UFC 287: <\/strong>Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Alex Pereira?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Alex Pereira has logged only eight career MMA bouts, including just four in the UFC. However, he\u2019s built up an extensive kickboxing resume as a two-division champ at Glory and a pair of victories over Adesanya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those kickboxing wins against Adesanya were a big reason why he was given a title shot, but Pereira proved he deserved it with a fifth-round knockout of Izzy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pereira is massive for this weight class, and that size comes with incredible power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same left hook that handed Adesanya his first career knockout loss also starched Sean Strickland and put current UFC light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby to sleep in Glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he\u2019s more than just a power puncher and is very polished and accurate with his striking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Israel Adesanya?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before his loss against Pereira, Adesanya was undefeated in the UFC\u2019s middleweight division, recording 12 straight victories at 185 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His only other defeat in MMA came against Jan Blachowicz when he moved up to 205 pounds to unsuccessfully challenge for the light heavyweight belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Adesanya has suffered those two previous defeats against Pereira in kickboxing, and he\u2019ll try to snap his three-fight losing streak to Poatan on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first loss was a very close decision that could have gone either way, and his final defeat at Glory of Heroes came similarly to their clash last November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adesanya seemed to outpoint his opponent through the first two rounds before a left hook caught him for his first-ever knockout loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Last Stylebender is arguably UFC\u2019s best technical striker, and he uses his length, quickness, kicking ability, and deceptive power to devastating effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pereira knocked out Adesanya this past November to snatch the title from the five-time defending champ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adesanya was a -175 favorite for that bout, and he remains the favorite now despite that loss and two previous defeats against Pereira in the kickboxing ring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adesanya perhaps should have been given the decision in the first fight between these two, and he seemed to hold the upper hand until getting knocked out in the last two affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he\u2019s still 0-3 against Pereira in combat sports, and it\u2019s tough to justify backing him as a favorite here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pereira does an excellent job of checking the leg kicks Adesanya likes to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With more experience, he should do a better job of defending against Adesanya\u2019s subpar grappling, which surprisingly led to him being controlled on the mat in the third round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t forget, he\u2019s still evolving as an MMA fighter and will only get better at fighting with four-ounce gloves and defending takedowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sure, Adesanya\u2019s footwork and technique have led to him tagging Pereira in the past. But Poatan\u2019s chin can weather those attacks, and he possesses the power to end the fight at any moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That power is the ultimate equalizer in a fight with Adesanya trying to survive for 25 minutes, making this bout a 50\/50 matchup. We are therefore leaning toward Pereira at plus money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC 287: <\/strong>Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Gilbert Burns?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Burns\u2019 recent history has been somewhat of a mixed bag. After failing to beat Kamaru Usman for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 258 (a loss that ended the challenger\u2019s six-fight winning streak), Gilbert rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Stephen Thompson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, Burns\u2019 momentum was cut short as he lost unanimously by points to Khamzat Chimaev nine months later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDurinho\u201d didn\u2019t let that loss get to him, though. He rebounded impressively, submitting Neil Magny with an arm-triangle choke in the first round of their fight at UFC 283.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, it\u2019s up to Burns to prove that he can string together consecutive wins again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Jorge Masvidal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Jorge Masvidal has been trending in the wrong direction. The owner of the fastest knockout win in UFC history hasn\u2019t tasted victory in nearly four years, having lost each of his last three fights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Masvidal\u2019s first loss came when he challenged Usman for the welterweight championship at UFC 251, only to lose by a unanimous decision. The Miami native challenged again for the gold at UFC 261 but fell to Usman via second-round knockout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Masvidal then went the distance with Colby Covington at UFC 272, but couldn\u2019t get the job done, ultimately losing by unanimous decision once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s now the first time in his career that the 38-year-old must deal with a three-fight skid. He does have the benefit of UFC 287 being in his hometown, so it\u2019ll be interesting to see if a pro-Masvidal crowd gives him a boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With Masvidal on the longest losing streak of his career, we have to side with Burns at UFC 287.