UFC Fight Night: Kara-France vs. Albazi Fight Card Odds and Picks

Last Updated on June 1, 2023 9:24 pm by Erwin Noguera

After a break, the UFC Fight Night is back to kick off the Month of June with a banger main event in the Flyweight Division, as one of the top contenders faces off against a rising talent who could be challenging for the title pretty soon.

This event will be taking place in the UFC Apex, in Las Vegas Nevada, and will be showcasing 13 bouts for an exciting event of 6 main card fights and 7 prelims to start the showcase.

We are not only getting an exciting main event fight with Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi, but we have an exciting Co-Main event with Alex Caceres clashing with Daniel Pineda in the featherweight division.

We also get clashes with Seasoned fighters, as Jim Miller faces Jared Gordon, and Tim Elliot goes against Victor Altamirano.

The Prelims will also showcase some exciting talented fighters who are trying to make their way to the contender spots, along with other seasoned veterans, like Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski, who comes in for his 56th MMA Fight, and his 40th clash in the UFC Octagon.

We have a lot to cover on what is an exciting event, so let’s get ready to break down what will be taking place this Saturday afternoon.

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

UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida Betting Odds and Fight Card Picks – Info

When:

Saturday, June 3rd, at 6:00 pm ET at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada

Moneyline odds:

Kai Kara-France -112 / Amir Albazi -112

Alex Caceres -178 / Daniel Pineda +139

Jim Miller +146 / Jared Gordon -188

Tim Elliott -185 / Victor Altamirano +143

Karine Silva -232 / Ketlen Souza +176

Jamie Mullarkey -454 / Muhammadjon Naimov +318

Elizeu Zaleski -112 / Abubakar Nurmagomedov -112

John Castañeda -133 / Muin Gafurov +104

Andrei Arlovski +103 / Don’Tale Mayes -131

Daniel Santos -222 / Johnny Munoz Jr. +169

Jinh Yu Frey +108 / Elise Reed -136

Luan Lacerda -142 / Da’Mon Blackshear +111

Maxim Grishin -138 / Philipe Lins +109

Where can I watch it?

UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night: Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi

Why Bet on Kai Kara-France?

Kara-France is now 30 years old and in the middle of his fighting prime. Trying to remain on top of the flyweight division, with a record of 24-10 with 14 finishes under his belt, he has all the experience he needs to be where he wants to be right now.

On top of impressive striking numbers, Kara-France holds a very solid 87% takedown defense in his UFC career thus far.

Why Bet on Amir Albazi?

Albazi is a 29-year-old with an impressive record of 16-1 with 14 finishes. He is currently 4-0 in the UFC, with three of those wins coming via KO or TKO.

He has power in his hands and submission skills on the ground. As a newcomer to these types of big fights, this is an opportunity for him to put his name on the map and possibly even get the next title shot.

Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi Final Betting Analysis:

This fight is truly a pick ‘em bet, but we are going for Kai Kara-France to go and get his hand raised. His team at City Kickboxing in New Zealand, along with Eugene Bareman as head coach, is going to give him a slight edge.

He is going to be prepared and will be able to make better adjustments over 25 minutes on Saturday night. If Albazi wins, it will be a flash knockdown and submission or ground-and-pound finish. But we truly think that Kara-France will grind out a decision or even a 5th round finish.

UFC Fight Night: Alex Caceres vs. Daniel Pineda

Why Bet on Alex Caceres?

“Bruce Leeroy” is not only just one of the best nicknames in combat sports but it is also earned by Caceres every time he steps foot in the octagon. His traditional martial arts skills, paired with his wacky style, makes for him to be a fan-favorite to watch.

Caceres has seemed to be a staple in this UFC APEX era of Fight Night events. He is coming into this weekend with a 20-13 record in his professional career, has 11 finishes, and has been finished eight times in his career. The last time being finished was by Kron Gracie via rear-naked choke.

Why Bet on Daniel Pineda?

