Final Betting Analysis:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nCurtis, despite his whinney antics in post-fight interviews and on social media, is a handicapper\u2019s dream because he is incredibly consistent both in fight style and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barriault is a fighter with two identities, neither of which he\u2019s been able to implement with consistent success, nor has he been able to meld them together successfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This fight is tailor-made for Curtis to find consistent success, even after bouts of inactivity. Barriault\u2019s slow and linear movements should pun intended, walk right into Curtis\u2019s preferred pocket boxing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once in the pocket, Curtis will have the edge in speed, power, and combinations. Barriault will need to be out, at range, or in, in the clinch, if he hopes to negate his rival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, Barriault has not shown an ability to do this reliably. As long as Curtis doesn\u2019t drop too many minutes in each round to Barriault\u2019s volume, he should win a decision, if not secure a late-round knockout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC 297: <\/strong>Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Arnold Allen?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Allen enters this contest following the first defeat of his UFC career, a five-round battle with Max Holloway. Though he didn\u2019t manage to secure a title shot, he did confirm his position amongst the Top 5, and there\u2019s still time for the 29-year-old Brit to make his way back into immediate title contention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Movsar Evloev?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Undefeated Evloev (17-0) finally gets the big jump in competition that he\u2019s been chasing. He\u2019s won seven straight inside the Octagon, and if he can produce similar results against \u201cAlmighty,\u201d it\u2019s time to take him seriously as a title threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev Final Betting Analysis:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAllen has to play the counter-wrestler here. He\u2019s the superior striker by a fair measure, but if he\u2019s put on his back, that advantage goes out the window. However, that doesn\u2019t mean he can afford to solely be reactive, because Evloev is a pretty solid kickboxer himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this bout, Evloev wants to find his way to the top position. It\u2019s been some years since Allen was out-wrestled, but it has happened. Most notably, Mads Burnell gave Arnold hell with his combination of pressure boxing and takedowns, and perhaps Evloev can find his success with a similar game plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t know if just range striking and well-timed shots \u2014 the default Evloev approach \u2014 will be enough to get Allen down. He\u2019s likely going to have to force the issue a bit more, chain wrestle more relentlessly, and generally make it a bit of a dogfight if he\u2019s to offset Allen\u2019s timing and distance management enough to dominate, but we can see it happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC 297: <\/strong>Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Brad Katona?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Brad Katona (15-2) followed his Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 27-winning decision over Jay Cuccinello by beating Matthew Lopez, only to then drop two straight and receive his walking papers. Four straight wins in BRAVE CF earned him a spot on TUF 31, where he took out Carlos Vera and Timur Valiev in the house before gritting his way past Cody Gibson in his Octagon return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Garrett Armfield?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Armfield\u2019s short-notice UFC debut pitted him against his old amateur foe, David Onama, who snapped Armfield\u2019s three-fight win streak with a second-round arm-triangle choke. Assorted issues kept him out of action for the next 13 months, after which he knocked out Toshiomi Kazama for his first Octagon win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eight of his nine professional wins have come inside the distance, six of them via knockout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield Final Betting Analysis:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nArmfield is very much a live dog in this matchup. Katona\u2019s fight with Gibson showed some serious defensive flaws that the former has yet to address. Armfield\u2019s heavy hands shouldn\u2019t have too difficult a time finding their target \u2014 and as we saw against Kazama \u2014 he doesn\u2019t need that many openings to shut the lights off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What that Gibson fight also showed, however, is Katona\u2019s durability and grit. They carried him past a better fighter than Armfield in Valiev and should do the same here, especially since Armfield\u2019s takedown defense isn\u2019t impenetrable. In short, Katona walks through some heavy artillery to steadily wear down Armfield and walk away with the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UFC 297:<\/strong> Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhy Bet on Charles Jourdain?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Charles Jourdain (15-6) saw the first two-fight win streak of his UFC career give way to back-to-back losses against Shane Burgos and Nathaniel Wood. Undeterred, \u201cAir\u201d went on to beat Kron Gracie and Ricardo Ramos in 2023, the latter via bonus-winning guillotine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Bet on Sean Woodson?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sean Woodson (10-1-1) punched his UFC ticket with a highlight-reel flying knee of Terrance McKinney on Contender Series. \u201cThe Sniper\u201d currently sits at 4-1-1 in the world\u2019s largest mixed martial arts (MMA), most recently out-classing late replacement Dennis Buzukja in Aug. 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019ll enjoy five inches of height and nine inches of reach on Jourdain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson Final Betting Analysis:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWoodson has a gargantuan reach advantage at his disposal and he knows how to use it. Sure, he\u2019s had some rough fights and doesn\u2019t have the strongest body of work, but Jourdain\u2019s never been particularly consistent in the Octagon. We can see Woodson pot-shotting his way to victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jourdain is unquestionably the more likely of the two to score a finish \u2014 he\u2019s got the heavier hands and Woodson\u2019s draw with Luis Saldana proved his chin can be cracked. His guillotine is also a potent counter to Woodson\u2019s newfound willingness to wrestle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, odds are he\u2019s going to give Woodson the striking match \u201cThe Sniper\u201d wants and that length looks like too big a hurdle for him. In the end, Woodson out-lands Jourdain and survives a rough patch or two to claim a narrow decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n