UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland Full Card Betting Guide
A two-week break always feels like a lifetime, especially after the epicness of UFC 270. Alas, UFC Vegas 47 is an intriguing return to action as middleweights Sean Strickland and Jack Hermansson meet in the main event on Saturday, Feb. 5, at the UFC Apex.
Propspects Punahele Soriano and Nick Maximov square off in the co-main event of the 13-fight card, scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Check out Question Mark Kicks for Matt and Craig’s final thoughts on the card. The show airs two hours before the prelims start, live on YouTube.
Fight Previews
Flyweight
Malcolm Gordon (+213)
Record: 13-5 (1-2 UFC)
Wins: 4 KO, 6 SUB | Losses: 4 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (+114); Wins ITD (+476), by decision (+453), by TKO (+1067), by submission (+750)
Denys Bondar (-216)
Record: 16-3 (UFC debut)
Wins: 5 KO, 11 SUB | Losses: 2 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-142); Wins ITD (-109), by decision (+274), by TKO (+223), by submission (+252)
Best Value: Malcolm Gordon (+213)
I’ve been digging these more experienced fighters against debutants early this year. Bondar is a talented dude, but he last fought in August 2020. That’s a long layoff coming into your debut.
Welterweight
Jason Witt (+108)
Record: 19-7 (2-2 UFC)
Wins: 3 KO, 8 SUB | Losses: 5 KO, 2 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (+119); Wins ITD (+311), by decision (+257), by TKO (+636), by submission (+624)
Philip Rowe (-130)
Record: 8-3 (1-1 UFC)
Wins: 4 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-150); Wins ITD (+116), by decision (+552), by TKO (+181), by submission (+458)
Best Value: Rowe by TKO (+181)
There’s really not a lot of good value at all in this fight, but this is an OK prop. If Witt can close distance, he can probably get the fight to the ground and control for long periods of time. But Rowe is a superior striker with a long reach. This is a good pop and popcorn fight.
Light Heavyweight
Danilo Marques (+322)
Record: 11-3 (2-1 UFC)
Wins: 4 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 2 KO
Props: Over 1.5 rounds (-113); Wins ITD (+512), by decision (+777), by TKO (+1533), by submission (+682)
Jailton Almeida (-427)
Record: 14-2 (UFC debut)
Wins: 5 KO, 9 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 1.5 rounds (-116); Wins ITD (-162), by decision (+327), by TKO (+285), by submission (+124)
Best Value: Danilo Marques (+322)
Again, the odds are too steep here on the experienced UFC fighters against a talented fighter making his debut. Marques’ size should help counter some of the raw athleticism of Almeida, and I would not be shocked to see his hand raised.
Women’s Bantamweight
Alexis Davis (-236)
Record: 20-11 (7-6 UFC)
Wins: 2 KO, 8 SUB | Losses: 3 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-278); Wins ITD (+305), by decision (-108), by TKO (+683), by submission (+491)
Julija Stoliarenko (+191)
Record: 9-5-1 (0-3 UFC)
Wins: 8 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+208); Wins ITD (+540), by decision (+326), by TKO (+1567), by submission (+725)
Best Value: Stoliarenko by submission (+725)
You’re crazy if you place any money on this fight, but if you do, might as well take a big stab on the better grappler. Davis is 1-4 in her last five, and Stoliarenko is 0-3 in the UFC.
Middleweight
Marc-Andre Barriault (-120)
Record: 13-4 (2-3 UFC)
Wins: 9 KO | Losses: 4 DEC
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-171); Wins ITD (+307), by decision (+184), by TKO (+386), by submission (+1033)
Chidi Njokuani (-101)
Record: 20-7 (UFC debut)
Wins: 12 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 3 KO, 3 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+133); Wins ITD (+269), by decision (+269), by TKO (+323), by submission (+1214)
Best Value: Chidi Njokuani (-101)
Njokuani isn’t your average UFC debutant. He’s had a length run in Bellator, where he even had a first-round knockout of Andre Fialho, who held his own on last week’s card. Barriault is a seasoned veteran but Njokuani is a big guy who can negate some of Powerbar’s strengths with his prowess in the clinch.
Featherweight
Hakeem Dawodu (-180)
Record: 12-2-1 (5-2 UFC)
Wins: 7 KO | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-251); Wins ITD (+323), by decision (+113), by TKO (+353), by submission (+1814)
Mike Trizano (+150)
Record: 9-1 (3-1 UFC)
Wins: 2 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+180); Wins ITD (+406), by decision (+296), by TKO (+700), by submission (+759)
Best Value: Dawodu by decision (+113)
It’s not great value, but it is the most likely outcome of this fight. It should be a good scrap, so perhaps consider making it a pop and popcorn fight. The over (-251) is good parlay fodder.
Bantamweight
Miles Johns (-202)
Record: 12-1 (3-1 UFC)
Wins: 4 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-196); Wins ITD (+239), by decision (+134), by TKO (+276), by submission (+1096)
John Castaneda (+167)
Record: 18-5 (1-1 UFC)
Wins: 7 KO, 6 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+153); Wins ITD (+440), by decision (+339), by TKO (+593), by submission (+1193)
Best Value: Johns by TKO (+276)
Miles Johns has really tuned a corner of late, with knockout wins in his past two fights. Castaneda has a tendency to drop his hands at times, and that tendency only increases as fatigue sets in. Johns carries his power late. I like this bet a lot.
