Jackson Sedivy
It’s Saturday, you know what that means. The UFC is back and LIVE on PPV tonight starting at 6:30 PM. UFC 260 originally promised us 2 title fights, unfortunately the Featherweight Title Fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega has been postponed to a later date because of COVID protocols. Fortunately we still have the big boys holding down the main event. Miocic/Ngannou 2, a rematch almost 3 years in the making. Franic Ngannou gets another chance at gold against the same man who took him down in a 5 round war. Should be a great rematch. Not only is there Miocic/Ngannou, but we also have former champ Tyron Woodley essentially fighting for his UFC career in the co-main event against Vicente Luque. Not only that, but the “Sugar Show” graces us with his presence and his whacky hair as Sean O’Malley makes his return off of his first loss of his career against Thomas Almeida.
Without further ado lets get to the fights.
The extended fight odds:
The Picks:
FIGHTS
EARLY PRELIMS- BEGIN @ 6:30 PM CT
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Here are the best bets today…
Marc-André Barriault 11-4, 1 NC (-120) vs. Abu Azaitar 14-2-1 (+110)
PICK: Abu Azaitar (+110) – Two guys who have had their fair share of trouble with USADA make their returns to the octogon to fight for their rights to keep fighting in the UFC. Give me Abu Azaitar even though he’s older and undersized. Betting on the pedigree of the Fighting Azaitar Brothers.
PRELIMS- 7 PM CT START
MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT
Shane Young 13-5 (+180) vs. Omar Morales 10-1 (-195)
PICK: Omar Morales (-195) – I just like Omar Morales’ ability to hang better than I do Young’s I’m riding Morales on that and the experience alone.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (205 LBS.)
Modestas Bukauskas 11-3 (+157) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk 14-4, 1 NC (-167)
PICK: Michal Oleksiejczuk (-167) – Bukauskas doesn’t have a single physical edge on Oleksiejczuk besides Height, Reach, and Cardio. Michal should be able to outskill at some point to get the finish.
WELTERWEIGHT
Jared Gooden 17-5 (+210) vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov 15-3-1 (-230)
PICK: Jared Gooden (+210) – Close fight, I just like the striking and the ability to keep the fight at distance for Gooden to get the upset victory.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Alonzo Menifield 9-2 (-300) vs. Fabio Cherant 7-1 (+270)
PICK: Alonzo Menifield (-300) – Menifield is much more talented and experienced than Cherant. Menifield usually comes out guns blazin’, if Cherant can withstand the firepower maybe he hangs and gets a lucky win. I just don’t see it.
MAIN CARD- 9 PM CT PPV START
LIGHTWEIGHT
Jamie Mullarkey 12-4 (+115) vs. Khama Worthy 16-7 (-125)
PICK: Jamie Mullarkey (+115) – This should be a perfect way to start the PPV card. Two guys who fight at really high pace. Both of these guys have extremely deep resumes, both having fought top level UFC fighters. Mullarkey just needs this win more and I’m betting that he edges out Worthy in an absolute brawl.
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT
Gillian Robertson 9-5 (+145) vs. Miranda Maverick 10-2 (-155)
PICK: Miranda Maverick (-155) – Finally this fight takes place, I picked Maverick last time this fight was supposed to happen, I’m sticking to my guns.
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT
Sean O’Malley 12-1 (-305) vs. Thomas Almeida 22-4 (+275)
PICK: Sean O’Malley (-305) – I really wanted to take Thomas Almeida in this fight, I absolutely love the value against O’Malley who is coming off an absolute beating. I just believe in Sean O’Malley. I believe that an injured leg led to him losing the Marlon “Chito” Vera fight. I think O’Malley gets back on track here and so does Vegas.
WELTERWEIGHT CO-MAIN
Tyron Woodley 19-6-1 (+210) vs. Vicente Luque 19-7-1 (-230)
PICK: Vicente Luque (-230) – Woodley is fighting for his UFC career here. Maybe he still has something left in the tank, I’m just not so sure it’s at this level. Vincente Luque is an absolute beast and this fight wont be a walk in the park. I don’t think Woodley has enough left to get this W.
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MAIN EVENT
Stipe Miocic 20-3 (+122) vs. Francis Ngannou 15-3 (-132)
PICK: Stipe Miocic (+122) – I know Ngannou is extremely dangerous and maybe I’ll be kicking myself later for making this pick. Ngannou really only needs to land one good shot and it’s over, I just think that Stipe has the blueprint to beat Ngannou and Francis hasn’t really shown much improvement, just highlights, since the last fight. Give me Stipe to get carried out on a stretcher with the title over his shoulder.
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