UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland Fight Card Odds and Picks

Last Updated on September 6, 2023 4:03 pm by Erwin Noguera

The Qudos Bank Arena will be the venue to host the next UFC numbered event, 293, so we are taking the trip to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to see the Middleweight championship being placed on the line, along with a banger fight card to go along with the bout.

This event will be headlined by ‘The Last Stylebender’, Israel Adesanya, who is making a title defense against the American challenger, Sean Strickland to see who is the best man in the 185 pounds division.

The Co-main event gets a Heavyweight clash between Tai Tuivasa and Alexander Volkov, which should be a barnburner as both fighters are finishers. We also get a clash between Manel Kape and the undefeated debutant Felipe Dos Santos.

For this event, we get 12 exciting fights, which means that as usual for a numbered event, 5 of them are in the main card and the other 7 are spread around the Prelims.

With a lot of talent on the board, we are expecting the crowd to be more than simply excited, as there are 6 local fighters on the card! (If we include New Zeland on it)

You can check all the UFC/MMA bets, the analysis of each fighter, and the final bet you can make in these fights.

UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland Fight Card Odds and Picks – Info

When:

Saturday, September 9th, at 6:30 pm ET

Moneyline odds:

Israel Adesanya -666 / Sean Strickland +430

Tai Tuivasa +181 / Alexander Volkov -238

Manel Kape -400 / Felipe dos Santos +280

Justin Tafa -232 / Austen Lane +179

Tyson Pedro -106 / Anton Turkalj -120

Carlos Ulberg -285 / Da Un Jung +212

Jack Jenkins -217 / Chepe Mariscal +167

Jamie Mullarkey -263 / John Makdessi +196

Nasrat Haqparast -476 / Landon Quiñones +331

Blood Diamond +226 / Charlie Radtke -303

Shane Young -178 / Gabriel Miranda +140

Kevin Jousset -156 / Kiefer Crosbie +123

Where can I watch it?

UFC Fight Pass

UFC 293: Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland

Why Bet on Israel Adesanya?

Adesanya has undeniably etched his name in the company’s history as one of its most exceptional fighters. He stands among the absolute best, fresh off his iconic victory against Alex Periera at UFC 287.

Adesanya looked back to his best in his win over Pereira in April and managed to climb over a pretty sizeable mental hurdle in the process.

Why Bet on Sean Strickland?

‘Stillknocks’ became only the second man, after Adesanya, to beat former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker earlier this year, knocking him out in stunning fashion.

‘Tarzan’ is a big 185lber, he boasts a good reach of 76”, he can sit behind his jab nicely, and he’s also a solid fighter in the clinch and on the ground should the fight hit there.

However, he has a dangerous tendency to hold his chin too high and often drops his hands worryingly low too.

Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland Betting Analysis:

The promotion wanted Adesanya to headline this weekend and du Plessis simply wasn’t ready, and so Sean Strickland has been pushed into the spot instead.

In all honesty, this isn’t a bad fight by any means. Strickland is currently on a two-fight win streak and looked good in dispatching Abus Magomedov in July.

Overall, barring a freak occurrence, it’s hard to imagine Strickland doing anything to put Adesanya in danger here. It’s more likely that ‘The Last Stylebender’ takes a round to warm up before dispatching his challenger in the second.

UFC 293: Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov

Why Bet on Tai Tuivasa?

If you think heart wins fights, then toss a unit on “Bam Bam,” a portly power puncher who brings all kinds of chaotic energy into the Octagon. Tuivasa surprises his opponents with his strength — both on punches and low kicks — and has won seven of his eight UFC fights by KO/TKO.

Tuivasa’s defense is suspect, but he could easily score an underdog KO.

Why Bet on Alexander Volkov?

With a five-inch advantage in both height and reach over Tuivasa, Volkov can do some damage. The Russian’s leg reach will loom large, too, as we can expect him to devastate any opponent’s midsection with front kicks.

Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov Betting Analysis:

Volkov isn’t an elite fighter, but he’s composed and accurate — the antithesis of Tuivasa’s game plan. The size differential would freak out any Tuivasa backer, too.

We like Tuivasa and I’ll give him massive credit for prioritizing entertainment over his win-loss record. We just don’t think Volkov sees it that way. Drago, much like his Russian brethre Sergei Pavlovich, should come out of the gates on a mission.

UFC 293: Manel Kape vs. Felipe dos Santos

Why Bet on Manel Kape?

‘Starboy’ is compact, powerful, and capable of a dynamic knockout while also possessing the cardio to secure a decision win.