Pineda is also a veteran of MMA, much like his dance partner this weekend. He has a 28-14 record over multiple tenures at major organizations.

The 37-year-old has made a nice career by being consistent and winning fights over the last 15 years, again, much like Caceres. There shouldn’t be secrets about Pineda’s plan of attack.

Alex Caceres vs. Daniel Pineda Final Betting Analysis:

Caceres has been known to be vulnerable with submissions on the ground. However, you can make a case that he is fighting as well as he ever has, as he has won six of his last seven fights, including a first-round stoppage win over Julian Erosa.

He could move up in the Top 15 of the featherweight rankings with a win in this bout, as he has the advantage in almost all areas in this fight. He lands more strikes, is more accurate, has better defense and he is solid in defending takedowns.

We know that Pineda is going to try to get this fight to the mat, but that may not be easy against Bruce Leeroy.

UFC Fight Night: Jim Miller vs. Jared Gordon

Why Bet on Jim Miller?

Miller is a UFC legend. He holds multiple records for longevity and even at 39 years of age, he proved in February that he can fight hard for three full rounds. A Southpaw jiu-jitsu ace, he has good power and is always a threat with sudden submissions.

Why Bet on Jared Gordon?

Historically, Gordon is a grinder, a straightforward wrestler that looks to wear opponents down and win the battle of wills. However, his last few fights have seen him refine his boxing and counterpunching, which has increasingly become a strength for “Flash.”

Jim Miller vs. Jared Gordon Final Betting Analysis:

On one hand, Gordon’s boxing and wrestling seem poised to outwork Miller, who tends to struggle on the scorecards when the finish doesn’t materialize. The first isn’t the easiest to submit, either, as top-tier grappler Joe Solecki discovered in their three-round scrap.

Conversely, Gordon was KNOCKED HELL OUT less than two months ago. Even if the loss of consciousness came from a head butt, that’s still major damage! It doesn’t seem possible to us that he can fully recover from that incident and had time to train for this fight. So, he either trained through some nasty brain trauma or enters this fight unprepared — two bad options. Maybe his performance is unaffected, but Miller cracks hard enough to test him.

UFC Fight Night: Tim Elliott vs. Victor Altamirano

Why Bet on Tim Elliott?

Elliott is an offensive machine, but his pace is always set and kicked up to 11. There’s no one older than him, who occasionally shows his brilliance with multi-level combinations and frustrating top control. Tim’s bizarre style has seen him defeat excellent fighters and earn a UFC title shot, and it’s aided by his significant size at 125 lbs.

Why Bet on Victor Altamirano?

Altamirano wins fights by being off-kilter with his offense. He’s got that awkward Keith Jardine shuffle timing thing going on, but more to the point, he’s able to out-scramble and outlast his opposition. He, however, goes to life-and-death decisions with opponents who most fight fans cannot remember, and at 32 years of age, it’s not like he’s a young prospect we should be expecting to suddenly elevate his game.

Tim Elliott vs. Victor Altamirano Final Betting Analysis:

This feels like pitting the original vs. the offshoot. Now, the caveats that Elliott is 36 himself and does occasionally just fall into submissions should be considered. It’s not a lock by any means, but we expect him to soundly outwrestle his Kirkland Signature variant.

UFC Fight Night: Karine Silva vs. Ketlen Souza

Why Bet on Karine Silva?

Silva is a real-deal finisher. She’s athletic on the feet and has big power in her punches, two factors that are uncommon in her division. Better yet, she’s an excellent and aggressive grappler once on top, which has scored her several finishes on the floor to boot.

Why Bet on Ketlen Souza?

Souza cannot quite match her current foe’s athleticism, but she’s a slick striker and solid finisher herself. The former Invicta FC champion moves well, shifting stances and blasting powerful kicks from either side.

Karine Silva vs. Ketlen Souza Final Betting Analysis:

This reads like a fun kickboxing match, but Silva is simply the more dangerous woman. She appears to hit significantly harder, and if this one hits the canvas, she should be favored to lock up a limb.

The path to victory for Souza involves sprawl-and-brawling her way to a 15-minute decision win, but she has to avoid being taken down or clipped somewhere along the way. That’s a tall ask. Likely, “Killer” remains perfect inside the Octagon and picks up a second stoppage win.

UFC Fight Night: Jamie Mullarkey vs. Muhammadjon Naimov

Why Bet on Jamie Mullarkey?

Since he dropped his first two octagon bouts, Mullarkey (16-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) has won four of his past five. The Australian fighter is coming off back-to-back wins over Michael Johnson and, most recently, Francisco Prado at UFC 284 in February.

Why Bet on Muhammadjon Naimov?

Naimov (8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is 3-1 since he fell short in Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2020. The 28-year-old is on a three-fight winning streak and most recently scored a 34-second head kick knockout in March.

Jamie Mullarkey vs. Muhammadjon Naimov Final Betting Analysis:

Mullarkey was an underdog against the former opponent, but things have shifted in his favor with the opponent change. He has the experience edge, plus, Naimov will be making his UFC debut, so it’d be worth placing a bet on the side of the Australian man, who has a strong tendency to finish his opponents.

UFC Fight Night: Elizeu Zaleski vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov

Why Bet on Elizeu Zaleski?

An impressive seven-fight win streak put Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (23-7) on the brink of contention, only for the Brazilian to hit a 1-2 skid. “Capoeira” roared back brutally against the debuting Benoit Saint-Denis, putting on one of 2021’s most vicious beatings en route to a unanimous decision victory.

This marks his first fight in 19 months due to a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspension.

Why Bet on Abubakar Nurmagomedov?

After a lengthy stint with the World Series of Fighting (WSOF)/Professional Fighters League (PFL), Abubakar Nurmagomedov (17-3-1) kicked off his UFC tenure with a shock upset loss to David Zawada. Injury and illness have held him to just two fights in the last 3.5 years, though he emerged victorious in both efforts against Jared Gooden and Gadzhi Omargadzhiev. His 10 professional finishes are split 6:4 between knockouts and submissions.

Elizeu Zaleski vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov Final Betting Analysis:

It’s a shame that Nurmagomedov has struggled to stay active because he’s developed beyond “Khabib’s less-impressive cousin” into an effective, well-rounded fighter.

As much as we love watching “Capoeira” wreck people, we do like the current Nurmagomedov’s chances. Takedown defense has long dogged Zaleski dos Santos and Nurmagomedov’s striking looks sufficient to keep him afloat on the feet. Though Zaleski dos Santos could just blast Nurmagomedov into oblivion with an out-of-nowhere haymaker or wheel kick, Nurmagomedov’s basic, effective approach looks like just the ticket against the rusty Brazilian. In the end, persistent takedowns carry him to his third UFC victory.

UFC Fight Night: John Castañeda vs. Muin Gafurov

Why Bet on John Castañeda?

John Castañeda (19-6) put a UFC debut loss to Nathaniel Wood behind him to stop Eddie Wineland and Miles Johns back-to-back. He looked poised to make it three straight after pummeling Daniel Santos at the APEX, but ultimately succumbed to a comeback knockout late in the second round. “Sexi Mexi” has knocked out and submitted seven professional foes apiece.

Why Bet on Muin Gafurov?

Muin Gafurov (18-4) rolled into Contender Series amid a 6-1 run but failed to capitalize on -450 odds in a split decision loss to Chad Anheliger. After serving a USADA suspension for a diuretic, “Tajik” took his talents to Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), stopping Herbeth Sousa and Diego Silva back-to-back to claim the promotion’s Bantamweight title. He steps in for the injured Mateus Mendonca on less than two weeks’ notice.

