UFC Raleigh Picks
Ready for UFC Raleigh picks and betting odds & predictions? UFC Raleigh is headlined by a heavyweight title eliminator bout between upcomer Curtis Blaydes and veteran Junior Dos Santos. The co-main event is between former champion Rafael Dos Anjos and Michael Chiesa, who has revived his career at 170 pounds.
Event: UFC Raleigh
Date: Saturday, January 25th, 2020
Time: Main Card: 8 P.M. EST. Prelims: 5 P.M. EST.
Location: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
Broadcast: ESPN+
Main Card (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Pay-Per-View)
Main Event: Curtis Blaydes (-250) vs. Junior Dos Santos (+200)
Free UFC Raleigh Picks – Curtis Blaydes had a really impressive year in 2019, winning both of his bouts. The first was against ranked heavyweight Justin Willis, where he absolutely dominated with his superior wrestling. He most recently won at UFC 242 win a second round stoppage.
In 2018, Junior Dos Santos won both of his bouts which put him in line for a headliner against Derrick Lewis. He won that fight with somewhat ease by way of second round TKO, which set him up for a #1 contender fight with Francis Ngannou. He lost that fight in miserable fashion and will look to avoid losing back to back fights for the first time in his career.
Look for Blaydes to implement his wrestling early and often and do plenty of work while in mount. If this fight gets into the fourth round, however, Blaydes has never fought more than three rounds. Dos Santos’ last two five round fights have been victories. Keep an eye on that, but we wont get fancy here.
MMA Betting Prediction: Curtis Blaydes
Rafael Dos Anjos (-205) vs. Michael Chiesa (+165)
Free UFC Raleigh Picks – Dos Anjos has been somewhat of a gatekeeper for the 170 pound division as of late. He hasn’t done a terrific job at it though, losing three of his last four and losing his most recent against rising star Leon Edwards.
Michael Chiesa has revived his career at 170 pounds. He has won both fights at the new weight division in dominant fashion. Most recently, he beat Diego Sanchez at international fight week.
Although I agree he should be favored, -205 for a guy that has failed to find any professional consistency is far too high. Chiesa is a real problem at 170 pounds and I think this fight proves just that.
MMA Betting Prediction: Michael Chiesa
Alex Perez (-270) vs. Jordan Espinosa (+205)
Free UFC Raleigh Picks – Alex Perez got his start on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series and won his first three fights in the UFC. He lost to title challenger Joseph Benavidez, but rebounded nicely winning his sole 2019 bout.
Jordan Espinosa was riding a 5 fight win streak that included 3 stoppages. He looked to be the next big thing at a shallow flyweight division, until he was submitted in the first round against Matt Schnell.
Although the value sits with Espinosa, I have a hard time getting behind him here as I think Perez is the more well-rounded fighter.
MMA Betting Prediction: Alex Perez
Angela Hill (-170) vs. Hannah Cifers (+140)
Free UFC Raleigh Picks – Angela Hill is one of the most active fighters not only in women’s mixed martial arts, but in the UFC as a whole. She fought four times in 2019 and went 2-2 in said bouts. She most recently won in September by third round stoppage
Hannah Cifers, the much younger fighter, will fight in her third UFC bout against Hill. She won both of her previous fights by decision and looks to keep that streak alive here.
Cifers looked really good in both of her last fights and even though Hill’s last performance was one of her best yet, she is too inconsistent for me. I will take Cifers with the plus money here.
MMA Betting Prediction: Hannah Cifers
Rest of Main Card
Jamahal Hill (-160) vs. Darko Stosic (+130)
MMA Betting Prediction: Stosic
Prelims on ESPN+
Bevon Lewis (-320) vs. Dequan Townsend (+260)
MMA Betting Prediction: Lewis
Arnold Allen (OFF) vs. Nik Lentz (OFF)
MMA Betting Prediction: Allen
Lucie Pudilova (-160) vs. Justine Kish (+130)
MMA Betting Prediction: Kish
Montel Jackson (-600) vs. Felipe Colares (+400)
MMA Betting Prediction: Jackson
Sara McMann (-135) vs. Lina Lansberg (+110)
MMA Betting Prediction: McMann
Tony Gravely (-140) vs. Brett Johns (+115)
MMA Betting Prediction: Johns
Herbert Burns (-115) vs. Nate Landwehr (+100)
MMA Betting Prediction: Landwehr