UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa Full Card Betting Guide
The UFC heads to Paris for the first time as a native son Ciryl Gane fights Tai Tuivasa in a heavyweight main event on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Accor Arena. In the co-main event, middleweights Robert Whittaker and Marvin Vettori meet.
The 12-fight card featuring seven debuting fighters is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Make sure to check out Question Mark Kicks two hours before the prelims begin for Matt and Craig’s final thoughts on the fight card.
Fight Previews
Women’s Featherweight
Ailin Perez (+206)
Record: 7-1 (UFC debut)
Wins: 4 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 1 DQ
Props: Over 2.5 (-101); Wins ITD (+442), by decision (+436), by TKO (+800), by submission (+1275)
Stephanie Egger (-260)
Record: 7-3 (2-2 UFC)
Wins: 3 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (-129); Wins ITD (+110), by decision (+210), by TKO (+406), by submission (+225)
Best Value: Egger ITD (+110)
This stays far off my card, but Egger is a heavy favorite for a reason.
Bantamweight
Khalid Taha (-123)
Record: 13-4 (1-3 UFC)
Wins: 8 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-188); Wins ITD (+236), by decision (+200), by TKO (+386), by submission (+988)
Christian Quinonez (+100)
Record: 16-3 (UFC debut)
Wins: 8 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (+145); Wins ITD (+389), by decision (+206), by TKO (+556), by submission (+1113)
Best Value: Christian Quinonez (+100)
I like Quinonez at plus odds, but I doubt it stays that way for much longer. Odds have trended toward the debutant’s way, so this should be a fun pop-and-popcorn bout.
Lightweight
Benoit Saint-Denis (-283)
Record: 9-1 (1-1 UFC)
Wins: 1 KO, 8 SUB | Losses: 1 DEC
Props: Over 1.5 (-123); Wins ITD (-133), by decision (+301), by TKO (+254), by submission (+238)
Gabriel Miranda (+224)
Record: 16-5 (UFC debut)
Wins: 1 KO, 15 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 1.5 (-106); Wins ITD (+356), by decision (+778), by TKO (+1450), by submission (+431)
Best Value: Saint-Denis submission (+238)
Miranda is awfully slippery but Saint-Denis is not a guy you want to mess around with on the mat.
Middleweight
Nassourdine Imavov (-265)
Record: 11-3 (3-1 UFC)
Wins: 5 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Over 1.5 (-184); Wins ITD (+111), by decision (+221), by TKO (+204), by submission (+501)
Joaquin Buckley (+209)
Record: 15-4 (5-2 UFC)
Wins: 11 KO | Losses: 3 KO
Props: Under 1.5 (+141); Wins ITD (+356), by decision (+633), by TKO (+389), by submission (+2900)
Best Value: Under 2.5 rounds (-151)
This fight should be entertaining for as long as it lasts.
Lightweight
Fares Ziam (+166)
Record: 12-4 (2-2 UFC)
Wins: 4 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 3 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-305); Wins ITD (+544), by decision (+262), by TKO (+831), by submission (+1750)
Michal Figlak (-201)
Record: 8-0 (UFC debut)
Wins: 4 KO | Losses: n/a
Props: Under 2.5 (+225); Wins ITD (+339), by decision (-101), by TKO (+636), by submission (+871)
Best Value: Michal Figlak (-201)
Despite the odds continuing to balloon, this is still one of my favorite bets on the card. Figlak is a very intriguing newcomer.
Middleweight
Dustin Stoltzfus (+218)
Record: 14-4 (1-3 UFC)
Wins: 2 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 2 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-115); Wins ITD (+466), by decision (+462), by TKO (+1188), by submission (+694)
Abusupiyan Magomedov (-273)
Record: 24-4-1 (UFC debut)
Wins: 13 KO, 6 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 2 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (-114); Wins ITD (+120), by decision (+204), by TKO (+233), by submission (+448)
Best Value: Dustin Stoltzfus (+218)
This stays off my card, but there’s probably some value here in a fighter going against a debutant who hasn’t fought in almost two years.
