UFC 228 Predictions
The UFC returns to PPV on Saturday night when the welterweight championship title is up for grabs at UFC 228. Here’s some fight picks for tonight’s card.
UFC 228 will be held from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The main card for the event will begin at 10PM ET and air live on PPV.
24301 Darren Till vs. 24302 Tyron Woodley
The main event is for the UFC Welterweight Championship with Woodley (18-3-1) defending his title against Till (17-0-1). According to the latest oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Till is actually favored to take the title. He is listed with odds of -140 to win, while Woodley has a money line of +120 to retain. Till is the new, hot face on the block in the 170-poound division and he comes in with a lot of length and towers over Woodley despite being just 6-foot. He has been able to grind out fights for the most part. Woodley is defending his title for the third time and he comes in with a wrestling background, but also is a powerful striker. Woodley has won tougher fights and seems to be the better all-around athlete. He won’t tire as the fight goes on and Till is in the main event of a PPV for the first time. I think those factors matter and will allow Woodley to out-class him and retain his title. UFC 228 Prediction: Tyron Woodley +120
24309 Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. 24310 Jessica Andrade
The co-main event is a UFC women’s strawweight bout between Andrade (18-6) and Kowalkiewicz (12-2), two former title contenders. Oddsmakers see Andrade as the heavy favorite, as she is listed with -450 odds to win, while Kowalkiewicz has a money line of +350 to win. Andrade has won two straight since losing her title opportunity, both by decision. She is a jiu-jitsu specialist that has really developed an impressive striking game. Kowalkiewicz has won her last two fights after suffering a pair of losses. She is solid all-around, but lacks much finishing ability. In this fight, Andrade will bring the pressure and be quicker to the punch than Kowalkiewicz. I don’t love the long odds, as Kowalkiewicz is a game fighter, but I just think Andrade has a lot more ways to win. UFC 228 Prediction: Jessica Andrade -450
24333 John Dodson vs. 24334 Jimmie Rivera
A featured bantamweight bout tonight has Dodson (21-9) taking on Rivera (21-2). According to oddsmakers, Rivera is favored to win this fight, as he is listed with -145 odds to win. Dodson is listed with a money line of +125 to prevail. Dodson was a top 125-pound fighter for a while but couldn’t beat the champ and moved up in weight. It hasn’t led to great results. His punching power hasn’t carried over and he’s not able to control opponents as much with his wrestling. Rivera is coming off a surprising loss by head kick, but that was an anomaly, not a real representation of his skills. He had won 20 straight prior to that Rivera is an animal and I think he is able to overwhelm Dodson and avoid that big punch. UFC 228 Prediction: Jimmie Rivera -145