The UFC returns to the Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night, as a featherweight showdown closes out a 13-bout Fight Night card.
Coverage of the event begins at 4 p.m. ET with the prelims, with the main card is slated to start at 7 p.m. ET.
We were a Cyril Gane eye-poke away from potentially sweeping the co-main and main event of an electric UFC 321 Abu Dhabi card last week. Mackenzie Dern by decision (+250), Umar Nurmagomedov by points (-145), Azamat Murzakanov moneyline (-110), and Valter Walker to win by Submission in Round 1 (+275) were among our picks that were green.
Now, let’s shift our focus and lock in some plays for Saturday’s Fight Night card.
Steve Garcia vs. David Onama
Garcia has won his last six fights, with five of those victories coming by knockout. With seven first-round finishes and 14 knockouts on his resume, Garcia possesses true striking power. He likes to walk down his opponent and overwhelm the opposition with an array of combinations.
Onama enters on a four-fight win streak and seems to be turning the corner following a slow start to his UFC tenure. Like Garcia, he can throw a power punch but relies more on his grappling and take-down abilities in the octagon.
This makes for a great matchup amongst similar styles, as Garcia wastes no time in testing his opponent’s chin, while Onama likes to go punch-for-punch as well.
As much as Garcia winning by knockout (-105, DraftKings) seems like a no-brainer, Onama has yet to lose by KO in his career. I’m backing the slight underdog in this one. I think Garcia may meet his match come Saturday and carelessly walk into a counterpunch or two from Onama.
Pick: Onama to Win by KO/TKO/DQ or Decision (+150, DraftKings)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Ante Delija
Cortes-Acosta had his five-fight win streak snapped after losing to Sergei Pavlovich in August. Prior to that defeat, he racked up victories over the likes of seasoned heavyweights Sergei Spivac and Ryan Spann. He fires off punches at a fast rate, landing nearly six significant strikes per minute.
Delija is fresh off a first-round finish of Marcin Tybura; the Croatian has some serious velocity and packs a strong punch.
This is the perfect bounce-back opportunity for Cortes-Acosta; however, Delija could present some serious problems.
For starters, the former PFL champion brings over a decade of combat experience and has had a long journey to the UFC. His average fight time is only 2:03, and anyone with the nickname “Walking Trouble” is bound to cause havoc in the octagon.
I’m backing Delija to get the job done and score a huge KO win against Cortes-Acosta.
Pick: Delija to win by KO/TKO (+250, FanDuel)
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Rest of Card Picks
Jeremiah Wells vs. Themba Gorimbo: Gorimbo by decision (+240, bet365)
Isaac Dulgarian vs. Yadier Del Valle: Del Valle by KO/TKO or Submission (+330, FanDuel)
Charles Radtke vs. Daniel Frunza: Exact Method of Victory, KO/TKO/DQ (-145, DraftKings)
Allan Nascimento vs. Cody Durden: Pass
Billy Elekana vs. Kevin Christian: Elekana to win by KO, TKO, DQ or Submission (-115, bet365)
Timmy Cuamba vs. Changho Lee: Lee by KO/TKO, DQ, or Submission (+325, BetMGM)
Donte Johnson vs. Sedriques Dumas: Johnson to win by KO/TKO in Round 1 (+130, BetRivers)
Ketlen Vieira vs. Norma Dumont: Vieira to win by decision (+200, DraftKings)
Alice Ardelean vs. Montserrat Ruiz: Ardelean to win by decision (-120, DraftKings)
Phil Rowe vs. Seokhyeon Ko: Ko by points (+160, FanDuel)
Talita Alencar vs. Ariane Carnelossi: Alencar moneyline (-225, BetMGM)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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