[ad_1]
ESPN’s No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter, Merab Dvalishvili (21-4), will defend his bantamweight title for the fourth time this 12 months at UFC 323 in Las Vegas on Saturday (10 p.m. ET on ESPN PPV; prelims starting at 6 p.m. on ESPN+). The nine-year UFC veteran from the nation of Georgia is taking over former champion Petr Yan (19-5) in a rematch of their 2023 combat that Dvalishvili gained by unanimous resolution. If Dvalishvili will get his hand raised for the fifteenth consecutive time on Saturday, he’ll grow to be the primary UFC fighter to win 4 title fights in a calendar 12 months.
One other longtime titleholder and top-10 pound-for-pound competitor, Alexandre Pantoja (30-5), places his males’s flyweight belt on the road within the co-main occasion towards upstart 24-year-old Joshua Van (15-2). Like Dvalishvili, Van is making his fourth look this 12 months. If Van can determine how one can decelerate Pantoja — one thing 5 challengers earlier than him haven’t executed throughout the Brazilian’s two-and-a-half-year reign — he would grow to be the second-youngest UFC champion ever and first born after 2000.
In all, the ultimate UFC pay-per-view card of the 12 months performs host to seven fighters ranked by ESPN and three ranked-vs.-ranked matchups.
ESPN MMA analysts and commentators present their title combat predictions, and ESPN betting knowledgeable Ian Parker provides perception on the worth bets obtainable on the cardboard.
Males’s bantamweight title combat
How do you go towards Merab proper now? I feel he rinses and repeats what he is been doing to everyone. His means to maintain fighters confused and guessing on the ft will win him this combat. Yan might be guessing all night time. It will not look as straightforward because it did within the first combat, however Dvalishvili will win 4 out of 5 rounds. — Din Thomas
Merab is scorching, and I feel he beats Yan once more. He’ll put on Yan out. I feel again to Yan’s combat with Tune Yadong in March 2024, and Yan appeared very drained in that one. Tune fights at a excessive tempo, however Dvalishvili’s tempo is even sooner. Dvalishvili makes a residing out of beating people who find themselves in a whole lot of methods higher than him, and he does it by making them drained. He’ll try this right here. — Anthony Smith
Betting evaluation
Odds correct as of Dec. 4. For probably the most up-to-date odds, go to DraftKings.
Parker: Dvalishvili to win by resolution (-250). Dvalishvili will but once more defend his title in an effort to be often known as probably the most lively champion in UFC historical past. Of their first combat, Dvalishvili defeated Yan by doing what he normally does — shoot a whole lot of takedowns and management the tempo. However Dvalishvili has advanced his recreation since that combat. He has grow to be a extra well-rounded blended martial artist and is frequently bettering his hanging. Pretty much as good as Yan is, I do not see Dvalishvili shedding his belt any time quickly, particularly in a five-round combat that makes his cardio a weapon in itself. Yan has by no means been completed, so take that into consideration when betting this combat.
Males’s flyweight title combat
I like Joshua Van. He is one in all my favorites proper now, however he isn’t going to win this combat. Pantoja is simply too constant — and too hungry — to let a one-dimensional fighter like Van beat him. Pantoja goes to get takedowns early, and Van goes to start out worrying about that. As soon as that occurs, Pantoja will begin beating him on the ft after which take him down and choke him out. — Din Thomas
The good cash says Pantoja, due to his expertise and familiarity with five-round title fights. I feel Van could be very, excellent, however I believe this may look quite a bit like Pantoja’s final combat towards Kai Kara-France, one other harmful striker. Pantoja wore him out a lot you nearly began to really feel dangerous for Kai on the finish. And Pantoja did not even appear to be he was attempting all that arduous. — Anthony Smith
Betting evaluation
Parker: Pantoja to win by submission (+150). In what could possibly be combat of the night time, Pantoja might be seeking to efficiently defend his title towards a rising fan favourite. Van is an effective striker with stable energy and sturdiness who appeared unimaginable in his final combat towards Brandon Royval. Nevertheless, Pantoja is a completely totally different fighter, and I do not see Van getting the win towards him. Search for Pantoja to make use of his hanging and ahead stress to ultimately take Van down. As soon as on the canvas, it is a matter of time earlier than the submission ace will get one other end.
Parker’s greatest bets on the remainder of the cardboard
Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira vs. Marvin Vettori
Ferreira to win (-102). It’s kind of shocking that Vettori is the slight favourite right here as a result of he’s on the decline of his profession and he’s taking on a well-rounded and highly effective striker. Ferreira has the wrestling and the jiu-jitsu edge over Vettori, and on the ft and his energy could possibly be the difference-maker. Vettori’s solely path to victory is a call, however with all of the harm he has taken in his previous few fights, take the underdog with the abilities to match him on the ft and upside on the bottom.
Males’s flyweight: Brandon Moreno vs Tatsuro Taira
Moreno to win (+110). That is one other fascinating and enjoyable combat. Except Taira can take Moreno down and maintain him there for all three rounds, Moreno is greater than able to getting the win. On the ft, Moreno is the higher striker and has the cardio to maintain the amount up over three rounds. Moreno is a great fighter and is conscious of the hazard of letting Taira take his again early, so I’ve to imagine he has executed the work to arrange If you wish to take your guess a step additional, Moreno by resolution will get you nice odds as properly.
[ad_2]