Preview

UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane Full Card Betting Guide

Ooh, boy! What a pair of headlining fights we have in store at UFC 270. The 13-fight card on Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Honda Center in Anaheim features two championship bouts, at the promotion’s heaviest and lightest male weight classes.

At the top of the card, scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+, is Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane unifying the heavyweight belt. The two used to train at the same gym in France and have plenty of familiarity in each other’s contrasting styles. In the co-main event, Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo finish the trilogy for the flyweight strap.

Make sure to check out Question Mark Kicks, at 4 p.m. ET Saturday, for Matt and Craig’s final thoughts. Also, join them for the Fight Night Picks Companion, which goes live alongside the main card at 10 p.m. ET.

*All odds based on bestfightodds.com

Fight Previews

Women’s Flyweight

Jasmine Jasudavicius (+191)

Record: 6-1 (UFC debut)

Wins: 2 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 1 DEC

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-280); Wins ITD (+671), by decision (+284), by TKO (+900), by submission (+1963)

Kay Hansen (-238)

Record: 7-4 (1-1 UFC)

Wins: 2 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 1 KO

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+212); Wins ITD (+271), by decision (+105), by TKO (+882), by submission (+381)

Best Value: Hansen by submission (+381)

There’s honestly not a whole lot of value anywhere in this fight, but this is the best of the bunch. If Hansen can withstand the early pressure of Jasudavicius, she should be able to capitalize on her fatigue later. Hansen’s move up to flyweight is concerning for me though.

Lightweight

Matt Frevola (-193)

Record: 8-3-1 (2-3 UFC)

Wins: 1 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 2 KO

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (+106); Wins ITD (+170), by decision (+188), by TKO (+394), by submission (+359)

Genaro Valdez (+160)

Record: 10-0 (UFC debut)

Wins: 7 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: n/a

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-138); Wins ITD (+239), by decision (+707), by TKO (+348), by submission (+954)

Best Value: Valdez by TKO (+348)

Another fight that’s really tough to predict. Valdez’s path to victory clearly seems to be a first-round knockout, and at +348 odds, it might be worth a look. But this one stays off my card.

Women’s Strawweight

Vanessa Demopoulos (-144)

Record: 6-4 (0-1 UFC)

Wins: 1 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 4 DEC

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-206); Wins ITD (+307), by decision (+156), by TKO (+767), by submission (+479)

Silvana Gomez Juarez (+118)

Record: 10-3 (0-1 UFC)

Wins: 6 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+159); Wins ITD (+371), by decision (+156), by TKO (+442), by submission (+1550)

Best Value: Vanessa Demopoulos (-144)

It’s telling of how poor this week’s prelims are when we’re three fights in, and I still haven’t found a bet I really like. Demopoulos has a clear path to victory, and the odds aren’t terrible if you’re getting bored and need something to bet on.

Bantamweight

Tony Gravely (-250)

Record: 21-7 (2-2 UFC)

Wins: 9 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 5 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-134); Wins ITD (+181), by decision (+140), by TKO (+256), by submission (+925)

Saimon Oliveira (+200)

Record: 18-3 (UFC debut)

Wins: 5 KO, 11 SUB | Losses: 3 DEC

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+103); Wins ITD (+369), by decision (+502), by TKO (+1143), by submission (+509)

Best Value: Under 2.5 rounds (+103)

This is a really intriguing fight. Gravely actively brings the fight to opponents, and Oliveira’s defensive submissions are a real threat. If Gravely avoids that guillotine, he can either work his ground and pound or keep it standing, and land a big punch on the feet.

Welterweight

Jack Della Maddalena (-344)

Record: 10-2 (UFC debut)

Wins: 8 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Over 1.5 rounds (+107); Wins ITD (-162), by decision (+404), by TKO (-126), by submission (+625)

Pete Rodriguez (+266)

Record: 4-0 (UFC debut)

Wins: 4 KO | Losses: n/a

Props: Under 1.5 rounds (-138); Wins ITD (+358), by decision (+1012), by TKO (+423), by submission (+1763)

Best Bet: Della Maddalena ITD (-162)

This is somewhat of a wild card fight, as Rodriguez has just four fights to his name, and none of them have gone longer than 150 seconds. That lack of cage time is very concerning, and so the edge goes to the debutant on the other side. Still, there are too many unknowns to have any certainty betting on this fight.

Welterweight

Michael Morales (-124)

Record: 12-0 (UFC debut)

Wins: 9 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: n/a

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-184); Wins ITD (+268), by decision (+196), by TKO (+325), by submission (+1056)

Trevin Giles (+101)

Record: 14-3 (5-3 UFC)

Wins: 6 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 2 SUB

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+144); Wins ITD (+361), by decision (+216), by TKO (+493), by submission (+1163)

Best Value: Trevin Giles (+101)

If the weight cut for Giles goes well, welterweight is a much more natural fit for him. So not only will he have fought a much higher level of competition, he’ll have done it at a higher weight class. That seems like it’d be a big advantage against a debutant.

Bantamweight

Raoni Barcelos (-499)

Record: 16-2 (5-1 UFC)

Wins: 8 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-104); Wins ITD (-108), by decision (+178), by TKO (+176), by submission (+369)

Victor Henry (+363)

Record: 21-5 (UFC debut)

Wins: 6 KO, 8 SUB | Losses: 5 DEC

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-125); Wins ITD (+685), by decision (+714), by TKO (+893), by submission (+1557)

Best Value: Barcelos by decision (+178)

This is a closer fight than it’s being billed as, in my opinion. Victor Henry is a game opponent and while this was originally a short-notice bout, Henry has had some extra time to prepare after this was delayed in 2021. Barcelos hasn’t won inside the distance since 2019 and Henry has never been finished. Even if it’s one-way traffic, Henry’s a tough cookie.

