Amid hyperlinks to a shocking June title struggle with former interim champion, Dustin Poirier in a return to the Octagon – undisputed divisional champion, Islam Makhachev stays a definite betting favourite to carry the crown on December 31. this 12 months – in an essential annum for the Russian.
Makhachev, the present pound-for-pound primary fighter on the promotion’s books, most lately secured his second profitable protection of the undisputed title again in October, definitively ending his rivalry with Alexander Volkanovski with a shocking high-kick knockout win.
And as for Lafayette native, Poirier, the quantity three ranked contender has staked his declare for a shot at Islam Makhachev subsequent, recent off the again of a second spherical KO win over Nimes native, Benoit Saint Denis earlier this month.
Islam Makhachev betting favourite to carry gold come December 31.
With the chasing pack scorching on the heels of American Kickboxing Academy, followers can discover one of the best wager information on the hyperlink supplied – with Makhachev at the moment a -300 betting favourite to carry the light-weight title on the finish of the 12 months.
Sitting simply behind Islam Makhachev within the pecking order to carry gold come the top of the 12 months, a former foe of the Russian, incoming UFC 300 foremost card characteristic, Arman Tsarukyan is closing strains as a +250 in comparison with the present champion.
And as for Poirier, probably making an attempt to grab undisputed gold for the ultimate time in his Octagon tenure, the previous interim champion is a +350 betting underdog – sat stage with former champion – one other UFC 300 characteristic, Charles Oliveira.
Apparently, regardless of his gorgeous knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 final July within the pair’s symbolic BMF championship rematch, Poirier remains to be shorter in odds to carry light-weight gold on the finish of the 12 months, in comparison with the Arizona native who’s a +500 underdog.
Himself additionally anticipated to return in June – this time on the finish of the month, Conor McGregor – a former undisputed light-weight champion again in 2016, is an enormous +3,500 betting underdog to carry gold on the finish of the 12 months.
Anticipated to attract former title chaser, Michael Chandler, former two-division champion, McGregor is and not using a win since a 2020 knockout of Donald Cerrone, and is compelled to snap a two-fight dropping skid for the primary time in his skilled combined martial arts profession.
The joint unlikeliest champion come the top of the 12 months in response to the most recent odds comes within the type of a former interim titleholder, Tony Ferguson – who’s driving a +100,000 betting underdog line, alongside Claudio Puelles, amid his record-setting seven-fight dropping run.
Revealing he turned down an enormous UFC 300 title struggle with Leon Edwards on the welterweight restrict first, the above-mentioned, Makhachev is at the moment a +500 betting underdog to carry gold a division larger come the top of December this 12 months – if followers are thinking about punting on the Russian as soon as extra.
The above-mentioned, Volkanovski could have simply misplaced his featherweight title to Ilia Topuria final month in California, nevertheless, maintains his run at light-weight is much from over. And followers seeking to wager on the Australian lastly minting himself because the 155 pound gold holder, can discover him at odds of a +10,000 betting underdog.
Together with his odds so brief on the welterweight restrict, Islam Makhachev lands above the likes of Ian Machado Garry, Sean Brady, Kamaru Usman, Khamzat Chimaev, and new star, Michael ‘Venom’ Web page to call just a few – leaving him behind simply Belal Muhammad, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and the aforenoted, Edwards within the pile.
Weighing up his possibilities of combating Russian star, Islam Makhachev sooner or later in a possible light-weight leap, newly-minted featherweight greatest, Topuria has but to earn odds at 155 kilos to carry gold come the top of the 12 months, nevertheless, may be wager on as a -160 betting favourite to retain spoils on the featherweight restrict at the moment.
Of word, outdoors the duo of Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight, and incoming Octagon debutante, Kayla Harrison on the bantamweight restrict, Islam Makhachev joins his fellow championship incomes friends as the present respective betting favorites maintain UFC gold of their present divisions come the top of the annum.
And anticipated to tackle Louisianan striker, Poirier this summer season in a return to the Octagon, Islam Makhachev boldly claimed that if the previous was ever going to land spoils, he would have already finished so earlier than his reign – resulting in a strict response from the previous interim gold holder.
“If I might decide a struggle, the title struggle is my selection, that’s what I would like,” Dustin Poirier saif. “I imply, that’s on him (Islam Makhachev) – I’ve finished extra within the sport of combined martial arts than he has. I’ve been round a very long time, I’ve been doing this earlier than it was cool. And, , I’m nonetheless right here – I’m nonetheless right here doing it on the highest stage. I can beat anyone on this planet, and I hope he’s subsequent.”