Featherweight
Julian Erosa (-313)
Record: 26-9 (4-5 UFC)
Wins: 11 KO, 12 SUB | Losses: 5 KO
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-137); Wins ITD (+146), by decision (+158), by TKO (+252), by submission (+424)
Steven Peterson (+245)
Record: 19-9 (3-3 UFC)
Wins: 6 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+106); Wins ITD (+508), by decision (+475), by TKO (+821), by submission (+1216)
Best Value: Under 2.5 (+106)
Erosa’s last five wins have come by finish. Peterson’s best hope at winning this fight is to land a knockout blow. This has the under written all over it, even if Peterson is tough as nails.
Middleweight
Bryan Battle (+134)
Record: 6-1 (1-0 UFC)
Wins: 1 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-106); Wins ITD (+289), by decision (+380), by TKO (+786), by submission (+503)
Tresean Gore (-163)
Record: 3-0 (UFC debut)
Wins: 1 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: n/a
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-123); Wins ITD (+161), by decision (+259), by TKO (+197), by submission (+838)
Best Value: Gore by TKO (+197)
I’m personally staying off this one — too many uncertainties — but Gore is so quick and Battle doesn’t boast the best striking defense. I could see this ending early.
Welterweight
Shavkat Rakhmonov (-234)
Record: 14-0 (2-0 UFC)
Wins: 7 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: n/a
Props: Over 1.5 rounds (-137); Wins ITD (+101), by decision (+311), by TKO (+178), by submission (+366)
Carlston Harris (+188)
Record: 17-4 (2-0 UFC)
Wins: 5 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 1.5 rounds (+106); Wins ITD (+304), by decision (+609), by TKO (+779), by submission (+522)
Best Value: Rakhmonov ITD (+101)
This is incredible value. Rakhmonov is going to be around the UFC welterweight division a long time. Harris is good; Rakhmonov is better. This is my favorite bet on the card.
Light Heavyweight
Sam Alvey (+310)
Record: 33-16-1 (10-11-1 UFC)
Wins: 19 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 3 KO, 2 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-108); Wins ITD (+525), by decision (+630), by TKO (+650), by submission (+2650)
Brendan Allen (-407)
Record: 17-5 (5-2 UFC)
Wins: 5 KO, 9 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-118); Wins ITD (-112), by decision (+184), by TKO (+263), by submission (+265)
Best Value: Over 2.5 rounds (-108)
The extremely short notice for Brendan Allen makes me very wary of any bet on this fight. Allen should win handily against a Smilin’ Sam that hasn’t won since 2018. But Alvey usually makes things tough.
Middleweight
Punahele Soriano (-194)
Record: 8-1 (2-1 UFC)
Wins: 5 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 1 DEC
Props: Over 2.5 rounds (+111); Wins ITD (+114), by decision (+316), by TKO (+121), by submission (+1397)
Nick Maximov (+160)
Record: 7-0 (1-0 UFC)
Wins: 2 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: n/a
Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-138); Wins ITD (+391), by decision (+344), by TKO (+121), by submission (+514)
Best Value: Soriano by TKO (+121)
As long as this fight is standing, the Nick Diaz prodigy is at extreme risk. Soriano is capable enough to keep this on the feet, and that point, it’s only a matter of time before he finds a knockout.
Middleweight
Jack Hermansson (+180)
Record: 22-6 (9-4 UFC)
Wins: 10 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 2 SUB
Props: Over 4.5 rounds (-121); Wins ITD (+356), by decision (+448), by TKO (+886), by submission (+506)
Sean Strickland (-224)
Record: 24-3 (11-3 UFC)
Wins: 10 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 4.5 rounds (-108); Wins ITD (+177), by decision (+174), by TKO (+224), by submission (+834)
Best Value: Jack Hermansson (+180)
It’s not often I disagree with Matt and Craig, but this is the rare occasion. Hermansson is a grappler of the highest degree, and Strickland’s run against primary strikers doesn’t give me confidence he’ll be able to keep Hermansson off his neck. This is a much closer to 50-50 fight than people make it out to be. I’d also take a stab at Hermansson by submission at +506 if I was feeling bold.
Results
UFC 270
Josh: 1-4 (1-0 parlay), -1.5u
Matt: 7-4, -2.87u
Craig: 4-7, -9.65u
2022 Results
Josh: 6-6 (1-1 parlay), +3.61u
Matt: 14-8, +.06u
Craig: 8-14, -14.35u
Editor’s Note: Matt and Craig make picks for every fight, regardless of betting lines. This exercise assumes a 1u bet on each fight.
My Card
Best Bets (2u each)
Rakhmonov ITD (+101)
Jack Hermansson (+180)
Straight bets (1u each)
Punahele Soriano (-194)
Underdogs (1u each)
Malcolm Gordon (+213)
Danilo Marques (+322)
Chidi Njokuani (-101)
Props (1u each)
Johns by TKO (+276)
Erosa-Peterson U2.5 (+106)
Parlay (+458)
Dawodu-Trizano O2.5 (-251), Shavkat Rakhmonov (-234), Jack Hermansson (+180)