UFC Fight Night picks and predictions: Vettori vs. Cannonier
UFC Fight Night hits the APEX Center for another Saturday filled with fights.
Our UFC Vegas 75 picks will feature four full fight breakdowns, picks, and predictions for tonight’s card.
The card begins at 7 p.m. ET. on ESPN2 and switches over to the main card on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET.
UFC Fight Night picks and predictions
Marvin Vettori vs. Jared Cannonier
To pick against Marvin Vettori this weekend is to believe he’s on the back end of his career and is no longer an elite fighter in this division.
Vettori once went toe-to-toe with champion Israel Adesanya and had a solid showing against former champion Robert Whittaker.
He matches up with Jared Cannonier, a fighter I have been happy to bet on.
But this time, the better volume striker and grappler comes at a pick ’em price while defeating the better competition level.
Cannonier will obviously have the power advantage in striking exchanges, but his cardio is suspect, and Vettori should be able to push the pace in rounds three, four and five.
The pick is Vettori to win by decision, but the odds aren’t close to worth it based on some sketchy judges scoring over the past few weeks.
Bet this one to go to a decision at -166 on FanDuel.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Joaquim Silva
The biggest favorite on the card this weekend is the grappling-heavy Arman Tsarukyan (-1100) vs. “Netto BJJ” Silva (+675).
Tsarukyan will have a significant reach advantage and should be pushing forward throughout the fight as Silva looks to avoid being out-grappled.
Typically Silva invites grappling, but in this fight, he will be the worst grappler, which is why oddsmakers believe that Tsarukyan will finish this one in the first round (-110 to win in round one).
Oddsmakers essentially forsee Silva will try his luck grappling and won’t get back up.
All of that is possible, but Tsarukyan has never been one to easily finish fighters in the first round.
In fact, he only has one first-round finish in his last 12 fights since 2017.
He lacks the knockout power and killer instinct to get opponents out in general.
-105 (PointsBet) to hit round two feels like a gift, and +310 (FanDuel) to go to a decision is an auto-bet for a guy that has been to two straight decisions and six of his last eight.
Anything is possible in this game, so bet responsibly.
Raoni Barcelos vs. Miles Johns
Are we sure Raoni Barcelos is an elite fighter?
The odds seem to suggest a lot of love for the Brazilian fighter, who was once a -600 to Victor Henry and has been favored against everyone without the last name Nurmagomedov in his UFC career.
Barcelos still gets respect from bettors and oddsmakers, even against a solid all-around fighter in Miles Johns.
This one should mostly play out on the feet, where Johns will have a reach disadvantage and does stand heavy on his front foot.
Barcelos will use plenty of kicks to attempt to get Johns moving a bit more and cut his mobility.
Bet this one to hit the third round at -200 or better, a widely available line at BetMGM.
If you believe Johns will wrestle Barcelos this weekend, he’s worth a bet by decision at +370 on BetRivers.
Armen Petrosyan vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
Former basketball prospect Christian Leroy Duncan looks to keep his undefeated record going as a major prospect from the United Kingdom.
Duncan played JUCO college basketball and doesn’t have tons of film out there, but has excellent feints and kicks that will be interesting to see grow in the UFC.
His next opponent will be tough, as Armen Petrosyan is a very solid striker.
Petrosyan was impressively able to strike with Gregory Rodriguez earlier in his career to a split-decision win.
If Duncan is able to win this one, he could be headed for superstardom.
But laying juice on a total unknown isn’t going to happen here.
Back Petrosyan at dog odds this weekend, with +135 the best odds at Caesars at the time of writing.
