UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Spivak Predictions & Odds (Sep. 2)

Two former UFC world champions are headlining the card at UFC Fight Night 226, but oddsmakers are projecting different outcomes as each looks to get their careers heading back in a positive direction.

One-time interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane is a -160 favorite in his bout against Sergey Spivak. However, Rose Namajunas, who lost the women’s strawweight title in her last bout, is a -155 underdog facing Manon Fioriot as she’s shifting weight classes into flyweight. Both Gane and Namajunas lost title bouts in their previous fights.

All of the action gets underway at 12:00pm eastern time on Saturday, September 2, and is streaming on ESPN+. UFC Fight Night 226 is taking place at the Accor Arena in Paris, France.

UFC Fight Night 226 Odds

Five bouts on the UFC Fight Night 226 card are showing favorites with odds of -300 or longer. On the other hand, the women’s bantamweight bout between Nora Cornolle and Joselyne Edwards is a pick ’em, with both fighters assigned a betting line of -110.

Odds as of August 29th at Caesars. Use the Caesars promo code to wager on UFC Fight Night 226 and check out Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky if you live in KY. 

Gane vs Spivak Pick

Born in France, Gane (11-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) still calls the country home and a little taste of home has worked to get his career cooking in the past. Following his first career loss to Francis Ngannou in a heavyweight title bout at UFC 270, Gane headlined the first UFC Fight Night card ever staged in his homeland. He delivered a third-round knockout of Tai Tuivasa.

Now, coming off a loss to Jones via first-round guillotine choke submission, Gane is again trying to forget failure in Paris. Gane was embarrassed by Jones and he’ll be looking to make Spivak pay for that.

Moldovan Spivak (16-3, 7-3 UFC) is the #7 UFC heavyweight contender. He’s won this last three bouts all by stoppages – knockouts of Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai and an arm-triangle choke submission of Derrick Lewis.

Gane, though, is the more well-rounded fighter of the two. He’s also carrying a significant reach and size advantage. Spivak will be looking to deliver a knockout or submission like Jones and Ngannou did. Gane’s best bet is to keep the fight vertical, because Spivak is deadly once the fight goes to ground.

Expect an exciting bout, with Gane earning a close hometown decision.

Gane vs Spivak Pick: Ciryl Gane (-160)

Fiorot vs Namajunas Prediction

At 31, two-time UFC strawweight champ Namajunas (11-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) is making the decision to move up in weight class. Has she bitten off more than she can chew in Fiorot (10-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC), unbeaten since joining UFC?

The 33-year-old from France has won 10 in a row since dropping her pro debut. In her last three fights, Fiorot has beaten Katyln Chookagian, Jennifer Maia and Mayra Bueno Silva, all via unanimous decision.

Both of these fighters are punishing strikers. It’s been difficult to gauge the caliber of Fiorot’s ground game, since no one’s had much success getting her off her feet. Namajunas could be the fighter capable of making that happen. She’s an outstanding grappler who’s fought all of the best in her class.

Namajunas hasn’t been in the octagon in a year since losing her title to Carla Esparza. If her head’s on straight, Rose will rise to the occasion.

Fiorot vs Namajunas Pick: Rose Namajunas (+155)

• Benoit Saint-Denis over Thiago Moises (-160). Saint-Denis extends his win streak to four bouts fighting on home soil
• Volkan Oezdemir to defeat Bogdan Guskov (-180). Oezdemir is on the downside of his career but his experience will carry the day here
• Nora Cornolle to defeat Joselyne Edwards (-110). Making her UFC debut, Cornolle has won six straight, all by stoppage