UFC 223 Predictions
It’s been a crazy few days for the UFC, but it is set to finally hold UFC 223 tonight in Brooklyn. Here’s three picks we like for tonight’s action.
Lightweight Championship: 24117 Al Iaquinta vs. 24118 Khabib Nurmagomedov
According to the latest oddsmakers at YouWager, Nurmagomedov (25-0) is the clear favorite in this bout, as he is getting -750 odds to win the title fight while Iaquinta (13-3-1) is listed with odds of +550 to win. Khabib was originally slated to fight Tony Ferguson, but an injury forced him out. Then featherweight champ Max Holloway was to step in, but couldn’t make weight. Now Iaquinta fills in on 24 hours notice. I respect Iaquinta, he is a tough guy that has won his last five, but I don’t see him pulling off the big upset. Khabib is unbeaten due to his tremendous wrestling and ground-and-pound skills. Khabib has prepared for tougher opponents and just needs to avoid the lucky punch to win. UFC 223 PREDICTIONS: 24118 KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV -750
Bet on UFC Odds for Saturday, April 7, 2018
Women’s Strawweight Championship: 24125 Rose Namajunas vs. 24126 Joanna Jedrzejczyk
This is an anticipated rematch after Namajunas (7-3) knocked out Jedrzejczyk (14-1) in November at UFC 217. Oddsmakers list Jedrzejczyk as the slight favorite, giving her -113 odds to win while Namajunas has a -107 money line. While Namajunas showed her skills in the first win, I think Jedrzejczyk took her lightly and assumed her striking would be superior. Many times a loss can help a good fighter improve and I think that will be the case today. Look for Jedrzejczyk to change up her style a little and confuse Namajunas. I think Jedrzejczyk is too fast and too skilled to lose to Namajunas twice. UFC 223 PREDICTIONS: 24126 JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK -113
Featherweight: 24129 Renato Moicano vs. 24130 Calvin Kattar
Oddsmakers list Kattar (18-2) as the slight favorite in this bout, as he is getting -114 odds against Moicano (11-1-1), who has -106 odds. Moicano is coming off a submission loss to Brian Ortega back in July at UFC 214. Kattar has won both of his UFC bouts thus far. While Kattar has the winning streak on his side, I think Moicano’s loss vs. Ortega will be a positive for him. Ortega is proving to be one of the best at 145 and Moicano went three rounds with him. It proves he has the skills to be a top-5 fighter in the division. That loss should make him hungry tonight and I think Kattar will be facing his toughest opponent yet and won’t quite be ready. UFC 223 PREDICTIONS: RENATO MOICANO -106