John Castañeda vs. Muin Gafurov Final Betting Analysis:

The short notice looks like the X-factor here. If both men are in peak condition, it’s hard to see Gafurov losing — he’s the heavier hitter, the stronger wrestler, and an adept pressure fighter. Considering how much Castañeda struggled with Santos’ relentless advance, Muin looks like a nightmare matchup. He, however, faded badly on Contender Series and missed weight his next time out.

John has the output to turn the tide if Gafurov slows down at any point, especially since the latter isn’t difficult to hit. Still, there’s enough going in Gafurov’s favor to win him at least the first two rounds. In short, expect him to keep Castañeda on the back foot and rack up takedowns to seal the deal.

UFC Fight Night: Andrei Arlovski vs. Don’Tale Mayes

Why Bet on Andrei Arlovski?

Unfazed by a 1-4 (1 NC) skid, the ageless Andrei Arlovski (34-21) quietly put together a 6-1 run to secure his place in Heavyweight contention. The momentum wasn’t to last, though, as he suffered a 110-second submission loss to Marcos Rogerio de Lima in Oct. 2022. “Pitbull” has ended 17 professional fights by knockout, though none since 2015.

Why Bet on Don’Tale Mayes?

Following a pair of submission losses to Ciryl Gane and Rodrigo Nascimento, Don’Tale Mayes (9-5) evened up his UFC record by beating Roque Martinez and Josh Parisian. He’s winless since, losing a later-overturned decision to Hamdy Abdelwahab, and a sustained one to Augusto Sakai in successive efforts.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Don’Tale Mayes Final Betting Analysis:

I think is fair to say that Arlovski’s resurgence was partially illusory — most of the men he beat in that 6-1 run are no longer employed by UFC and the best of the remainder was Philipe Lins. Still, his ability to drag opponents into low-output slogs should work nicely against Mayes, who never quite managed to harness his impressive athleticism into a cohesive offense.

Don’Tale needs to either consistently get on top or keep things at long range, neither of which he seems capable of doing. In short, expect another Arlovski grind as he once again befuddles a physically superior opponent for a decision win.

UFC Fight Night: Daniel Santos vs. Johnny Munoz Jr.

Why Bet on Daniel Santos?

After nearly 2.5 years on the sideline, Daniel Santos (9-2) finally made his UFC debut in April 2022, ultimately losing a decision to Julio Arce. His sophomore effort six months later pitted him against John Castañeda, whom Santos survived a disastrous first round to brutalize late in the second and claim “Fight of the Night.”

Why Bet on Johnny Munoz Jr.?

Johnny Munoz’s (12-2) perfect professional start (10-0), which took place entirely in King of the Cage, saw him claim the promotion’s Bantamweight title before ultimately joining UFC in 2020. His 2-2 UFC run has seen him beat Jamey Simmons and Liudvik Sholinian amidst losses to Nate Maness and Tony Gravely. Seven of his professional wins, including the one over Simmons, came via submission.

Daniel Santos vs. Johnny Munoz Jr. Final Betting Analysis:

“Willycat” is the kind of kill-or-be-killed lunatic who reminds us that, for all we crow about technical wizardry and strategic planning, there’s nothing quite like watching a dude beat the piss out of another with no regard for his well-being. Not saying Munoz is doomed, as, besides his top-notch ground game, he’s got a great jab that could bedevil the ever-hittable Santos.

What he doesn’t have is a great gas tank, which is the last thing you want against a relentless pressure fighter. Between Daniel’s output and excellent scrambling ability, Johnny will be hard-pressed to slow things to his preferred pace, and that jab will stop working in a hurry once “Kid Kvenbo” starts losing steam.

Munoz clowns on Santos for about a round and a half before the latter’s pressure finally breaks through and buries him in power shots.

UFC Fight Night: Jinh Yu Frey vs. Elise Reed

Why Bet on Jinh Yu Frey?

Wins over Gloria de Paula and Ashley Yoder earned Jinh Yu Frey (11-8) her first multi-fight win streak since 2018, only for a controversial decision loss to Vanessa Demopoulos to bounce her from the win column. Things didn’t go much better in her next bout, which saw Polyana Viana knock her out in 47 seconds.

