There can be loads of MMA motion with the UFC and the PFL internet hosting struggle playing cards this week.
On Saturday, the UFC travels to Baku, Azerbaijan, for UFC Combat Evening. Gentle heavyweights Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. will conflict in the primary occasion (3 p.m. on ABC/ESPN+; prelims at midday on ESPN/ESPN+).
Hill, a former champion and ESPN’s No. 5-ranked mild heavyweight, enters the struggle having misplaced through knockout in his final two Octagon appearances. Rountree, ranked simply behind Hill, misplaced to Alex Pereira in a problem for the championship this previous October.
On Friday, the PFL World Event semifinals proceed, as lightweights, bantamweights and girls’s flyweights look to assert their spots within the championship spherical.
MMA veteran and former UFC fighter Kevin Lee will make his PFL debut in opposition to Gadzhi Rabadanov in the primary occasion, and former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche takes on Elora Dana within the co-main occasion.
Brett Okamoto spoke to former UFC fighters Din Thomas and Anthony Smith to get their UFC foremost occasion predictions. ESPN betting skilled Ian Parker provides perception and evaluation on the struggle evening in Baku and intriguing bets from the PFL semifinals.
Gentle heavyweight: Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree
Jamahal Hill lives and breathes on X elements. I’ve spent quite a lot of time with Hill, and he’s actually distinctive. If I had to decide on between who I would fairly spar — Hill or Rountree — it might be Rountree as a result of he is acquainted. Every little thing Khalil does appears prefer it’s alleged to. It is technically excellent. However in a approach, that is simpler to take care of as a result of when it appears so excellent, at the very least it is predictable. Jamahal has actually good eyes and, although he isn’t the extra technically sound striker, I feel he is tougher to take care of. — Anthony Smith
Hill has had such unhealthy luck the final couple of years with accidents and layoffs. He wants a struggle like this to show his luck round, and I feel Rountree outperformed himself in his final struggle. He gave the very best doable model of himself in opposition to Pereira, and I feel his efficiency this time can be a contact much less convincing, and Hill will catch Rountree. — Din Thomas
Betting evaluation
Odds correct as of June 19. Go to ESPN BET for essentially the most up-to-date UFC Combat Evening odds and PFL semifinals odds.
Parker: Rountree to win (-110). Regardless of shedding in his first shot at a UFC championship, Rountree made an announcement. He appeared nice by means of two rounds, giving the champ all he might deal with till Rountree obtained drained in Spherical 3 then knocked out in Spherical 4. His capability to hold with Pereira so lengthy proved Rountree belongs close to the highest of the division. Hill has misplaced back-to-back fights by knockout, and I would not be stunned if it occurs for a 3rd time right here. Hill is a talented striker, however Rountree a greater one and he’s sooner and carries extra energy. Until Hill can threaten Rountree with grappling, count on one other KO/TKO loss right here.
Parker’s finest bets on the remainder of the cardboard
Light-weight: Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Bahamondes to win (-130). Bahamondes enters this matchup with Fiziev having received every of his final three bouts by first-round end. Fiziev is a superb striker, however I imagine Bahamondes can match him on the toes. Search for Bahamondes to make use of lateral motion and distance placing to get the win right here. He additionally has a submission recreation if the chance had been to current itself.
Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
Blaydes to win (-250). Kuniev, who’s received twice on “Dana White’s Contender Collection,” is getting a large step up in competitors for his UFC Debut. Though Kuniev is nice on the mat, Blaydes has fought the perfect within the UFC for almost seven years. Until Kuniev catches Blaydes early within the struggle, count on Blaydes to resist an early onslaught and use his dominant wrestling to get the win.
Light-weight: Tofiq Musayev vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Over 1.5 rounds. This matchup has struggle of the evening potential. Orolbai confirmed his sturdiness in his final struggle, overcoming early adversity and almost getting a win in opposition to Mateusz Rębecki. Contemplating every of his three UFC bouts has gone over 1.5 rounds, I count on the identical right here. Search for Orolbai to make use of his wrestling to remove Musayev’s placing prowess and run the clock en path to a choice or late submission win.
Finest bets on the 2025 PFL semifinals card
Light-weight: Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Kevin Lee
Rabadanov to win by KO/TKO. Rabadanov is the most important favourite on the cardboard, and rightfully so. He has been on a tear and now takes on a seasoned veteran in Lee, who’s well-rounded and may compete wherever the struggle goes however is probably going previous his prime, and Rabadanov has but to succeed in his potential, which is horrifying. To get any worth right here, take Rabandanov to get one other knockout victory to maneuver on to the finals.
Ladies’s flyweight: Liz Carmouche vs. Elora Dana
Carmouche to win inside the gap. Coming off a powerful displaying, Carmouche appears for an additional end in opposition to Dana, an up-and-coming prospect. With Carmouche being so closely favored, both as her moneyline in a parlay or take her to win inside the gap. Dana is a strong prospect, however Carmouche has the instruments to complete the struggle anyplace.
Light-weight: Mansour Barnaoui vs. Archie Colgan
Colgan to win. Colgan enters the struggle seeking to hold his excellent file intact. He’s a dominant wrestler with loads of knockout energy. Barnaoui, who’s primarily a submission specialist, is in a troublesome spot. With such a robust wrestling recreation, Colgan can shut down Barnaoui’s grappling recreation. I feel Colgan ought to be a -500 favourite right here, and we’re getting him round -250. Usually, I do not wish to go wager on strains which can be over -200, however I do not see a world the place Colgan loses this matchup.
Ladies’s flyweight: Ekaterina Shakalova vs. Jena Bishop
Shakalova to win (+105). When you like Shakalova, you’d higher place that wager quickly, earlier than the chances slip away. Though she opened as an underdog, I count on Shakalova to be the betting favourite when the struggle begins. Bishop is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, and a profitable one. Nevertheless, Shakalova can match her on the bottom, and he or she’ll have the benefit if the struggle stays on the toes.