He is quite a skilled fighter and coming in from a 3 fights winning streak, he is looking sharp and ready to go at his next shot after a streak of canceled fights against top contenders in recent months.

Why Bet on Felipe dos Santos?

The 22-year-old was originally scheduled to fight on Dana White’s Contender Series before that fight got nixed. Now he’ll be thrust into a massive spotlight on a UFC pay-per-view.

‘Lipe Detona’ trains with Chute Boxe in Brazil, home of former UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira, so it’s not unreasonable to draw similarities. We imagine he’s got some chaotic spirit to him, but his opponent is a warrior in his own right.

Manel Kape vs. Felipe dos Santos Betting Analysis:

Honestly, we just don’t know enough about Dos Santos. We’ve watched a bit of tape — the kid is lean, quick, and strong off his back — but we might be steering clear.

Against a UFC newcomer, Kape has enough experience to win inside the distance. As I said, dos Santos is creative and comfortable in the cage, but he’s way too lean to withstand even 15 minutes of Kape’s punishment.

UFC 293: Justin Tafa vs. Austen Lane

Why Bet on Justin Tafa?

Justin Tafa (6-3) is a former rugby player who turned to kickboxing before making mixed martial arts his full-time gig. Combat sports have been in his family his whole life as his grandfather was a national boxing champion and his brother Junior Tafa is a current UFC heavyweight alongside him.

Tafa is coming off back-to-back wins for the first time in his UFC career and will be looking to make it three in a row this Saturday.

Why Bet on Austen Lane?

Austen Lane (12-3) is a former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end who turned mixed martial artist. He is a towering heavyweight contender that has knockout power as he has showcased in 11 of his 12 wins.

He will be making his UFC debut against his toughest adversary to date Justin Tafa this weekend.

Justin Tafa vs. Austen Lane Betting Analysis:

It took two tries but Austen Lane finally got the contract that he deserved after his second stint on the Contender Series. He knocked out Richard Jacobi in the first round which solidified his roster spot in the UFC. He was scheduled to fight Justin Tafa’s brother Junior Tafa but he had to withdraw due to injury.

Fast forward four months later, Lane now gets to make his promotional debut against another Tafa brother.

Lane is large for the division and has one-punch knockout power which will have to come in handy against another power puncher like Justin Tafa.

UFC 293: Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj

Why Bet on Tyson Pedro?

Pedro is an Australian mixed martial artist with a professional MMA record of 9-4 with four TKO/KOs and five submissions at the age of 31. He trains out of the great City Kickboxing gym in New Zealand with some of the best fighters in the world, including the headliner of this card Israel Adesanya.

Pedro has had a long UFC career, even though he missed three years due to a reconstruction surgery on his knee and the pandemic.

Why Bet on Anton Turkalj?

Turkalj is a Swedish mixed martial artist with a professional record of 8-2 with five KO/TKOs and two submissions under his belt at only the age of 27.

His first two losses have been his last two appearances in the UFC, meaning this upcoming bout is massive for his career–sometimes, the situation in an athlete’s career makes a big difference when making UFC picks.

“The Pleasure Man” brings a lot of confidence and an interesting personality to the UFC if he starts to put out winning performances.

Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj Betting Analysis:

This is an interesting matchup between a battle-tested veteran of the sport with a great team against a very talented young fighter who has the potential to be a very good fighter in the UFC.

Pedro is going to have an advantage with the event being on home soil and having all that support. He also has shared the cage with the likes of Shogun Rua and Ovince St. Preux.

Turkalj is an interesting character in this matchup because he usually has a slight edge over opponents due to his confidence and self-belief, but after losing two fights in a row, his mentality might be slightly different heading into this one.

We are expecting Pedro to get his hands raised at the end of this clash.

UFC 293: Carlos Ulberg vs. Da Un Jung

Why Bet on Carlos Ulberg?

After smashing his way past Bruno Oliveira on Contender Series, Carlos Ulberg (9-1) crashed back to Earth in his “Fight of the Night”-winning Octagon debut, which saw Kennedy Nzechukwu survive early trouble to stop ‘Black Jag’ in the second.

He’s since found his stride with four straight wins, the most recent of which earned him “Performance of the Night.” He’s also knocked out three opponents in a row and six overall.

Why Bet on Da Un Jung?

Da Un Jung (15-4-1) capped off his 4-0-1 UFC start with a violent knockout of the aforementioned Nzechukwu. That proved to be his last win since 2021, as he subsequently suffered back-to-back losses to Dustin Jacoby and Devin Clark.

