Matthew Lowrimore
Show Bio
We are back in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex for UFC 260. This weeks card will feature a Heavyweight title fight as the Main Event.
We’ll share our UFC 260 best bets here but head over to our main UFC 260 predictions homepage if you want picks for every fight on the main and preliminary card. Please gamble responsibly when following our MMA picks and predictions.
UFC 260 Best Bets
Main Card
Stipe Miocic Money Line (+100)
Stipe Miocic comes into this fight 14-3 in the UFC. He just finished his trilogy with Daniel Cormier, beating him back in August of 2020 to retain his title. Miocic is averaging 4.90 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 52 percent. He is absorbing 3.75 strikes and has a striking defense of 55 percent. Miocic is also keen for a fight on the ground, averaging 1.92 takedowns per every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy may only be 34 percent, but this still could be the deciding factor.
Francis Ngannou comes into this fight 10-2 in the UFC. He makes headlines every time he fights, most recently beating Jaizinho Rozenstruik by TKO/KO in 20 seconds. Maybe it is because his strikes are so powerful, but Ngannou is actually only averaging 2.23 significant strikes per minute. With a striking accuracy of 37 percent, this could actually be an issue against a guy like Miocic. Now his grappling is not always been the best, but he does have a takedown defense of 71 percent. At the same time, Ngannou was taken down six times in his first fight against Miocic.
Really not much has changed for these fighters for me to believe this fight is not going to go the same way the first one went. Ngannou is going to be the popular pick, but I still believe Miocic is much more balanced and will be able to control this fight just like he did in the first meeting.
Miranda Maverick Money Line (-158)
Miranda Maverick comes into this fight 1-0 in the UFC after winning her debut back in October of 2020. This was a win by TKO/KO against Liana Jojua. At least through one UFC fight, Maverick has showed a tremendous amount of power. She is averaging 9.80 significant strikes per minute and landing them 51 percent of the time. Because of her aggressive style, she is absorbing 6.00 strikes, though her striking defense is 62 percent and she has never been knocked out. The power shown by Maverick is likely going to be the difference here. Because of her striking, I will be backing Maverick to win.
Preliminary Card
Michal Oleksiejczuk Money Line (-172)
Michal Oleksiejczuk comes into this fight 2-2 in the UFC. Oleksiejczuk is averaging 4.83 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 48 percent. He is absorbing only 2.91 strikes, has a striking defense of 69 percent and has only been knocked out once. His grappling is decent, averaging 1.05 takedowns per every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 66 percent, but his takedown defense is 35 percent.
Normally, the takedown defense for Oleksiejczuk would be a concern. Majority of his losses have come by submission, but Modestas Bukauskas has yet to shown any takedown ability. Bukauskas has also proven to have a vulnerable chin, so I would look for Oleksiejczuk to win this fight because of this striking.
