UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 odds, predictions: MMA expert reveals surprising fight card picks, bets
Former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will attempt to position himself for another title shot by facing fellow ranked contender Brandon Royval on Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2. Their five-round battle anchors the main UFC fight card starting at 10 p.m. ET from Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The winner between the top-ranked Moreno and No. 3-ranked Royval will likely become the front-runner for the next title shot in a clustered division. Champion Alexandre Pantoja, who took the belt from Moreno last July, doesn't currently have a fight booked. Royval lost in his title bid against Pantoja in December, but could be in line for a rematch if he prevails Saturday.
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 Christian Quinonez (+145) to pull the upset of Raoni Barcelos (-175) in a bantamweight matchup on the preliminary card.
Barcelos (17-5) is a six-year UFC veteran and former ranked contender who is known for his punching power. However, the 36-year-old Brazilian has lost four of his past five and is coming off a decision loss to Kyler Phillips last August.
Quinonez (18-4) is a "Dana White Contender Series" alum who has split his first two fights with the promotion. The 27-year-old Mexican fighter suffered a submission loss to Kyung Ho Kang last June.
"If this fight stays standing, Quinonez should hold the advantage with his speed. He can stick and move with his jab, right hand, and thudding low kicks to score points from the outside," 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)
