UFC 249 Picks
Ready for UFC 249 picks and betting odds & predictions? An event that has been cancelled and re-booked a number of times will finally take place May 9th. The UFC is the first major sport to come back to live action and is a bettors dream, unless you have been dabbling in Japanese Baseball and Darts. Here is an in depth look into each and every fight on the card and a prediction for each.
Event: UFC 249: Gaethje vs. Ferguson
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2020
Time: TBA
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Broadcast: PPV on ESPN+
Main Event: Justin Gaethje vs. Tony Ferguson
Free UFC 249 Picks – Although not the fight many longed for, Gaethje stepped in on short notice for the first time in his career to compete for the interim lightweight belt. I know, some people do not consider it “short notice” now that he has had three extra weeks, but it still is. Tony Ferguson is looking to become the first ever two-time UFC interim champion.
For what it’s worth, that is pretty damn impressive. The lightweight division is and will continue to be the best division in the UFC and the winner of this, in all likelihood, will face Khabib to unify the belt.
As for the fight, Ferguson has the upper hand on the ground and is more technical on the feet, but Gaethje’s power is too grand to ignore. I am NOT a fan of Ferguson cutting weight a few weeks back, though.
Anthony Pettis put Ferguson into a world of trouble and if he was able to do that, Gaethje may have a day here. It’s a five round fight and I think Ferguson’s cardio is too great to bet against.
MMA Betting Prediction: Tony Ferguson
Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz
Free UFC 249 Picks – Similiar to the main event, this is not the fight many anticipated to see in the mid-Spring. Jose Aldo was forced to pull out of this bout against Cejudo, but Cruz stepped in after not fighting in over three years. That is obviously a cause for concern, but I think people are overthinking this one.
Cruz hasn’t fought in some time, and I am not discounting the fact that nothing compares to real competition, but he is still training and has a big stature for 135 pounds.
Cejudo has impressed in his last two fights, but I am not sold on him here, especially as a favorite. I am not greatly confident in this one, but I will take the value and fade the public here.
MMA Betting Prediction: Dominick Cruz
Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Flashbacks of Ngannou vs. Derrick Lewis are prevalent. I hope I am wrong, but each and every time a heavyweight fight between two knockout artists takes place, it seems the fight never lives up to expectations. The public expectations are HIGH, I will temper mine.
As for the fight, I really like Ngannou here. I predict he may look to take this fight to the ground, or at least do damage in the clinch along the fence. Keep an eye out for that.
MMA Betting Prediction: Francis Ngannou
Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Free UFC 249 Picks – This fight is not getting the press it deserves as it is being overshadowed by all the additions. Although Kattar lost his last bout and Stephens’ has not won in his last four, these two always bring it and this should be a high level bout.
Stephens is a pretty hefty underdog, so I will take the value here, but keep an eye on my Twitter @RizzMMA for this one to change.
MMA Betting Prediction: Jeremy Stephens
Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan de Castro
Free UFC 249 Picks – These boys are two of the most THICC boys in the UFC. Although it comes with daunting flashbacks of Ngannou vs Lewis, this fight will hopefully be a heavyweight slug fest we have longed for.
Hardy lost his last fight, but looked pretty damn impressive against Volkov. De Castro has been an absolute savage since entering the UFC and there is not much of a playbook on him.
If Hardy uses his reach and length effectively, this fight gets interesting. Although I think it can go either way, De Castro is my pick here.
MMA Betting Prediction: Yorgan de Castro
Prelims on ESPN2
Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis
MMA Betting Prediction: Pettis
Aleksei Oleinik vs. Fabricio Werdum
MMA Betting Prediction: Oleinik
Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
MMA Betting Prediction: Waterson
Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza
MMA Betting Prediction: Hall
Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
MMA Betting Prediction: Luque
Bryce Mitchell vs. Charles Rosa
MMA Betting Prediction: Mitchell
Ryan Spann vs. Sam Alvey
MMA Betting Prediction: Spann
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