The Octagon as soon as once more leaves the consolation of the UFC APEX in “Sin Metropolis,” migrating south to Kaseya Heart in Miami, Fla., for UFC 299, the place Sean O’Malley will battle long-time rival, Marlon Vera, as soon as once more this weekend (Sat., March 9, 2024) atop a really particular pay-per-view (PPV) card. In UFC 299’s electrical co-main occasion, surging Light-weight contender, Benoit Saint-Denis, locks horns with fellow Southpaw wrecking machine, Dustin Poirier, in a pivotal Light-weight showdown, whereas human highlight-reel, Michael “Venom” Web page, makes his long-awaited Octagon debut reverse outspoken veteran, Kevin Holland.
It’s a doozy of a present, one bursting with the potential for revenue. Right here’s the way to capitalize …
What Went Mistaken at UFC Vegas 87?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady
It was going so properly till … it wasn’t. Al-Selwady was in full management of the placing and was even overpowering Loik Radzhabov’s wrestling as “Jaguar Paw” ran out of steam, however these telegraphed kicks lastly value him. I’d talked about earlier than that Al-Selwady’s earlier knockout losses had been from monstrous photographs and expressed confidence that his chin was a lot sturdy after standing as much as George Hardwick. In hindsight, that confidence wound up misplaced — and so as to add insult to harm — Al-Selwady went down too early within the third spherical for the Over 2.5 to hit.
What Went Proper?
Eryk Anders, Christian Leroy Duncan, Steve Erceg and Vitor Petrino
Anders tried to beef it by strolling into Jamie Pickett’s proper hand and Petrino sleepwalked by way of most of his combat, however all events nonetheless acquired it finished with out controversy.
Perez/Mokaev Over 2.5 and Basharat/Zahabi Over 2.5
Bless Mokaev’s and Basharat’s questionable ending expertise.
UFC 299 Odds For The Undercard:
Maryna Moroz (-230) vs. Joanne Wooden (+190)
Go away this one be — each ladies have underwhelmed of late.
Assu Almabayev (-455) vs. CJ Vergara (+350)
Use Almabayev for those who want that little bit of additional juice in a parlay. Vergara is among the many worst Flyweights on the roster and has no reply for Almabaev’s high recreation.
Robelis Despaigne (-345) vs. Josh Parisian (+250)
Hear me out: Robelis Despaigne has lower than six minutes {of professional} combat time and his 4 opponents so far had a grand whole of 1 win between them. Parisian has virtually six occasions the combat expertise and a willingness to wrestle, which ought to pay dividends contemplating Despaigne apparently doesn’t know the way to escape of a physique lock. Despaigne may nonetheless spark him in seconds, however Parisian is sturdy sufficient to advantage a flyer.
Michel Pereira (-148) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (+124)
Undoubtedly give me Pereira at these odds. He’s too cell for Oleksiejczuk to chase down and he wrestles properly sufficient to punch clear by way of Oleksiejczuk’s abysmal takedown protection. For all his flaws and out-of-cage foibles, Pereira’s been extraordinarily constant for the reason that Diego Sanchez fiasco and has the type to offer Oleksiejczuk matches, so he will get my vote.
Ion Cutelaba (-135) vs. Philipe Lins (+114)
I feel Lins wins most of the time, however as I’ve mentioned earlier than, betting on a Cutelaba combat is simply asking for catastrophe.
Kyler Phillips (-238) vs. Pedro Munhoz (+195)
A average wager on Phillips is sensible. Munhoz’s poor protection and incapacity to chop off the cage make him cannon fodder for a cell sharpshooter like Phillips and his harmful high recreation is offset by his terrible takedowns.
Maycee Barber (-205) vs. Katlyn Cerminara (+170)
Strive a bit on Cerminara, who’s acquired noteworthy top and attain benefits. Barber’s solely actually harmful within the clinch and on high — she’s not expert sufficient along with her entries for the previous and too incompetent a wrestler for the latter, so all indicators level to Cerminara pot-shotting her technique to the upset.