Featherweight

Ilia Topuria (-605)

Record: 11-0 (3-0 UFC)

Wins: 3 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: n/a

Props: Over 1.5 rounds (-131); Wins ITD (-155), by decision (+250), by TKO (+312), by submission (+114)

Charles Jourdain (+425)

Record: 12-4-1 (3-3-1 UFC)

Wins: 8 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB

Props: Under 1.5 rounds (+100); Wins ITD (+750), by decision (+850), by TKO (+921), by submission (+2550)

Best Value: Over 1.5 rounds (-131)

This fight will play out a lot closer to Topuria’s win over Youssef Zalal than it will his victories over Damon Jackson and Ryan Hall. Jourdain offers a lot more in the striking department and Topuria is going to have to work through some of that early.

https://youtu.be/oC5JOkEEpsM

Middleweight

Rodolfo Vieira (-225)

Record: 8-1 (3-1 UFC)

Wins: 1 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (+128); Wins ITD (-107), by decision (+375), by TKO (+719), by submission (+113)

Wellington Turman (+182)

Record: 17-5 (2-3 UFC)

Wins: 4 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 2 KO

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-159); Wins ITD (+360), by decision (+478), by TKO (+519), by submission (+1117)

Best Value: Vieira by submission (+113)

Plus odds on Vieira finding a submission in 15 minutes? Yes, please.

https://youtu.be/4B50twLCgPs

Bantamweight

Cody Stamann (+163)

Record: 19-4-1 (5-3-1 UFC)

Wins: 6 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-297); Wins ITD (+619), by decision (+246), by TKO (+831), by submission (+1864)

Said Nurmagomedov (-197)

Record: 14-2 (3-1 UFC)

Wins: 4 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 3 DEC

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+222); Wins ITD (+311), by decision (+111), by TKO (+459), by submission (+789)

Best Value: Stamann by decision (+246)

This should stay off your card, but there is a route to victory for Stamann. The long layoff for Nurmagomedov concerns me, and Stamann is a good enough wrestler to make this a boring fight.

Welterweight

Michel Pereira (-285)

Record: 26-11 (4-2 UFC)

Wins: 10 KO, 6 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (+113); Wins ITD (+111), by decision (+208), by TKO (+185), by submission (+492)

Andre Fialho (+228)

Record: 14-3 (UFC debut)

Wins: 11 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 2 KO

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-145); Wins ITD (+344), by decision (+764), by TKO (+403), by submission (+1868)

Best Value: Andre Fialho (+228)

Despite this being on short notice, Fialho is going to make this an entertaining affair. His boxing skillset will challenge the unique striking style of Pereira and make this more competitive than the odds suggest.

Flyweight Championship

Brandon Moreno (-176)

Record: 19-5-2 (7-2-2 UFC)

Wins: 3 KO, 11 SUB | Losses: 5 DEC

Props: Over 3.5 rounds (-119); Wins ITD (+153), by decision (+246), by TKO (+441), by submission (+288)

Deiveson Figueiredo (+147)

Record: 20-2-1 (9-2-1 UFC)

Wins: 9 KO, 8 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB

Props: Under 3.5 rounds (-108); Wins ITD (+287), by decision (+429), by TKO (+411), by submission (+786)

Best Value: Figueiredo by submission (+786)

Honestly, there’s a lot of different ways you can take this bet depending on how you’re capping it. But I think this prop in particular is ridiculously good value. Figueiredo’s guillotine is deadly, and there’s going to be scrambles in this fight. One wrong move from Moreno, and “Deus da Guerra” is snatching necks. The over 3.5 (-119) is the far safer bet.

Heavyweight Championship

Francis Ngannou (+126)

Record: 16-3 (11-2 UFC)

Wins: 11 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 3 DEC

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-108); Wins ITD (+146), by decision (+1158), by TKO (+155), by submission (+2600)

Ciryl Gane (-152)

Record: 10-0 (7-0 UFC)

Wins: 4 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: n/a

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-121); Wins ITD (+160), by decision (+267), by TKO (+217), by submission (+833)

Best Value: Ngannou ITD (+146)

Is Gane as good as Stipe Miocic, the greatest heavyweight of all time? Because if the answer is no, the result here is pretty clear. I think Gane has the potential to be a champ for a long time, but Ngannou’s power is just incredible. I don’t see Gane finishing Ngannou, so that means “The Predator” has 25 minutes to hit clean on the interim champ just once.

Results

UFC Vegas 46

Josh: 5-2 (0-1 parlay), +5.11u

A fairly strong showing to start 2022. Disappointing miss on Brahimaj cost the best bet and the parlay, or else it would have been a great day. However, the Kattar by decision pick at +503 is going to be a feather in the cap for a long while.

Editor’s Note: Matt and Craig make picks for every fight, regardless of betting lines. This exercise assumes a 1u bet on each fight.

Matt: 7-4, +2.93u

Craig: 4-7, -4.7u

My Card

Best Bets (2u each)

Ngannou ITD (+146)

Underdogs (1u each)

Trevin Giles (+101)

Andre Fialho (+228)

Props (1u each)

Gravely-Oliveira U2.5 rounds (+103)

Vieira by submission (+113)

Figueiredo-Moreno O3.5 rounds (-119)

Parlay (+518)

Topuria-Jourdain O1.5 (-131), Moreno-Figueiredo O2.5 (-181), Francis Ngannou (+126)

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