UFC 246 Pick: Sodiq Yusuff vs. Andre Fili
Ready for a Free UFC 246 Pick on Sodiq Yusuff vs. Andre Fili and betting odds & predictions? Here is a full breakdown of the leadup, what to expect during the fight, and some logical outcomes. Yusuff and Fili will be on the main card of UFC 246, the first UFC pay per view event of 2020, on January 18th in a three round bout.
Event: UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy
Date: January 18th, 2020
Time: Main Card: 10 P.M. EST.
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Broadcast: PPV on ESPN+
Sodiq Yusuff vs. Andre Fili
When the UFC has a McGregor headlined event, they put rising, somewhat unknown fighters on the card with the hopes of building brands for their young fighters. This fight fits that mold perfectly as Yusuff, 26, and Fili, 29, both went 2-0 and 2019 and the winner of this bout will enjoy a pleasant addition to their following.
Sodiq Yusuff
Since busting on to the UFC scene on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in 2018, Yusuff has been nothing short of masterful through the early stages of his UFC career. He is 3-0 with two first round stoppages, most recently beating Gabriel Benitez at UFC 241. With a win here, the 26 year old would be in line for the biggest bout of his career.
Andre Fili
Unlike Yusuff, Fili has been in the UFC since 2013 and has fought 13 times for the promotion, going 8-5 in said fights. He went 2-0 in 2019, most recently knocking out Sheymon Moraes and earning a performance bonus for his doings. Some of his notable opponents include Max Holloway, Yair Rodriguez, Calvin Kattar, Artem Lobov, and Michael Johnson. He looks to win his third bout in a row and poise himself for 2020 to be his career year.
The Fight and What to Expect
This fight has fight of the night potential written all over it. Most of the work both of these guys do is on the feet, so this fight should be a stand up bout filled with non-stop action. I would be surprised if this fight hit the mat more than once. They both do most of their damage in the center of the octagon, which gives ample opportunity for a knockout. The one thing to really keep an eye on in this fight is when both men will try to implement their game plan.
5 of Yusuff’s 11 professional bouts ended in the first round. He is a notoriously fast starter and tries to execute early. Although Fili’s last fight ended in the first, do not let recency bias effect you. His six fights before that ended by decision and he knows how to keep the intensity in the final round of the fight, which plays to his advantage here. Whether Yusuff can catch Fili early is the key question that will determine the outcome of this fight.
Rizz’s MMA Betting Trends/Statistics
- Yusuff is 3-0 in his UFC career SU as a favorite
- Fili is 3-2 in his UFC career SU as an underdog
- Yusuff has yet to win consecutive fights by stoppage in the UFC
- Fili has yet to win three consecutive fights in the UFC
- Fili is 1-3 when fighting on a PPV card
MMA Betting UFC 246 Pick: Sodiq Yusuff
I think Yusuff can catch Fili early and stop him in the first two rounds. As long as Fili isn’t able to successfully take the fight to the ground after he gets damaged, Yusuff should win as a -140 favorite. That’s an extremely valuable line that may see some major movement so get it while you can. Be advised, kids. To the moon.