UFC Fight Night: Duraev vs Park Picks and Predictions

After the hype of UFC 290, UFC Fight Night leaves a lot to be desired but our UFC expert believes there are markets ripe for the picking. Check out which markets he's attacking in this Duraev vs Park.

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Albert Duraev vs Junyong Park is the co-main event for UFC Fight Night betting on Saturday, July 15. This isn't the most exciting card of the year but at least this fight should be competitive with UFC odds opening with Park as a slim -138 favorite before growing to -172.

Here are my best free UFC Duraev vs. Park picks and predictions for July 15 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.  

Duraev vs Park fight odds

Duraev vs Park method of victory odds

Duraev vs Park picks

Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

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Duraev vs Park betting preview

Albert "The Machette" Duraev is coming off a split decision win against Chidi Njokuani in March. The Russian made it into Dana White's contender Series after putting together an eight-fight winning streak at ACB and he earned a UFC contract by submitting Caio Bitencourt in 2021. He has three fights in the promotion with a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley sandwiched between a pair of decision victories against Njokuani and Roman Kopylov.

With a combat sambo background, Duraev is a well-rounded fighter that uses pressure, powerful takedowns, and top control to grind down opponents. 

Junyong "The Iron Turtle" Park is on a three-fight winning streak with his last two victories coming by way of submission. Park was submitted by Fluffy Hernandez when he made his UFC debut in 2019 but since that lopsided defeat, he has gone 6-1 in the octagon. 

The 32-year-old combines good hand speed and crisp boxing with strong grappling ability.

Duraev vs Park tale of the tape

Duraev vs Park UFC prediction and best bet

Fight prediction: Duraev

Park's record of 6-1 in his last seven trips to the octagon certainly looks impressive but he's been a can crusher against a weak level of competition.

Duraev didn't look good against the outside striking of Njokuani but Park isn't as long or as dangerous with his striking and needs to get within boxing range to land his shots. At close range, Park isn't as defensively sound, doesn't have as much power as Duraev, and can be taken to the ground.

Once Duraev takes this fight to the mat on his terms his strength and top control should give him the edge against Park's jiu-jitsu. Keep in mind that in Park's five unanimous decision or stoppage wins in the UFC he racked up 14 takedowns and was taken down just once himself. In his two losses and his close split-decision victory against Eryk Anders, he was taken down 11 times and didn't manage a single takedown of his own.

If Duraev can overpower him in the grappling exchanges he should be able to grind out a victory here. 

Prediction: Duraev ML (+130 at DraftKings)

Fight best bet: To go the Distance

Duraev has been knocked out four times in his career but three of those times came very early on the regional circuit and Park doesn't have much finishing power. Sure, Park's last two wins came via submission but that says more about the low caliber of those opponents (Denis Tiuliulin and Joseph Holmes) than how good he is. 

Both of these guys are pretty comparable in terms of their fight style and overall quality which is why this line opened up so close. Expect these two to spend much of the bout trying to implement their wrestling which will drain time off the clock and end with the fight going the distance. 

Pick: Fight to go the distance - Yes (-115 at DraftKings)