Welcome to the latest edition of the MMA Prop Squad, in which we offer an array of prop bets with oversized odds for Saturday’s UFC Vegas 63 event.
In this weekly feature, Action Network’s MMA team welcomes in a revolving cast of outside contributors and combat-sports analysts. Each #MMAPropSquad installment features a handful of picks from our team of prop-betting enthusiasts.
This week marks the return of contributors Cline Maclean, Dan Tom, Manpreet Jhass, Tony Sartori and Billy Ward.
Check out their picks for Saturday’s event, which streams on ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET) from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, below.
As with all betting, always wager within your means. That guidance is especially important when dealing with prop bets. Although the props often offer tantalizing odds, they also cash far less frequently than standard bet types.
Clint Maclean: Christian Rodriguez by Submission (+750)
We are back in the UFC Apex for a wonderful night of fights at UFC Vegas 63 and I have a feeling we are going to cash a few of these Prop Squad picks. This card smells of chaos to me.
We are going to get our prop early this week. Kicking off the card is Christian Rodriguez vs. Joshua Weems and I fully expect violence in this bout. We saw Weems on Dana White's Contender Series in 2021 and he got KO’d by Fernie Garcia.
Since that loss, Weems has put together back-to-back submission wins on the regional scene and has earned another crack at the big show. Weems is aggressive and likes to chip at his opponents, forcing them into near brawls and scrambles. Most of his fights end up on the floor and he has nine wins by submission.
Rodriguez made his short-notice UFC debut against Jonathan Pearce in February and even though he lost that fight as a +295 underdog, his performance was impressive. Rodriguez nearly pulled off the upset by choking JSP out in the first round, but eventually got out worked by the UFC veteran.
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I have been for this man to return to the cage. Rodriguez trained at Rufus Sport and has a slick and vicious striking game that leads his opponents to doing everything they can to get him on the mat. He moved to Fight Ready to work on his all around game, especially grappling, and I expect a whole new version of Rodriguez.
Weems weighed in heavy and looked soft on the scale. He is once again filling in on short notice for this fight, so we have to wonder how much training he got in and what his gas tank will look like.
I am playing Rodriguez Inside the Distance at +100 because he absolutely can win via KO, but we see exhausted fighters look for the door and give up their necks pretty regularly. I don’t see why the Fight Ready version of Rodriguez can't submit a tired Weems. Give it to me.
The Pick: Rodriguez by Submission (+750, BetRivers)
Dan Tom: Chase Hooper By Submission – Round 1 (+600)
A featherweight fight between Chase Hooper and Steve Garcia caught my eye on this week’s UFC card.