An enormous standoff of world class pound-for-pound contenders is set for Saturday night’s UFC 284 headliner when featherweight champion Alexander Volanovski climbs to challenge lightweight top dog Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound title. While Volkanovski will enter the battle as a sizable dark horse, he will have the old neighborhood advantage as the occasion happen in his local Australia.
The battle will be Makhachev’s most memorable guard of the lightweight title after a predominant win over previous hero Charles Oliveira at UFC 280. Volkanovski brings a 22-battle win streak to the Octagon as he hopes to expand on his generally unimaginable resume by turning out to be only the fifth individual in UFC history to hold titles in two divisions all the while.
In the mean time, competitors Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett will contend to crown the break featherweight champion in the co-headliner. Rodriguez is a feature reel striker falling off a technical knockout through injury against Brian Ortega. Emmett has discreetly worked himself into dispute with large power and uncanny sturdiness, most as of late crushing Calvin Kattar.
As usual, we are looking forward to the occasion to decide our decisions for the smartest options on the compensation per-view principal card. 2023 got off to a hot beginning as we went 4-1 on our picks for UFC 283.
Only one of Crute’s seven UFC battles – – eight assuming you count his Dana White’s Competitor Series win – – have gone past the main round. Essentially, six of 10 Octagon trips for Menifield have finished in the primary round. Not exclusively are the two men great finishers, they are not immune to being halted themselves. This battle has each component expected to feel open to taking the under 1.5 rounds line, particularly assuming it stays beneath – 150. Crute has likewise lost two straight battles by stoppage. One of those was by specialist stoppage however the latest was a 48-second knockout misfortune to Jamahal Slope. Menifield can totally break and is an enticing dark horse pick at +160, however the more secure play is to just take the under.
Picking mid-level UFC heavyweight battles is in no way enjoyable. Past that heavyweights for the most part all have sufficient ability to take out their adversary whenever, fuel tanks are inconsistent. Watchman is 37 and powerless against being halted with three knockouts and three accommodation misfortunes on his resume. Tafa’s 5-3 record doesn’t move a lot of certainty, yet he’s a decent finisher, and being Another Zealander, isn’t likewise managing the impacts of movement the same way Watchman will be. Tafa ought to have the option to track down Watchman’s jawline enough to get the completion and on the off chance that we’re picking him to win, we should take the +160 knockout line over the – 125 moneyline.
Jack Della Maddalena versus Randy Brown
Pick: Jack Della Maddalena by means of KO/technical knockout/DQ (- 115)
Della Maddalena is an impressive number one for clear reasons. He has exceptionally sharp boxing abilities and an undefeated record. He coordinates well with Brown, whose greatest resources are his level and reach. At 6-foot-3 and with a 78-inch reach, Brown has one of a kind actual devices for a welterweight. In any case, Della Maddalena’s striking is so sharp and Brown isn’t perfect at forcing his will. Brown has been come by strikes two times in his vocation and Della Maddalena has 11 knockouts in his 13 profession wins. Play the numbers on this one.
Yair Rodríguez versus Josh Emmett
Pick: Battle not to go all the way (+110)
It feels a piece risky to start a quarrel for no obvious reason between two men who have just been halted once each – – not including a Rodriguez misfortune by specialist’s stoppage – – to not go all the way. In any case, elaborately, here the two people face a great deal of chance. The two men hit hard and can have protective failures that outcome in eating clean shots to the face. With this being a break featherweight title battle, there are five rounds for the two men to get by. That is surely a chance, as reflected in the chances, however this is a particularly hazardous battle with two men who don’t avoid commitment that getting the battle to not go all the way at in addition to cash is a beneficial play.
