We have an extremely exciting night of fights taking place this weekend, and the UFC is making its return to Newark, NJ, for UFC 316. The card is headlined by the rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley, along with the Co-Main event between current Champion Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison.
Along with the two title fights, we have an amazing lineup from the prelims on. Get ready for a night of amazing action. Today, I will break down my 3 favorite bets for this weekend’s fight card. Let’s get into it!
For those of you who don’t knwo Patchy Mix, get ready tos ee a new contender enter the UFC. The former Bellator world champ has fought and beaten some of the best fighters in the world. Now, he takes his top talent level to the UFC where he will step right into the fire. Bautista is on a 7-fight win streak and most recently defeated Jose Aldo.
To me, this fight is one of the most exciting UFC debuts in a long time. I really think Mix can challenge for the title at 135, and this will be his first step. Mix has lost just once in his pro career to Juan Archuleta, who is a very decorated champion.
Mix can win the fight on his feet or with his amazing ground game, but I think he’ll finish this one by submission and set the tone for what should be a fun run in the UFC.
MY PICK: Patchy Mix by Submission +240
Kayla Harrison is finally getting her long-awaited UFC title shot. The decorated Olympian and former PFL Champ will get a shot at current champ Julianna Pena. Harrison, while the challenger, is a -750 favorite, the largest favorite by a UFC title challenger ever.
She is that big of a favorite for a reason. She has been dominant, losing one fight in her career and really just dominating anyone else in her way. Pena had been very up and down in her career until she took out Amanda Nunes.
I think Harrison is going to dominate this fight. I usually stray away from disrespecting current champions, but Harrison is too good. Also, I don’t think Pena is a great representation of the top-tier talent.
She fights boringly and barely beat Raquel Pennington the last time around. We have also seen her be submitted twice in her career, and Harrison is one of the best submission artists around. Give me the challenger.
MY PICK: Kayla Harrison by KO/TKO/DQ or Submission -165
I am very excited for this rematch. Last time around, we saw Merab completely dominate Sean, and he has since defended his belt against Umar Nurmagomedov. O’Malley has not fought since, so this will be a big moment for the former champ.
I think this fight is going to go down a lot like the last one. Merab is extremely hard to deal with and fights at an absolutely insane pace. O’Malley has a chance with his striking and quickness, but I am just unsure if he can survive the onslaught.
As much as I would love to see O’Malley pull out a win and force a trilogy, I think Merab wins in dominating fashion again but won’t get a finish.
MY PICK: Merab Dvalishvili by Dec -165