A very early start for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night Singapore, as the card’s prelims begin at 5 a.m. ET and the main card starts at 8 a.m. ET while being broadcasted on ESPN+.
Last week, the “Sugar Show” shocked us all as Sean O’Malley knocked out Aljamain Sterling to win the UFC bantamweight title.
Can Chan Sung Jung do the same as a massive underdog opposite Max Holloway?
Two older superstars who are likely past their prime face off in the main event as Chan Sung Jung aka “The Korean Zombie,” faces Max “Blessed” Holloway.
Holloway is the self-proclaimed “best boxer” in the UFC, and that probably reigns true among featherweights.
Jung is on his way out, stating he will retire after this fight, and that’s accurately showcased by his odds coming in at +550.
The Korean Zombie will probably look somewhat competent early, but by round three, he’s going to wilt under the volume and pressure.
Back Holloway at a reduced price, assuming Jung survives early before fading.
You can grab Holloway wins in over 2.5 rounds at -165 on PointsBet and that’s a worthwhile wager for Saturday morning’s main event.
After a long layoff, Giga Chikadze finally returns to the UFC after a brutal loss to Calvin Kattar.
Chikadze was out-grappled and smashed by Kattar in the fight and seemed to have his spirit broken in that bout, so it’s hard to really know where he is at mentally coming into this one.
His kicks, in particular, are lethal and drain his opponents’ energy while completely compromising them.
Alex “Bruce Leroy” Caceres is a solid fighter, a master of none but solid all around.
His goal will be to grapple early, but even if he does it is tough to see him completely control this bout from start to finish while grappling.
In the end, he will have to eat those brutal kicks, something I am unsure he is capable of doing.
If you go back and watch Caceres’ fight with Yair Rodriguez from a few years ago, Rodriguez landed several head and body kicks that could’ve easily ended the fight early.
Caceres was able to maneuver around and wound up losing by split decision, which would probably have been unanimous if scored today using new rules.
Regardless, Caceres is a fine live bet after round one if he survives and nothing more.
Bet Chikadze by KO at +340 on FanDuel, the best market odds by far.
After several sterling performances in the women’s bantamweight division, Erin Blanchfield returns in a potential title eliminator match opposite Talia Santos.
Santos looked great in her last fight, narrowly losing to champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Had this fight been lined a year ago, Santos would’ve been favored, but she hasn’t fought in over a year, and Blachfield just ran through JJ Aldrich by submission.
Santos is mostly a decision machine, while Blanchfield has real finishing upside and is a nasty submission specialist.
I also prefer Blanchfield’s strength of schedule – she beat Miranda Maverick with overwhelming grappling.
I don’t see Santos outgrappling Blanchfield here and her striking is sub-par at best.
Back the slight favorite Blanchfield’s moneyline at -135 on Bet365 which is the best line at the time of writing.