Carlos Ulberg vs. Da Un Jung Betting Analysis:

Ulberg has violently knocked out three consecutive lumbering sluggers and all signs point to finish No. 4. Jung has never been a technical wiz on the feet, as seen when he struggled with Sam Alvey of all people. He’s made up for it with power and sheer physicality, but Ulberg has seemingly advanced past the point where that combination poses a threat.

All Jung has going for him in this matchup is reach, which Ulberg has admittedly struggled with before. Again, though, Ulberg’s growth in the Octagon makes it hard to imagine him falling victim to a rudimentary slugger. In the end, that check hook claims yet another victim in the opening minutes.

UFC 293: Jack Jenkins vs. Chepe Mariscal

Why Bet on Jack Jenkins?

Jack Jenkins (12-2) — a former Eternal MMA champ — secured his Octagon berth by beating down Freddy Emiliano Linares on Contender Series.

‘Phar’ currently sits at 2-0 in the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion after warring his way past Don Shainis and narrowly edging out Jamall Emmers.

His professional stoppage wins are split 5:3 between knockouts and submissions.

Why Bet on Chepe Mariscal?

Jose Mariscal (14-6) bounced back from a 1-3 skid with three consecutive knockouts. His success carried him to the Octagon, where he overpowered Trevor Peek in a “Fight of the Night”-worthy slugfest.

Jack Jenkins vs. Chepe Mariscal Betting Analysis:

As someone who sang Jenkins’ praises ahead of his UFC debut, he did not win that Emmers fight. Luckily for him, ‘Chepe’ doesn’t have the length or wrestling skills that ‘Pretty Boy’ used to give Jenkins hell.

Mariscal’s takedowns aren’t sufficiently stout to get through Jenkins’ defensive grappling and his striking, though powerful, pales in comparison to Jenkins’ razor-sharp boxing.

We underestimated Mariscal going into the Peek fight, but Jenkins’ technical supremacy will be a much tougher puzzle to solve than Peek’s raw brutality. In short, Jenkins pieces him up as a “Fight of the Night” candidate.

UFC 293: Jamie Mullarkey vs. John Makdessi

Why Bet on Jamie Mullarkey?

Jamie Mullarkey (16-6) started his UFC career winless (0-2) before winning four of his next five, including a “Fight of the Night” battle with Michael Johnson. Then came late replacement Muhammad Naimov, whom Mullarkey seemingly had on the ropes before running headlong into a fight-ending counter.

His 13 professional finishes include 10 by knockout.

Why Bet on John Makdessi?

John Makdessi (18-8) — reeling from a 2-4 skid — quietly worked his way back into the Lightweight discussion with three straight victories. He’s since dropped two of three, an upset of Ignacio Bahamondes sandwiched between losses to Francisco Trinaldo and Nasrat Haqparast.

“The Bull” fights for the first time in one year and for just the second time in the last 2.5.

Jamie Mullarkey vs. John Makdessi Betting Analysis:

This should be a clear Mullarkey win on paper. That’s because the last time Makdessi fought a physical pressure fighter, Francisco Trinaldo bullied him from bell to bell.

The thing is, Mullarkey just can’t seem to find his footing. He came off as a versatile and indestructible stalker, but he’s been knocked out twice in his last four fights and was extremely fortunate to walk away with the decision against Michael Johnson, who seemed like easy pickings for Mullarkey’s style.

We recognize that Makdessi has one win over a current member of UFC’s roster and hasn’t scored a knockout since the Obama administration. He still acquitted himself well against Haqparast, while Mullarkey got slumped by a Featherweight. In other words, we have a gut feeling Makdessi’s sharper hands eke out a decision.

UFC 293: Nasrat Haqparast vs. Landon Quiñones

Why Bet on Nasrat Haqparast?

The 5-1 run for Nasrat Haqparast(14-5) came to a screeching halt thanks to back-to-back losses against Dan Hooker and Bobby Green. He managed to get back on track last time out against John Makdessi, ending a five-fight knockdown drought in the process.

This marks his first bout in one year.

Why Bet on Landon Quiñones?

Landon Quinones (7-1-1) returned from injury to win and defend Titan FC’s Lightweight title with back-to-back knockouts.

His success earned him a spot on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 31, where he succumbed to a Jason Knight triangle less than one minute into the first round.

Nasrat Haqparast vs. Landon Quiñones Betting Analysis:

We genuinely think Quinones is much better than he showed against Knight. He’s a lethal pressure fighter with clean hands, sharp kicks, and a ridiculous gas tank. Haqparast has had his share of duds since the Drew Dober debacle and has struggled with high-output strikers before.

In short, if Haqparast is still stuck in his rut, Quinones has the skills to win this.

We just keep circling back to the range issue. Quinones doesn’t manage distance as well as Green does. For example, he’ll linger inside at times, which got him clipped two fights back.

