UFC Singapore: Nakamura vs Garcia Picks ("Hybrid" Stays Perfect)
Betting News has spent the week covering all of the UFC Singapore main card action. The next upcoming fight I’m taking a look at is an intriguing bantamweight showdown between the undefeated Rinya Nakamura and Fernie Garcia.
These bantamweights will do what they can to win this weekend considering that neither man is ranked at the moment. Nakamura also needs a victory to keep his flawless record intact while another loss could send Garcia packing.
While there’s a lot to take in ahead of this UFC Singapore showdown, Betting News has prepared the perfect Nakamura vs. Garcia preview that features the latest betting odds and my fight picks.
Nakamura vs Garcia Tale of the Tape
Rinya Nakamura — Fernie Garcia
- Record: 7-0 — 10-3
- Height: 5’7” — 5’7”
- Reach: 68” — 67”
- Weight: 135 lbs — 135 lbs
- Age: 28 — 31
- Fighting Stance: Southpaw — Orthodox
- Knockouts: 5 — 1
Nakamura vs Garcia Odds (as of Wednesday, August 23 at 9:26 a.m. via BetOnline)
Moneyline
- Rinya Nakamura (-800)
- Fernie Garcia (+550)
Will the Fight Go the Distance?
Round Total
- Over 2.5 Rounds (+230)
- Under 2.5 Rounds (-290)
Nakamura vs Garcia Fight Preview
All it takes is a glance at the Nakamura vs. Garcia odds on any sportsbook to see just how lopsided this fight could be. For example, BetOnline lists Nakamura as the clear-cut -800 favorite at UFC Singapore, which carries an implied win probability of 88.9%.
A former U23 World Champion in wrestling, Nakamura’s MMA career has been a joy to watch. After a 4-0 start in Japan, he made his North American debut on Road to UFC Season 1 as a competitor in the bantamweight tournament.
After easily finishing Gugun Gusman and Shohei Nose, Nakamura won the tournament by knocking Toshiomi Kazama out at UFC Vegas 68. What’s even more impressive is that Nakamura has won each of his first three UFC in the opening round, proving how dangerous of a finisher he is.
On the other hand, Garcia’s career isn’t going as planned at the moment.
The 31-year-old began his UFC journey in style, TKO’ing Joshua Weems on Dana White’s Contender Series 2021. Instead of capitalizing on that momentum, Garcia followed up the victory with back-to-back unanimous decision losses to Journey Newsom and Brady Hiestand.
In other words, the Dallas, Texas native can’t afford another loss this weekend.
It’s going to be tough for Garcia to bounce back, though. Nakamura is an absolute machine who lands 8.57 significant strikes per minute — over six more than Garcia — with 50% accuracy.
If that isn’t enough, Nakamura also averages 4.76 takedowns and 2.4 submissions per 15 minutes. While Garcia is a decent wrestler depending on the day, it’s clear that his upcoming opponent’s attack might be too much for him to handle.
UFC Singapore: Nakamura vs Garcia Betting Trends and Markets
Considering how lopsided the Nakamura vs. Garcia odds are, there isn’t much value on the moneyline unless you’re banking on an upset. Fortunately, BetOnline has a wide variety of markets with more desirable odds heading into UFC Singapore.
For instance, it’s likely that we’ll see some form of finish Saturday morning. Not only is BetOnline favoring that this matchup won’t go the distance (-325), but the sportsbook also favors the under on the 2.5-round total at -290 odds.
Assuming that we’re in for a quick bout, I’m far from surprised that Nakamura is favored to win by KO/TKO at -135 odds. Five of his seven all-time victories occurred thanks to a knockout, including his last two wins.
If you’re looking for even more value out of a Nakamura victory, you can also take him to win via first-round knockout at +215. Even though Garcia hasn’t been knocked out yet, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the favorite holds four first-round KO/TKO wins under his belt.
Speaking of Garcia, his likeliest victory method is winning by points at a distant +1100 odds. Although he owns a 6-3 career record when his fights go the distance, he’s also lost his last two outfights that ended in some form of decision.
Even if Garcia somehow survives the opposition’s onslaught, Nakamura is still the -700 favorite to win if the brawl goes the distance.
UFC Singapore: Nakamura vs Garcia Prediction & Picks
While chasing a big upset can be tempting, let’s not overthink things. Nakamura is a special fighter who’s proven to be lethal in the octagon. Garcia doesn’t look like he belongs in the UFC and will be left with a third consecutive loss once the smoke clears.
As far as the best bet goes, I like a first-round KO/TKO win for Nakamura (+215). After finishing his first opponents with ease, I fully expect that trend to continue this weekend against a demoralized Garcia. Nakamura’s barrage will prove to be too much before he ends the fight nearly as quickly as it started.
UFC Singapore FAQ
When is UFC Singapore?
UFC Singapore will take place on Saturday, August 26, 2023.
Where is UFC Singapore?
UFC Singapore will take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.
What time does UFC Singapore start?
- UFC Singapore Preliminary Card Start Time: 8 a.m. ET
- Start Time of UFC Singapore’s Main Card: 5 a.m. ET
How can I watch UFC Singapore?
The UFC Singapore main and preliminary cards can both be viewed on ESPN+ and the UFC Fight Pass.
How can I bet on UFC Singapore?
All of the top online sports betting sites will have UFC Singapore odds, but here are some of the sites we recommend most for MMA betting enthusiasts.