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Burns has more momentum behind him and is coming off an impressive win over Magny. Besides, it\u2019s truly starting to look like Masvidal\u2019s best days are behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019ll come out swinging, but Burns will weather the storm and eventually outlast the hometown hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both men are decent at avoiding being finished, which is why it\u2019s likelier that Burns gets the job done with help from the judges\u2019 table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC 287: <\/strong>Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Rob Font?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Font is the action man at Bantamweight and he\u2019s starting to show the wear of his battles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019s coming into this fight on a two-fight skid where the normally durable striker has been knocked down five times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The beatings he suffered at the hands of Jose Aldo and Marlon Vera highlighted his toughness but indicated that he was at the end of his rope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You never would guess from looking at him that he outlined both of them in each fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Adrian Yanez?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yanez has been on a tear, having won all six of his UFC fights thus far with five ending inside the distance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything Yanez fires has evil intentions, even under duress, displaying excellent counter-striking skills and a solid chin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019s a volume striker by nature, but he\u2019s shown that he can plant his feet and deliver some huge shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike most volume strikers, Yanez has to stop power. He\u2019s landing 6.62 significant strikes per minute and his fights last six-and-a-half minutes, so he\u2019s essentially a buzzsaw. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Font and Yanez are bangers who are set to clash for bantamweight bragging rights, and this battle could end up being the fight of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This isn’t that complex of a fight for Yanez to prepare for, especially as Font should be right there and will try to beat him at his own game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will take a true veteran performance from Font to beat a younger fighter in a similar mold. Font\u2019s primary offense is through his high work rate, opting to stifle and overwhelm with activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because he knows what to expect from Yanez, Font would be wise to utilize his BJJ skills and try to find a way to get his opponent on the ground to eat up the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This should turn out to be an exciting fight where both fighters are going to take turns blasting each other out. Typically, bouts between volume strikers are won by whoever fires first and stunts the other\u2019s activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yanez has all the tools here with none of the wear and tear. He\u2019s sharper, faster, stronger, and a solid finisher who doesn\u2019t let his opponents off the hook when he hurts them. If they trade, Yanez will get the better of it, and we believe that he will take the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC 287: <\/strong>Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Kevin Holland?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Looking to impress his fans, the 30-year-old wants to bounce back after losing to Khamzat Chimaev and Stephen Thompson, which is no slight on his record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beating those fighters isn\u2019t easy, and no fighter has ever beaten Chimaev, which is why online gambling markets have Holland favored to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has earned respect in the welterweight division with wins over Tim Means and Ronaldo Souza, but with only one win since 2020, there are some concerns. We\u2019re also not sure we like Holland\u2019s attitude about the fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Santiago Ponzinibbio?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ponzinibbio might not have the appeal of Holland, but the 36-year-old Argentine is capable of producing an upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He defeated Alex Morono with a third-round knockout at UFC 282, which put him back on the map in this division. That came at catchweight, which Holland wanted to fight at, but he\u2019s well-suited to fighting at welterweight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 30-6 fighter has plenty of wins on his record, so he can never be overlooked. However, he needs to match Holland in the explosiveness department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Holland is the more accomplished fighter, and although he can be tough to like at times, his talent is undeniable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing Holland\u2019s instincts as a showman, we imagine he\u2019ll try to kick the crap out of his opponent. The volume will be Holland\u2019s friend because Ponzinibbio could easily put him out with a single shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ponzinibbio bobs his shoulders and wings his hooks; he\u2019s strong but not efficient, and I have some cardio concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are windows where Holland can bomb in with a hook or high kick, and we think he\u2019ll find them on April 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps Ponzinibbio can dance around Holland\u2019s onslaught, but we reckon he\u2019ll get caught before 15 minutes are up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC 287: <\/strong>Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Christian Rodriguez<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Raul Rosas Jr.?