Even if Haqparast isn’t the bulldozer he was at the start of his UFC tenure, he’s still a venomous puncher who’s sharp on the counter. Expect him to put Quinones on his seat at least once, neutralizing Quinones’ pressure with consistent and powerful counter lefts en route to either an early stoppage or a decision win.

UFC 293: Blood Diamond vs. Charlie Radtke

Why Bet on Blood Diamond?

Mike Mathetha (3-2) — the man they call “Blood Diamond” — went 51-14 in the kickboxing ring before turning his full attention to MMA. He’s still chasing his first UFC win after falling to Jeremiah Wells and Orion Cosce.

Why Bet on Charlie Radtke?

Once a 3-3 Lightweight, Charlie Radtke (7-3) breathed new life into his career by moving up to 170 pounds. His last win was his biggest to date, as he choked out undefeated Raheem Forest to claim CFFC gold.

The win marked his fifth professional finish and second via submission.

Blood Diamond vs. Charlie Radtke Betting Analysis:

This is Mathetha’s most winnable UFC matchup to date just by Radtke being a striker. Still, it’s hard to have much faith in City Kickboxing’s red-headed stepchild — We’d never pegged his style as a good fit for mixed martial arts and his recent efforts have done little to convince me that I was wrong.

Radtke’s power makes him a threat to Mathetha on the feet. And while he’s not much of a takedown artist, he is a very adept scrambler who could make Mathetha’s life hell if he decides to take it south. Even if it does stay standing, Mathetha’s inability to put away a half-dead Cosce makes us think Radtke can hold his own. Indeed, Radtke overpowers him somewhere around the midway point.

UFC 293: Shane Young vs. Gabriel Miranda

Why Bet on Shane Young?

Back-to-back wins over Rolando Dy and Austin Arnett put Shane Young’s (13-7) loss to Alexander Volkanovski in the rearview mirror and upped his record to 7-1 in his previous eight. He now finds himself winless in four years after falling to Ludovit Klein, Omar Morales, and Blake Bilder.

Why Bet on Gabriel Miranda?

‘Fly’ — winner of seven of his previous eight — moved up in weight on short notice to battle Benoit Saint-Denis in his UFC debut. Though he showed admirable heart, he succumbed to ‘God of War’s’ power early in the second round.

All of his professional wins have come inside the distance, 15 of them via submission.

Shane Young vs. Gabriel Miranda Betting Analysis:

Miranda was never going to beat Saint-Denis — his submission skills were a non-factor against a much larger and more powerful wrestler. This, on the other hand, looks a fair bit more winnable.

Young had zero snap in his punches against the very hittable Bilder and his wrestling has let him down before, suggesting that Miranda can take things to the mat without fear of another battering.

At this point in Young’s career, he just seems like he doesn’t have it. Beating two of the worst fighters on UFC’s roster and showing little life in his four defeats doesn’t give us hope for his future. Miranda got torched himself last time out, but there were enough extenuating circumstances and he’s skilled enough in his wheelhouse to earn our nod.

UFC 293: Kevin Jousset vs. Kiefer Crosbie

Why Bet on Kevin Jousset?

City Kickboxing’s Kevin Jousset (8-2) claimed Middleweight gold in the Hex Fight Series by outlasting Priscus Fogagnolo. Three months later, he dropped back down to 170 pounds, where he pounded out Kitt Campbell to claim the promotion’s Welterweight title as well.

Why Bet on Kiefer Crosbie?

Kiefer Crosbie (10-3) — fighting out of SBG — ended his three-year Bellator run at 4-3 in the promotion. After bouncing back with a quick finish of the hopelessly overmatched Brian Lo-A-Njoe, he claimed his biggest scalp to date by brutalizing Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira in April 2023.

He’s knocked out five professional opponents and submitted two others.

Kevin Jousset vs. Kiefer Crosbie Betting Analysis:

This goes one of two ways. If the Aussie crowd gets what they want, Jousset will use his size and grappling advantages to dump Crosbie to the mat and pound him into submission. If not, Crosbie will use his speed and power to exploit Jousset’s key weakness: people just walking up to him and throwing 100 punches at his face.

In all seriousness, it’s a question of whether Jousset can tie up Crosbie before the former’s lack of speed and head movement earn him a fight-ending flurry to the dome. We’ll be optimistic and say, “Yes.” That’s because after watching Crosbie fall apart against Charlie Leary and Georgi Karakhanyan, there is more faith in Jousset’s ability to fight through adversity than in Crosbie’s. In the end, he ground-and-pounds his way to victory.