Featherweight
Charles Jourdain (-150)
Record: 13-5-1 (4-4-1 UFC)
Wins: 8 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-158); Wins ITD (+179), by decision (+241), by TKO (+251), by submission (+888)
Nathaniel Wood (+123)
Record: 18-5 (5-2 UFC)
Wins: 8 KO, 6 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 2 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (+122); Wins ITD (+394), by decision (+246), by TKO (+838), by submission (+738)
Best Value: Wood decision (+246)
Probably my favorite fight on the card, this is as pop and popcorn as it gets.
Featherweight
William Gomis (-219)
Record: 10-2 (UFC debut)
Wins: 6 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (+100); Wins ITD (+131), by decision (+232), by TKO (+182), by submission (+750)
Jarno Errens (+176)
Record: 13-3-1 (UFC debut)
Wins: 3 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (-131); Wins ITD (+346), by decision (+464), by TKO (+600), by submission (+788)
Best Value: Jarno Errens (+176)
The odds shouldn’t be this far apart on two debuting fighters. Errens is game here.
Lightweight
John Makdessi (+185)
Record: 18-7 (11-7 UFC)
Wins: 9 KO | Losses: 2 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-224); Wins ITD (+563), by decision (+314), by TKO (+619), by submission (+3288)
Nasrat Haqparast (-231)
Record: 13-5 (5-4 UFC)
Wins: 9 KO | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (+170); Wins ITD (+236), by decision (+115), by TKO (+268), by submission (+2325)
Best Value: Haqparast decision (+115)
This should primarily be a boxing match, and Haqparast is better in that regard.
Middleweight
Alessio Di Chirico (-112)
Record: 13-6 (4-6 UFC)
Wins: 6 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-179); Wins ITD (+255), by decision (+221), by TKO (+442), by submission (+769)
Roman Kopylov (-110)
Record: 8-2 (0-2 UFC)
Wins: 7 KO | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (+138); Wins ITD (+365), by decision (+201), by TKO (+401), by submission (+2425)
Best Value: Kopylov ITD (+365)
The heavy-handed Kopylov is looking to get his maiden win in the UFC, and this might be a great fight to do it.
Middleweight
Robert Whittaker (-231)
Record: 23-6 (14-4 UFC)
Wins: 11 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-292); Wins ITD (+363), by decision (-121), by TKO (+442), by submission (+2025)
Marvin Vettori (+185)
Record: 18-4-1 (8-3-1 UFC)
Wins: 2 KO, 9 SUB | Losses: 4 DEC
Props: Under 2.5 (+218); Wins ITD (+506), by decision (+339), by TKO (+1156), by submission (+969)
Best Value: Vettori decision (+339)
Both these fighters only losses in the last five years have come against one of the greatest middleweights ever. Vettori is more competitive than these odds suggest. I love the value.
Heavyweight
Ciryl Gane (-571)
Record: 10-1 (7-1 UFC)
Wins: 4 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 DEC
Props: Over 2.5 (-129); Wins ITD (-157), by decision (+228), by TKO (+113), by submission (+438)
Tai Tuivasa (+413)
Record: 15-3 (8-3 UFC)
Wins: 14 KO | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (-101); Wins ITD (+563), by decision (+1411), by TKO (+609), by submission (+2963)
Best Value: Tuivasa TKO (+609)
Who knows how Gane responds to his first defeat? He should win this fight still, but Tuivasa’s powerful hands always give him a chance.
Results
UFC 278
Josh: 3-3 (0-1 parlay), -2.66u
Matt: 8-3, -1.31u
Craig: 7-4, -2.35u
2022 Results
Josh: 87-97 (8-20 parlay), +7.06u
Matt: 235-116, +16.05u
Craig: 230-121, +12.70u
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)
Vettori decision (+339)
Straight bets (1u each)
Michal Figlak (-201)
Nasrat Haqparast (-231)
Underdogs (1u each)
Jarno Errens (+176)
Props (1u each)
Imavov-Buckley U2.5 (-151)
Kopylov ITD (+365)
Tuivasa TKO (+609)
Parlay (+286)
Benoit Saint-Denis (-283), Nasrat Haqparast (-231), Whittaker-Vettori O2.5 (-292), Gane-Tuivasa U4.5 (-207)