UFC Saudi Arabia Best Bets
The UFC is taking the UFC octagon to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thankfully for the fans, the promotion assembled a strong fight night event for the occasion. That also gives us some solid betting opportunities. Here are three of the best bets you can make for UFC Saudi Arabia.
*All odds are taken from DraftKings and are accurate as of 8:30 p.m. on June 21.*
Robert Whittaker -148
The UFC Saudi Arabia main event between Robert Whittaker and Ikram Aliskerov provides a solid bet. Whittaker is a -148 favorite while Aliskerov is a +124 underdog. I am siding with the favorite.
Aliskerov is a prospect worth watching, but he is taking a massive step up in competition. Thus far in the UFC, he is 2-0 against poor competition. Now, he fights a former champion who is 13-3 in the weight class. Not to mention, Aliskerov took this fight on short notice. Those are all important factors that push me toward the favorite.
In the actual skills, Whittaker has advantages in technical striking, quickness, and cardio. Plus, he has great takedown defense. Those attributes should allow him to keep the fight standing and out-strike Aliskerov.
This bet does come with risk. Whittaker’s chin is concerning. It would not be a shock to see Aliskerov land a big strike that quickly swings the fight in his favor. That concern is already baked into the line as he would be a much larger favorite if his durability was not a concern. Still, the aforementioned advantages outweigh this concern.
At -148, I will bet on Whittaker at UFC Saudi Arabia. That is a good price considering the gap in high-level experience.
Shara Magomedov vs. Antonio Trocoli Under 1.5 Rounds -142
The second bet for UFC Saudi Arabia is the under 1.5 rounds prop in the Shara Magomedov and Antonio Trocoli bout. The money is unplayable as Magomedov is a -485 favorite while Trocoli is a +370 underdog. The under is currently lined at -142 with the overpriced at +114. The under is my favorite way to approach those odds.
Magomedov and Trocoli both have ways to help this under cash. The favorite is an aggressive striker with knockout power. That is always a positive when betting on an under. Plus, his grappling is awful. That provides Trocoli with a path to land a submission. It would be a shock, but it’s possible.
In all likelihood, Magomedov lands a massive shot early. In an upset, Trocoli latches up a submission. Those are both paths to an under. That makes the under 1.5 rounds an appealing bet for UFC Saudi Arabia.
Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir Under 1.5 Rounds +124
The final bet for UFC Saudi Arabia is the under 1.5 rounds in the Johnny Walker and Volkan Oezdemir matchup. The money line has the pair closely matched with Walker as a -125 favorite and Oezdemir as a +105 underdog. The issue is that it’s a coin I am not interested in flipping. Instead, I see more value on the under which sits at +124.
Generally, Walker is a fighter who leans to the under. The reasoning is fairly simple. Walker has a ton of offensive firepower, but his chin is awful. In this matchup, he could use his length and athleticism to set up and land a knockout shot. At the same time, Oezdemir has powerful boxing and can finish fights. This bout has the potential to land any second.
I will never shy away from betting a Johnny Walker under at plus money. The logic is simple, but it makes for a solid UFC Saudi Arabia bet.
***
CLICK HERE for more of our UFC/MMA content
Check out the Vendetta Shop
Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube
