UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 odds, predictions: MMA expert releases surprising fight card picks, bets
A title shot in the bantamweight division is likely at stake on Saturday for the winner of the UFC Fight Night main event between top contenders Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval. Their five-round battle tops the main UFC fight card starting at 10 p.m. ET from Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Coincidentally, the No. 1-ranked Moreno and No. 3-ranked Royval both saw their last performances result in title-shot losses to current champion Alexandre Pantoja. However, stalled negotiations against other contenders have increased the likelihood of Saturday's winner getting a rematch against Pantoja in his next fight.
Moreno is a -270 favorite (risk $270 to win $100), while Royval comes back at +220 in the latest UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 odds. In the co-main event, ranked bantamweight contenders meet as Yair Rodriguez (-165) takes on Brian Ortega (+135). Before making your picks for UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2, make sure you see the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Daniel Vithlani.
From breaking down film and following fighters and their camps closely, to tracking sharp action and betting market signals, Vithlani covers the breadth of the MMA betting landscape top to bottom. He also trains amateur boxers and speaks regularly with MMA fighters to understand the sport's nuances.
Vithlani made his SportsLine debut last January of last year and swept the main card for UFC 283 with a 5-0 record and has been a consistent winner ever since. At UFC 292 in August, he called the upset for underdog Sean O'Malley (+210) against Aljamain Sterling (-250) in the bantamweight championship main event. Anyone who has followed Vithlani already has seen massive returns.
Now, UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 in sight, Vithlani has studied the UFC card from top to bottom and released his top selections. You can only see those picks at SportsLine.
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 preview
The main event Saturday is a rematch, which is far more the rule than the exception in a division that has long suffered from a lack of world-class depth at the top. In fact, Moreno's memorable four-fight rivalry with former champion Deiveson Figueiredo is widely credited for saving a division that UFC president Dana White once openly considered eliminating.
Moreno (21-7-2) got the final say with a second-round stoppage last January of Figueiredo, who has since moved up to bantamweight. However, the 30-year-old Mexican fighter's second stint as flyweight champion was cut short by a razor-thin decision loss to Pantoja.
A similar rivalry could be brewing between Moreno and Royval. Their first meeting in November 2020 resulted in a first-round stoppage for Moreno with one second left in what had been a wild first round marked by both fighters coming close to finishes on multiple occasions.
Royval (15-7) is known for his versatility and blistering pace that forces opponents to dig deep if they intend to keep up. But following a three-fight winning streak that included two performance bonuses to earn his title shot, the 31-year-old Denver native gave a lackluster showing in his first title-fight appearance. You can only see who to pick at UFC Fight Night here.
UFC Fight Night predictions
We'll share one of Vithlani's UFC Fight Night selections here: He is siding with Raul Rosas Jr. (-260) to get past Ricky Turcios (+210) in a matchup of bantamweight prospects on the main card.
Rosas (8-1) made one of the most-hyped UFC debuts in the history of the promotion in December 2022 when he became the youngest fighter to ever appear in the promotion. He's still just 19 and has gone 2-1 in three outings. His last appearance resulted in a first-round stoppage of Terrence Mitchell last September.
Turcios (12-3) is a former Bellator and Fury FC fighter who has similarly posted a 2-1 mark in three UFC outings since joining the promotion in August 2021. The 30-year-old saw his last appearance result in a decision win over Kevin Natividad.
"Turcios takes too many chances and puts himself in compromising positions on the feet and on the ground. I believe Rosas will march forward, take Turcios down and take over the fight right away," Vithlani told SportsLine. See who to back here.
UFC Fight Night picks
Vithlani has strong picks for Moreno vs. Royval and other bouts on the UFC Fight Night card. He's also backing a fighter who "is one of the most dynamic strikers in MMA" to emerge with a dominant victory. Those picks are only available at SportsLine.
UFC Fight Night odds, fight card
See full UFC Fight Night picks, predictions, best bets here.Brandon Moreno (-270) vs. Brandon Royval (+220)Brian Ortega (+135) vs. Yair Rodriguez (-165)Daniel Zellhuber (-275) vs. Francisco Prado (+225)Raul Rosas (-260) vs. Ricky Turcios (+210)Yazmin Jaregui (-530) vs. Sam Hughes (+400)Raoni Barcelos (-175) vs. Christian Quinonez (+145)Edgar Chairez (-355) vs. Daniel Lacerda (+280)Fares Ziam (-220) vs. Claudio Puelles (+180)Muhammad Naimov (-330) vs. Erik Silva (+285)
Felipe Dos Santos (-295) vs. Victor Altamirano (+240)