Why Bet on Elise Reed?

Elise Reed (6-3) {less than two months removed from a technical knockout finish of Hilarie Rose in her second CFFC title defense} unsuccessfully stepped up on short notice to challenge Sijara Eubanks in her Octagon debut. She’s since alternated losses and wins, most recently following an upset of unbeaten Melissa Martinez with a submission loss to Loma Lookboonmee.

Two of her four professional wins have come via (technical) knockout.

Jinh Yu Frey vs. Elise Reed Final Betting Analysis:

Reed’s poor ground game will keep her out of contention for the foreseeable future, but as we saw in her win over Cory McKenna, getting close enough to put her on her back is easier said than done.

Frey is 38 years old and coming off a brutal knockout loss. And considering her long-standing tendency to let fights slip away through passivity, it’s hard to see her mustering up the pressure and output needed to consistently close the gap on a much more mobile, versatile, and active striker. In her defense, she did manage to grind out another superior kickboxer in de Paula, but that came in large part because of poor decision-making on the Brazilian’s part.

Odds are that Reed does a better job of minding her P’s and Q’s, taking apart Frey at a long distance for a dominant decision win.

UFC Fight Night: Luan Lacerda vs. Da’Mon Blackshear

Why Bet on Luan Lacerda?

Nova Uniao’s Lacerda made his way to UFC on the back of a 10-fight win streak, which included a title run in Shooto Brasil and two submission wins in Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA). These set up an Octagon debut against Cody Stamann, who narrowly outlasted Lacerda to hand him his first defeat since 2014. All 10 of his professional stoppages have come via submission.

Why Bet on Da’Mon Blackshear?

Da’Mon Blackshear’s (12-5-1) four-fight win streak came to an end in his short-notice UFC debut, which saw Youssef Zalal claw his way to a majority draw after losing the first two rounds. He subsequently fell short against Farid Basharat but did manage to take a round from the -450 favorite.

Luan Lacerda vs. Da’Mon Blackshear Final Betting Analysis:

The blueprint is out for Blackshear: put him on his back and there’s not a whole lot that he can do. It’s how Danny Sabatello and Farid Basharat beat him, and even though Lacerda’s not that level of a wrestler, he’s skilled enough in that department to put the very squirrely Stamann on his back. His ultra-sharp Brazilian jiu-jitsu is more than sufficient to keep Da’Mon on his back for as long as necessary and/or snatch a submission at some point.

If Blackshear has an edge on the feet — which is far from a given considering Lacerda’s basic-but-effective Muay Thai — it’s not sufficient to offset the threat of Lacerda’s far superior ground game. In short, Lacerda drags him to the mat for an early finish.

UFC Fight Night: Maxim Grishin vs. Philipe Lins

Why Bet on Maxim Grishin?

Grishin made his first UFC walk amid a nine-year mixed martial arts run that saw him tally an impressive record (18-1-2), the lone loss coming to Magomed Ankalaev. He currently sits at 2-2 in the world’s largest MMA promotion, most recently pot-shotting his way to a decision over William Knight.

Why Bet on Philipe Lins?

Philipe Lins (16-5) saw eight events fall through from June 2020 to Feb. 2023, a span in which he saw action just once. He made up for some of that lost time in his most recent effort, which saw him knockout Ovince Saint Preux in just 49 seconds. The win marked his ninth professional knockout and 13th finish overall.

Maxim Grishin vs. Philipe Lins Final Betting Analysis:

Lins is definitely the faster of the two and showed that he still has something left in the tank against Saint Preux, but his durability issues make it hard to trust him against the steady attack of Grishin. Maxim’s layoff is certainly a concern, especially as he just turned 39 last month, but he’s still the more reliable operator. In short, a chippy, tit-for-tat striking battle ends abruptly when Grishin’s right-hand finds the mark.