Editor’s Note: Don’t just bet your favorite sports. LIVE YOUR BET LIFE! Get started today at PointsBet with two risk-free bets up to $2,000. Bet now!
There are few better ways to spend a Saturday night than watching a packed UFC fight card. Tonight, is one such night as the UFC presents a 13-fight event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
Two title fights headline this deep card. Feather weight champion Alexander Volkanovski squares off against Chan Sung Jung and Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling meet again for the bantamweight title.
In addition, quite possibly the fastest-rising star in the UFC universe enters the octagon along with jiu-jitsuworld champions, an Olympic medalist (wrestling), and a couple former title challengers.
Our analysts, Ike Feldman (@IkeFeldman) and Steven Ricciardi (@CombatSportsNBC) have broken it down and they have found value for bettors throughout the card. However, they disagree on where said value exists.
Alexander Volkanovski vs Korean Zombie
Ricciardi: Alexander Volkanovski has been to the scorecards with Max Holloway twice. Volk has been in danger vs Brian Ortega on the ground. He has been rocked by Chad Mendes and walked through the fire to get that knockout. He seems to get past the fire and get stronger as the fight gets dirty. He throws strikes with more volume than the Korean Zombie. I expect Volk to get ahead on the scorecards and a late finish is very possible as that volume striking wears Zombie down.
Feldman: Chan Sung Jung, better known as the “Korean Zombie”, has one of the more unique career trajectories that is culminating with a replacement title fight against one of the sport’s greatest champions. Jung has fought the best the UFC’s featherweight division has to offer for over a decade. Nearly nine years ago he fought for UFC gold against Jose Aldo. Jung knows he is playing with house money here and his dangerous style counters Volkanovski’s weapons. Zombie has some of the most fluid boxing skills along with tremendous power and cardio. Jung has stated that he welcomes a slugfest but understands that he is more likely better off picking his spots against Volkanovski’s rangy, point-fighting style. I got Zombie to land big shots, avoid long grappling exchanges, and make it a night of the living dead.
Petr Yan vs Aljamain Sterling
Feldman: Yan-Sterling 1 had an unprecedented outcome where Sterling won the title because of Yan’s illegal knee. Now, over a year later, we get an emotionally charged rematch. After much public vitriol followed by a disc replacement surgery, Sterling is finally ready to prove all of those who doubted him. In the first fight, Yan was winning on the scorecards at the time of the foul, but in the early rounds, Sterling was holding his own. I expect a wiser pace from Sterling combined with a more wrestling and grappling heavy strategy. If and when he gets Yan to the mat, there is no bantamweight on this planet that can survive Sterling’s level of submission wrestling. I believe Sterling will shock the world and officially be crowned the 135-pound king. Lookout for a 1st or 2nd round submission from the Black Belt.
Ricciardi: Petr Yan will settle into this fight by round three and control the striking exchanges from that point forward. Yan is more durable and possesses more punching power. Sterling will use his movement early and will attempt to strike with volume to get ahead on the scorecards. Yan will pressure more and more as the fight moves along. His pressure in rounds four and five will be too much for Sterling. This fight should get into the late rounds with Yan pulling ahead.
The App is Back! Don’t forget to download the NBC Sports EDGE app to receive real-time player news, mobile alerts and track your favorite players. Plus, now you can check out articles and player cards. Get it here!
Khamzat Chimaev vs Gilbert Burns
Ricciardi: Here is a fight I think Ike and I can agree on. Khamzat Chimaev is the hottest hype train in the UFC. He can propel himself into a title challenger matchup with Colby Covington with a win. I like the prop market in this fight. Chimaev should finish this fight in rounds one or two. Burns is a submission grappler, so this fight is likely to stay on the feet. Chimaev will hurt Burns on the feet and finish him via KO/TKO.
Feldman: Steve and I do agree that Chimaev is the next big thing. It is not too often a fighter comes along and grabs the sport by the horns and is knocking on the door of a title shot in just four fights. Chimaev has the world watching his every move and is fighting a very game Gilbert Burns who sees this at his last opportunity to make a run at the welterweight strap. Burns is a world champ in jiu-jitsu, but Chimaev has a strong wrestling base and a ferocious pace in his fights. It will not be easy, and I see it going all three rounds, but I have got Chimaev winning via decision.
Aspen Ladd vs Raquel Pennington
Feldman: Raquel Pennington has quietly put together a three-fight win streak and is facing a highly talented but struggling Aspen Ladd. Both fighters are at a crossroads in their respective careers. It is the perfect fight for Pennington to extend her win streak. With weight cutting issues, changing teams and more losses than wins since 2019, Ladd has a fair amount of pressure on her shoulders. I really like Pennington in this spot to rise to the occasion by using her better boxing and jiu-jitsu skills against Ladd. As a cool sidebar, Pennington is fighting on the same card as her partner, Tecia Torres, which has served to amp up her focus during training for this one.
Ricciardi: Aspen Ladd is at a pivotal point in her career. She has had weight cutting issues and game plan issues when she has entered the octagon. Aspen Ladd should walk forward and work to get Raquel Pennington to the ground. Once Ladd gets top control, she must keep position and use ground strikes to win rounds or finish this fight. Ladd needs to be the aggressor in this matchup if she is to prevail.
Mickey Gall vs Mike Malott
Ricciardi: Mickey Gall has been in the UFC octagon on ten occasions. Mike Malott made his debut on the Contenders Series with a quick win and finds himself on the undercard of a huge UFC PPV. I am going to side with experience in this matchup. Mike Malott secured a quick guillotine choke in his Contender Series win after being taken down early in the fight. Mickey Gall can take Malott to the ground and work his superior BJJ skills. The path to victory is there for Mickey Gall. I expect to see this fight get dirty early with a finish very likely. Mickey Gall’s best path to victory is a ground finish.
Feldman: Hot off earning a contract because of his dominant DWCS performance last fall, Team Alpha Male’s Mike Malott gets a big fight against fan-favorite Mickey Gall. Both athletes are highly skilled in jiu-jitsu. Gall has been a wet blanket on his opponents in victory but has faltered against physically stronger opposition in his losses. I expect to see them cancel each other’s offense on the feet while Malott will have the all-important edge against the fence and on the mat as he earns the biggest win of his career.
Enjoy your Saturday Night at the Fights…and enjoy the sweat.
PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. NJ, IA, IN, IL, CO, MI, VA, WV only. 21+. T&C apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.