Matthew Lowrimore
UFC Fight Night 251 takes place on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. This card features a UFC Middleweight fight between Jared Cannonier and Gregory Rodrigues as the Main Event.
Here are our best bets for this UFC card, which will include 3 fights on the Main Card. Be sure to also check out the rest of our UFC predictions for all of the UFC Fight Night 251 Main Card fights.
UFC Fight Night 251 Main Card Best Bets
Youssef Zalal Win by Decision over Calvin Kattar (-135)
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook at the time of publishing.
The Co-Main Event at UFC Fight Night 251 will see Calvin Kattar take on Youssef Zalal in the UFC Featherweight division. Zalal enters this fight with an MMA record of 16-5-1 and 6-3-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.84 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 49%. Zalal is absorbing 1.71 strikes and has a striking defense of 65%. His grappling is also solid, averaging 2.34 takedowns every 15 minutes and 1.5 submission attempts during the same period. He has a takedown accuracy of 35% and a takedown defense of 59%.
Because Zalal is a huge favorite, we will be looking for him to win by decision. Zalal has recently been winning by submission but Kattar is known for not losing often by finish. Kattar has lost just once by decision in the UFC; therefore, backing Zalal to win by decision will be our best bet.
Read our full Youssef Zalal vs. Calvin Kattar prediction
Nasim Sadykhov ML over Ismael Bonfim (+170)
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook at the time of publishing
The third fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 251 will see Ismael Bonfim take on Nazim Sadykhov in the UFC Lightweight division. Sadykhov enters this fight with an MMA record of 9-1-1 and 3-0-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.94 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 48%. Sadykhov is absorbing 5.72 strikes and has a striking defense of 48%. His grappling has also been decent, averaging 1.71 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 62% and his takedown defense is 75%.
Bonfim is the heavy favorite in this fight but Sadykhov looks to be a worthy upset candidate. Sadykhov has a clear edge in grappling and while he does not quite compare in terms of striking volume, he has never lost by KO/TKO. For that reason, we will back Sadykhov to win.
Read our full Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov prediction
Jose Delgado Win by Finish over Connor Matthews (+100)
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
The first fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 251 will see Connor Matthews take on Jose Delgado in the UFC Featherweight division. Delgado enters this fight with an MMA record of 8-1 and 1-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 6.23 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 44%. Delgado is absorbing 4.21 strikes and has a striking defense of 48%. In his lone Contender Series fight, his grappling was elite, averaging 7.01 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 75% and a takedown defense of 100%.
Delgado is the overwhelming favorite; therefore, we will be looking for him to win by finish. This is, of course, his official UFC debut but he dominated his lone Contender Series fight. As for Matthews, he is coming off a loss by finish, and both his striking and grappling do not match that of Delgado’s. For that reason, backing Delgado to win by finish will be our best bet.
Read our full Connor Matthews vs. Jose Delgado prediction
