The UFC is back with another great card this weekend. We will be seeing former Champion Robert Whittaker take on UFC newcomer, but former ONE Champion Reinier de Ridder.
The fights will be going down in Abu Dhabi, so the Prelims will be starting at Noon EST with the Main Card going on at 3 PM EST. Today, I will break down my 3 favorite bets for this weekend’s fight card. Let’s get into it!
Krylov has been around for what seems like forever. He made his UFC debut back in 2013 and has had some tremendous ups and downs while compiling an 11-8 record. He was recently on a 3-fight win streak before getting KO’d by a resurging Dominick Reyes, and now he will look to take out a rising prospect in Guskov.
Guskov is on a 3-fight win streak coming into this one with 3 finishes, but he is taking a big jump in competition. I think overall, Krylov is just the better fighter. He is a great grappler and also a slick striker.
He is also only one year older than Guskov, who is just 3-1 in his UFC career so far. Krylov has a ton of high-level experience, and I think he should be able to eliminate Guskov’s KO power with his grappling. Give me Krylov with the points.
MY PICK: Nikita Krylov -3.5 (-165)
This is a classic clash of styles in what will certainly be a high-paced fight. Both of these guys are fairly young in their UFC careers, with Almabayev being 4-1 and Ochoa being 1-1.
Almabayev is coming off his first loss since 2017 at the hands of Manel Kape, one of the top dogs in the flyweight division. Ochoa is 1-1 in his young UFC career but is coming off an impressive KO over veteran Cody Durden.
Almabayev is going to look to wrestle without a shadow of doubt. However, in his last fight, that was his downfall. He gassed out trying to take down Kape and eventually got TKO’d in the 3rd.
What I am interested in seeing is if Ochoa has the ability to fight off the takedowns. I think, being so inexperienced, he is going to struggle against the high-paced attacking wrestling. Give me Almabayev by decision.
MY PICK: Asu Almabayev by Decision (+150)
This is going to be an amazing fight. Both of these guys are highly experienced and looking to get in the conversation for a UFC title fight. Whittaker’s last fight was a brutal loss to Khamzat Chimaev where he got his jaw broken in a face crank.
However, before that, he had two solid wins back-to-back. RDR has had just 3 UFC fights, but dominated all 3. He is coming off a dominant win over top prospect Bo Nickal, but the jump from Bo Nickal to Whittaker is a big one. RDR is a former ONE double champ, though, so he is used to big fights.
This fight, to me, may slow both of these guys down. RDR is a great wrestler, but Whittaker has shown he can defend extremely well throughout his career, besides his fight against Khamzat.
I think Whittaker will be able to pick RDR apart on the feet, but will have to stay cautious to avoid lying on his back the whole fight. I do think this fight will go pretty deep with the level of experience, and I think that is our best bet here. Take over 3.5 rounds.
MY PICK: Over 3.5 Rounds (+125)