambling scandal - NBC Los Angeles - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Gambling Scandal of Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter to Receive TV Series - Tokyo Weekender - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- The rise of cryptocurrencies in online gambling - The Jerusalem Post - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Tennessee collects $7M in sports gambling taxes on $384.2M in wagers in April - The Center Square - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Key no vote on Alabama gambling bill suggests looking to next year Alabama Reflector - Alabama Reflector - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Effective Messaging Is Needed To Combat Illegal Gambling In US - PlayUSA - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Alabama legislative session adjourns with no final vote on gambling bill - Alabama legislative session adjourns with no ... - Focus Gaming News - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Transnational Crime and Southeast Asia's Gambling Underworld - World Casino Directory - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- MLB Betting Predictions 5/13/24 | MLB Gambling Podcast (Ep. 480) - SGPN - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- How did gambling develop into a major industry in Minnesota? - redlakenationnews.com - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Huge increase in young people 'gambling' on mortgages that expire in retirement - Yahoo News UK - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Premier League Matchday 37 Midweek (Games In Hand) Betting Picks | The EPL Show (Ep. 385) - SGPN - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Best Bet For Monday (May 13th): NBA Predictions - SGPN - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Speaker Ledbetter: 'We're going to see probably an expansion of more - 1819 News - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Gambling goes down in the Alabama Legislature again; union fight nears end; and more on Alabama Politics This Week! - Yellowhammer News - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- OPINION: When it comes to illegal gamblers in casinos, dont ask, dont tell - The Nevada Independent - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- This gambling tech stock might be the safest bet you'll make this year - Stockhouse Publishing - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Professional sport commissioners are fighting to preserve league integrity amid gambling scandals - The Conversation - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- State Sen. Orr: Gambling push 'sucked all the oxygen out' of passing - 1819 News - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Art Rooney II gambling his reputation that change will result in Steelers success - Still Curtain - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- MLB NRFI and YRFI Picks - May 13 - SGPN - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Poole Researchers Uncover Tax Costs of Gambling - Poole College of Management - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Republican Cheryl Bean says casino gambling is not in the cards for Texas - CBS News - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Local lawmakers, citizens react to the end of the Alabama gambling bill - Fox 10 News - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- MLB commissioner gives update on Shohei Ohtani gambling investigation - USA TODAY - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- As gambling stalemate continues, former governor has suggestions on how it can succeed next year - wvua23.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Better Markets Applauds CFTC's Proposed Ban on Election Gambling To Prevent Election Interference and Protect ... - Better Markets - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Advocates seeking more revenue for problem gambling in MD will have to wait - Maryland Daily Record - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- West Virginia breaks state record, rakes in $20.68m of revenue in online gambling - WDTV - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- New Regulations For Gambling Consumer Protection Are Here! - Latest Casino Bonuses - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- After gambling standoff, Alabama lawmakers pass $9.3 billion education budget - Alabama Daily News - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- MLB Betting Predictions 5/11/24 | MLB Gambling Podcast (Ep. 479) - SGPN - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Best Bet For Saturday (May 11th): UFC St. Louis Predictions - SGPN - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Governor Ivey will not call special session to readdress failed gambling bill - WIAT - CBS42.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Internet gambling industry expected to grow - WDTV - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Gambling constitutional amendment dies with the Senate declining to - 1819 News - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Betting on the US market; the IT infrastructure of gambling - DatacenterDynamics - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- MLB's Shohei Ohtani, Interpreter's Gambling Scandal to Be Featured in New TV Series - Bleacher Report - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Alabama voters are tired of waiting for Godot gambling bill - AL.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- MGM National Harbor gambling revenue down 10% - WTOP - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- RIP GAMBLING 2024: House closes session by approving the education - 1819 News - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- The End: The Money Picture Changes with Legalized Gambling - Gobbler Country - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Real Housewives Of Orange County Castmember Ryan Boyajian Reportedly Caught Up In $16M Theft And Gambling Scandal Surrounding Shohei Ohtanis Former... - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Gambling Safely: The Importance of Choosing the Righ... - HighstakesDB - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, agrees to plead guilty to 2 charges in gambling scandal - Yahoo Sports - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Charitable gambling to start at Hoops Brewing, will support the Duluth Curling Club - WDIO - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- TV series about Ohtani ex-interpreter gambling scandal in works - The Athletic - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Sports Is Betting It All On Gambling - Defector - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- MLB NRFI and YRFI Picks - May 11 - SGPN - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- TV Series About Shohei Ohtani Interpreter's Gambling Scandal in Development - Sports Illustrated - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Why would I do that? Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says special session on lottery, gambling unlikely - AL.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Sports betting and gambling addiction are on the rise - Dakota News Now - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Proposed Alabama gambling legislation includes lottery, casinos, sports betting - AL.com - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Super Bowl betting soars, but it's still not legal in Chiefs and 49ers home states - NPR - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Problem gambling has increased in Ohio since sports betting legalized - Hamilton Journal News - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports betting and gambling addiction are on the rise - KTIV Siouxland's News Channel - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports bets during the big game could trigger gambling addictions - 25 News Now - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Illegal gambling raid at El Patron leads to 1 arrest and 23 citations - KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Experts discuss responsible gambling ahead of the Super Bowl - Spectrum News 1 - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Gambling addicts face tough test as Super Bowl 58 descends on Las Vegas and NFL cashes in - USA TODAY - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- What are the NFLs gambling rules for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas? - The Athletic - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Personal Frontiers gets $45K to treat gambling addiction - Gillette News Record - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Super Bowl Gambling Grows, But Pastors Are on the Sidelines | News & Reporting - ChristianityToday.com - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports betting leading to increase in gambling addiction - Dayton 24/7 Now - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Betting on the Super Bowl: Impacts of sports gambling in Ohio as state's help hotline sees jump in calls - WKYC.com - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports gambling during the NFL Championship game will increase addiction rates - 25 News Now - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Billionaires Are Trying to Bring Casinos and Gambling to Texas - Robb Report - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Gambling becomes the first big issue of the legislative session - WBHM - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- DraftKings, helplines, and the hidden toll of sports gambling - The Boston Globe - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- The Super Bowl and gambling are locked in a tight and dangerous embrace - The Guardian - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports gambling addictions on the rise due to online betting, experts warn ahead of Super Bowl LVIII - WLS-TV - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]