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rosas made waves when he debuted on the Contender Series at just 17, winning a dominant unanimous decision against future TUF competitor Mando Gutierrez. While it was a bit gimmicky to feature Raul while still 17 \u2013 especially considering he was weeks shy of his 18th birthday \u2013 he still showed ability far beyond his years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rosas used his elite-level grappling in both his Contender Series fight and his UFC debut, picking up a submission victory in the latter. His statistics in the Tale of the Tape section above consider both fights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike some grapplers who start in MMA as pure wrestlers or jiu-jitsu players, Rosas has built his game specifically for MMA. He excels at \u201copen-mat\u201d takedowns, but he\u2019s strong against the fence as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Christian Rodriguez?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While Rodriguez has a solid scrambling ability and is capable of getting back to his feet, he has a bad habit of exposing his back when doing so. He\u2019s gotten away with it thus far, but Rosas is a far superior submission grappler than his past opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rodriguez does have strong striking though, mixing aggressive boxing with the occasional flashy kick or spinning attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Christian Rodriguez Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rosas started his martial arts training as a boxer, though he\u2019s yet to show much standup striking in the UFC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given his age and athletic ability, I\u2019d expect him to be making rapid strides in that department. At the very least, the takedown threat he presents should keep Rodriguez on the back foot during striking exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rodriguez likely needs to keep this one standing to have much of a shot. While he\u2019s a solid grappler himself \u2013 picking up an anaconda choke in his last fight \u2013 he\u2019s also a bit green on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019ll probably want to avoid any flashy kick or spinning attack this fight, though, as Rosas would use that as an opportunity to jump on his back or force a takedown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this fight is a definite step up for Rosas, Rodriguez\u2019s style is ill-suited to contend with \u201cEl Ni\u00f1o Problema.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC 287: <\/strong>Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Kelvin Gastelum?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Moving to Middleweight paid immediate dividends for Kelvin Gastelum (17-8), who went 3-1 (1 NC) to earn himself an interim title shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He now sits at 1-5 in his last six appearances, including a decision loss to Jared Cannonier his last time out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He fights for the first time in nearly 20 months because of injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Chris Curtis?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The out-of-nowhere rise through the ranks for Chris Curtis (30-9) came to a halt at the hands of Jack Hermansson, who used lateral movement to snap \u201cThe Action Man\u2019s\u201d eight-fight win streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He got back on track five months later with a nasty knockout of Joaquin Buckley that earned him \u201cPerformance of the Night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fifteen of his 18 stoppage wins have come by knockout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Next to Ian Heinisch \u2014 the one man Gastelum\u2019s managed to beat in almost five years \u2014, Curtis is Gastelum\u2019s most winnable matchup in a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Action Man\u201d is a long-time Welterweight and hasn\u2019t even attempted a takedown in the Octagon, taking Gastelum\u2019s biggest bugbears out of the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, we still favor Curtis against most people willing to stay in the pocket with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curtis has a significant reach advantage, a rock-solid chin, and generally throws a fair bit more volume than Gastelum, which is enough to get the nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a coin flip, but expect Curtis to narrowly outwork him for a unanimous decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC 287: <\/strong>Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Luana Pinheiro<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Michelle Waterson-Gomez?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Michell Waterson-Gomez (18-10) put herself on the brink of contender status with three straight wins, all of them numerical upsets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The momentum wasn\u2019t to last, as she went on to lose four of her next five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Luana Pinheiro?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pinheiro capped off a six-fight winning streak by knocking out Stephanie Frausto on the Contender Series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her subsequent Octagon career has seen her beat Randa Markos via disqualification and claim her second-ever decision win at Sam Hughes\u2019 expense six months later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Luana Pinheiro Final Betting Analysis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On paper, this is Pinheiro\u2019s fight to lose. She\u2019s younger, bigger, the heavier hitter, and the superior takedown artist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If she fights to anywhere near the best of her abilities, there\u2019s not a whole lot Waterson-Gomez can do to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019d usually be a \u201chowever\u201d or \u201cbut\u201d here, but we can\u2019t think of an objection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pinheiro\u2019s judo is too potent for Waterson-Gomez to initiate any ground exchanges, so the only way the latter wins is if she pulls the former into a pure striking match and edges it on ineffective volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While we\u2019ve seen better fighters fumble more winnable matches, Pinheiro\u2019s power and takedowns are sufficiently superior to earn her the nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n