UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland Full Card Betting Guide
The UFC makes its return to the state of Florida with a 14-fight card headlined. byStephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Kevin Holland.
The 14-fight card at the Amway Center in Orlando is scheduled to start at 7 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 Strawweight
Yazmin Jauregui (-333)
Record: 9-0 (1-0 UFC)
Wins: 6 KO | Losses: n/a
Props: Over 2.5 (-223); Wins ITD (+206), by decision (+102), by TKO (+261), by submission (+1025)
Istela Nunes (+257)
Record: 6-3 (0-2 UFC)
Wins: 2 KO | Losses: 2 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (+168); Wins ITD (+700), by decision (+429), by TKO (+913), by submission (+2013)
Best Value: Istela Nunes (+257)
I’m staying far away from this fight, but it will be a lot closer than the odds suggest.
Featherweight
Marcelo Rojo (+139)
Record: 16-8 (0-2 UFC)
Wins: 8 KO, 6 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 5 SUB
Props: Over 1.5 (-175); Wins ITD (+260), by decision (+521), by TKO (+286), by submission (+1080)
Francis Marshall (-169)
Record: 6-0 (UFC debut)
Wins: 4 SUB | Losses: n/a
Props: Under 1.5 (+139); Wins ITD (+136), by decision (+273), by TKO (+710), by submission (+211)
Best Value: Marcelo Rojo (+139)
Call it the Contender Series fade, or a bet on experience, but Rojo’s wisdom should play a facto here.
Lightweight
Natan Levy (-201)
Record: 7-1 (1-1 UFC)
Wins: 3 SUB | Losses: DEC
Props: Over 2.5 (+162); Wins ITD (-104), by decision (+363), by TKO (+402), by submission (+184)
Genaro Valdez (+166)
Record: 10-1 (0-1 UFC)
Wins: 7 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 2.5 (-210); Wins ITD (+263), by decision (+672), by TKO (+383), by submission (+759)
Best Value: Valdez ITD (+263)
Pop and popcorn if there ever was one. This fight has all the makings of a barnburner as long as it lasts.
Featherweight
Darren Elkins (+364)
Record: 27-10 (17-9 UFC)
Wins: 7 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 4 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (+106); Wins ITD (+663), by decision (+817), by TKO (+1363), by submission (+1031)
Jonathan Pearce (-496)
Record: 13-4 (4-1 UFC)
Wins: 9 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 2 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (-136); Wins ITD (-121), by decision (+184), by TKO (+177), by submission (+346)
Best Value: Pearce decision (+184)
Elkins hasn’t been this big an underdog since 2017, when he beat Mirsad Bektic as a +500 dog. He’s tough as nails and should be able to extend this fight if it takes place on the canvas, which is Pearce’s preferred stomping grounds.
Lightweight
Michael Johnson (+256)
Record: 20-18 (12-14 UFC)
Wins: 9 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 9 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-230); Wins ITD (+600), by decision (+478), by TKO (+775), by submission (+2388)
Marc Diakiese (-335)
Record: 16-5 (7-5 UFC)
Wins: 6 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 2 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (+174); Wins ITD (+236), by decision (-112), by TKO (+275), by submission (+1150)
Best Value: Michael Johnson (+256)
It feels like it’s been some time since we saw a prime Michael Johnson, but there’s some value here considering he’s never been this big an underdog since 2016, when he fought Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Lightweight
Clay Guida (+145)
Record: 37-22 (17-16 UFC)
Wins: 5 KO, 16 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 11 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-226); Wins ITD (+575), by decision (+214), by TKO (+938), by submission (+1263)
Scott Holtzman (-175)
Record: 14-5 (7-5 UFC)
Wins: 5 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 2 KO
Props: Under 2.5 (+171); Wins ITD (+234), by decision (+171), by TKO (+310), by submission (+950)
Best Value: Over 2.5 rounds (-226)
I don’t absolutely love the value here but it’s a hard fight to predict and this feels relatively safe.
Women’s Strawweight
Angela Hill (+111)
Record: 14-12 (9-12 UFC)
Wins: 5 KO | Losses: 2 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-415); Wins ITD (+713), by decision (+143), by TKO (+919), by submission (+2788)
Emily Ducote (-134)
Record: 12-6 (1-0 UFC)
Wins: 3 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (+288); Wins ITD (+413), by decision (+136), by TKO (+869), by submission (+800)
Best Value: Ducote decision (+136)
This fight is almost certainly going to the scorecards, so if you’re in on Ducote, this is the best value bet for you. The O2.5 at -415 is a little steep, even as parlay fodder.
Welterweight
Niko Price (-131)
Record: 15-5 (7-5 UFC)
Wins: 10 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 3 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (+139); Wins ITD (+145), by decision (+373), by TKO (+186), by submission (+1025)
Phil Rowe (+107)
Record: 9-3 (2-1 UFC)
Wins: 5 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 2.5 (-181); Wins ITD (+203), by decision (+466), by TKO (+342), by submission (+528)
Best Value: Phil Rowe (+107)
Get the plus odds while you can, because I have a feeling this might be closer to par by fight time.
Middlweight
Eryk Anders (+181)
Record: 14-7 (6-7 UFC)
Wins: 8 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-181); Wins ITD (+488), by decision (+334), by TKO (+563), by submission (+2475)
Kyle Daukaus (-224)
Record: 11-3 (2-3 UFC)
Wins: 9 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 2.5 (+139); Wins ITD (+204), by decision (+152), by TKO (+725), by submission (+283)
Best Value: Daukaus submission (+283)
Might be a little cat and mouse at times, but this is still pop and popcorn for me. If you like Daukaus, there’s a path to a submission victory.
Middleweight
Jack Hermansson (-192)
Record: 23-7 (10-5 UFC)
Wins: 10 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 2 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-158); Wins ITD (+269), by decision (+129), by TKO (+681), by submission (+451)
Roman Dolidze (+158)
Record: 11-1 (5-1 UFC)
Wins: 6 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 DEC
Props: Under 2.5 (+121); Wins ITD (+268), by decision (+558), by TKO (+423), by submission (+775)
Best Value: Hermansson submission (+451)
I know it’s been a little while since Hermansson’s last submission, but there’s always the danger from the Swedish grappler. This is a great value bet here.
Heavyweight
Tai Tuivasa (+179)
Record: 15-4 (8-4 UFC)
Wins: 14 KO | Losses: 2 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 1.5 (+180); Wins ITD (+205), by decision (+1078), by TKO (+217), by submission (+2425)
Sergei Pavlovich (-222)
Record: 16-1 (4-1 UFC)
Wins: 13 KO | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Under 1.5 (-240); Wins ITD (-151), by decision (+817), by TKO (-134), by submission (+1375)
Best Value: Tuivasa TKO (+217)
Fight of the night incoming here. One of, if not both, these guys are going to be walking out of Amway Arena $50k richer on Saturday. Personally, I like Bam Bam to do so.
Flyweight
Matheus Nicolau (-388)
Record: 18-2-1 (6-1 UFC)
Wins: 4 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 2 KO
Props: Over 2.5 (-126); Wins ITD (+112), by decision (+150), by TKO (+279), by submission (+328)
Matt Schnell (+298)
Record: 16-7 (6-5 UFC)
Wins: 2 KO, 9 SUB | Losses: 3 KO, 2 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (-103); Wins ITD (+667), by decision (+594), by TKO (+1125), by submission (+1188)
Best Value: Nicolau ITD (+112)
Even though it hasn’t happened since 2014, I think there’s a good chance Nicolau scores a TKO victory. The odds aren’t great on that though (+279), so I’ll hedge with an ITD prop.
Welterweight
Bryan Barberena (+401)
Record: 18-8 (9-6 UFC)
Wins: 11 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Over 2.5 (-203); Wins ITD (+813), by decision (+761), by TKO (+1022), by submission (+3263)
Rafael dos Anjos (-556)
Record: 31-14 (20-12 UFC)
Wins: 5 KO, 10 SUB | Losses: 3 KO, 1 SUB
Props: Under 2.5 (+155); Wins ITD (+172), by decision (-125), by TKO (+506), by submission (+308)
Best Value: Bryan Barberena (+401)
Listen, I’m not putting this on my card because I can’t root against RDA. But… dos Anjos has never, NEVER, been this big a favorite in his illustrious career. At 38 years old, I just think there’s probably value in fading these ridiculous odds.
Welterweight
Stephen Thompson (+151)
Record: 16-6-1 (11-6-1 UFC)
Wins: 7 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 1 KO
Props: Over 4.5 (+132); Wins ITD (+292), by decision (+393), by TKO (+326), by submission (+2450)
Kevin Holland (-181)
Record: 23-8 (10-5 UFC)
Wins: 12 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 3 SUB
Props: Under 4.5 (-173); Wins ITD (+126), by decision (+361), by TKO (+160), by submission (+700)
Best Value: Over 4.5 rounds (+132)
Wonderboy is darn near impossible to catch cleanly, and he’s never been submitted. Holland has never been knocked out. This is my favorite bet on the card.
Results
UFC Vegas 65
Josh: 3-4 (1-0 parlay), +0.55u
Matt: 6-5, -0.14u
Craig: 7-4, +3.45u
2022 Results
Josh: 115-133 (12-25 parlay), +16.26u
Matt: 302-154, +18.92u
Craig: 296-160, +22.34u
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)
Thompson-Holland O4.5 (+132)
Underdogs (1u each)
Marcelo Rojo (+139)
Michael Johnson (+256)
Phil Rowe (+107)
Props (1u each)
Ducote decision (+136)
Hermansson submission (+451)
Tuivasa TKO (+217)
Parlay (+635)
Guida-Holtzman O2.5 (-226), Emily Ducote (-134), Matheus Nicolau (-388), Thompson-Holland O4.5 (+132)