Mateusz Gamrot (-470) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos (+360)
We simply watched Rafael dos Anjos get out-wrestled by a fading striker in Vicente Luque, and whereas Gamrot might not have “The Silent Murderer’s” measurement or ferocious standup, however he does have the wrestling approach and nonstop tempo to destroy dos Anjos’ day in related trend.
Curtis Blaydes (-115) vs. Jailton Almeida (-105)
Hammer that Blaydes line. Throwing a entrance kick after which taking pictures from midway throughout the cage may fit on terrible grapplers like Jairzinho Rozenstruik or bottom-feeders like Anton Turkalj, however not towards a adorned wrestler with what seems to be a 30-pound weight benefit. Blaydes is ranges above Almeida on the toes and means too good a grappler for Almeida’s predictable method.
UFC 299 Odds For PPV Important Card:
Sean O’Malley (-258) vs. Marlon Vera (+210)
Not feeling too assured about both man; O’Malley’s by no means been 5 rounds and it could take a crowbar to the brainstem to place “Chito” down, however Vera’s output is so low that I can’t belief him to reliably pull off the upset.
Benoit Saint-Denis (-205) vs. Dustin Poirier (+164)
A lot as I really like Poirier, I don’t see him profitable this. Takedown protection stays a major problem for him, one which Saint-Denis is greater than geared up to use, and “God of Warfare” has proven off greater than sufficient sturdiness to outlive Poirier’s finest photographs.
Kevin Holland (-135) vs. Michael Web page (+114)
Go ham on Holland. “Path Blazer” is inordinately sturdy and the higher grappler by an enormous margin, and so far as I’m conscious, he hasn’t re-upped the “placing solely” gentleman’s settlement he made with “Wonderboy” Thompson. Even when he does oblige Web page on the toes, I don’t assume he’ll be overwhelmed by somebody who acquired out-boxed by Mike Perry.
Jack Della Maddalena (-162) vs. Gilbert Burns (+136)
As an enormous fan of Della Maddalena’s since earlier than his UFC debut, I don’t know how one can watch his combat with Bassil Hafez and set up him as the favourite over a monstrous grappler like Burns. Della Maddalena’s lapses in judgment current a tantalizing goal for one of many division’s most adorned grapplers, particularly since “Durinho” additionally took all the pieces Khamzat Chimaev may dish out. Burns is a stable underdog decide.
Petr Yan (-115) vs. Track Yadong (-105)
Name me a idiot, however I nonetheless consider in Yan. Between his superior placing approach and underrated wrestling, he’s acquired all the pieces he must out-gun Track. As long as his confidence continues to be intact after going by way of Merab Dvalishvili’s Wild Experience, it’s his combat to lose. Simply don’t go too loopy; he’s nonetheless a gradual starter and solely has three rounds to work with.
UFC 299 Finest Bets:
Single wager — Josh Parisian: Wager $30 to make $75
Single wager — Katlyn Cerminara: Wager $40 to make $68
Single wager — Gilbert Burns: Wager $40 to make $54.40
Single wager — Curtis Blaydes: Wager $70 to make $60.86
Single wager — Kevin Holland: Wager $80 to make $59.25
Parlay — Assu Almabayev and Michel Pereira: Wager $50 to make $52.19
Parlay — Mateusz Gamrot and Petr Yan: Wager $40 to make $50.69
Parlay — Benoit Saint-Denis and Kyler Phillips: Wager $50 to make $55.64
It’s so refreshing to see a correctly stacked card for as soon as. Make certain to not miss it; see you Saturday, Maniacs.
Preliminary Funding For 2024: $600Current Complete: $636.14
Keep in mind that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the whole UFC 299 combat card proper right here, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), earlier than the pay-per-view (PPV) predominant card begin time at 10 p.m. ET (additionally on ESPN+).
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