UFC 294 Betting Preview
UFC WagerTalk handicapper Andy Lang gives his UFC 294 predictions and picks for October 21 with Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski headlining the event in a lightweight title fight. The main card starts up at 2:00pm ET from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
WagerTalk also offers Free UFC Picks all year long!
Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski: UFC 294 Main Event
SPECIAL OFFER FOR FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS
Thanks for signing up! Check your email in a few minutes for your $15.00 Coupon Code. Thanks for signing up!
You are not eligible for this offer
ANY SINGLE PURCHASE AT WAGERTALK.COM
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
UFC 294 Predictions
Bruno Silva +164 v Sharabutdin Magomedov -198
Shara Magomedov might set a UFC record for kicks landed in a fight if he has a long UFC career. He is constantly throwing leg and body kicks, and they're effective, and he looks like he has cardio to continue the kicks and knees for all three rounds.
He doesn't look to wrestle hardly at all, and he'll have a willing dance partner on the feet in Bruno Silva. Silva has lost three out of four, but two of them were to submissions, and the other was to Alex Pereira, and Shara doesn't look like he's going to try and look for submissions.
Silva's four wins in the UFC have come by knockout so he's at his best in a strikefest. The value is in the UFC veteran here as defending and surviving the kicks will be what he needs to do on defense, and I don't see opponents of Magomedov with the striking of Silva. I wouldn't bet on the UFC debutant here, Silva is a live dog.
Jin Yu Frey +300 v Victoria Dudakova -380
I loved Victoria Dudakova to win on Contender Series, and she cashed for us there, I loved her to win her UFC debut, and she cashed again when her opponent was injurred, and I want to cash again on her. She's a fighter who's specialty is takedowns and ground game, but her striking is solid to help set everything up, and I think she's only gotten better since we've seen her.
Shen she gets opponents down on the mat, it's been nearly impossible for them to get back up, and I think she wins again against Jin Yu Frey. Frey is 2-5 in the UFC, and has lost 3 straight, and I guess is a striker, but when you're losing stand up striking matches to Elise Reed, and getting knocked out by Polyana Viana, I don't think you're a great striker.
Frey is 38 years old and just looks slow at this point in her career. I like Dudakova to win this by controlling Frey, working takedowns and grinding out a confident win.
Nathaniel Wood -310 v Muhammadjon Naimov +250
Muhammad Naimov had one of the more crazy UFC debuts when he fought Jamie Mullarkey on short notice.
Mullarkey was winning the fight, and Naimov caught him with a strike that put Mullarkey down and ref jumped in a stopped the fight, quite prematurely I believe.
Naimov has good power, and I'm looking forward to what he can do with a full camp, but think Wood puts on a clinic on the feet in this one.
Wood's leg kicks will chew up Naimov's calves early on which lets Wood's striking open up. Naimov put Mullarkey down with one punch, but Nathaniel Wood is tough as nails, and can take a strike way better than Mullarkey, and I expect Wood to put on a masterclass in leg kicks and striking en route to victory.
Mike Breeden +330 v Anshul Jubli -425
It has not gone well for Mike Breeden in the UFC as he is 0-3, and is coming off a first round KO loss to Terrance McKinney.
He'll be fighting Anshul Jubli who is undefeated and making his UFC debut, and he's coming off winning Road To The UFC where he showed he can win by striking, or by takedowns and control.
He's a well rounded fighter, but his striking defense is a concern as is his cardio. Breeden looked completely overwhelmed against McKinney, and if he fights scared again, he'll lose this fight.
He lost against Natan Levy by losing the takedown and clinch battle, and he also lost the striking battle in that fight. Breeden just isn't UFC caliber, but I think this fight is closer than the odds would tell you.
Jubli has gotten tired in later rounds, and I actually think Breeden is one the best opponents he's fought. Jubli takes this fight I think, but -425 is too steep of a price for me.
Sedriques Dumas -170 v Abu Azaitar +142
I don't understand the line on this fight. Sedriques Dumas lost to Josh Fremd (not a good look), and beat Cody Brundage in one of the stragest fights you'll see. It looked like Brundage had stage fright or was paralyzed, and didn't even try to fight.
Dumas couldn't even finish Brundage, which was a terrible look for him as it looked like he was fighting a mannequin. Dumas is raw, and isn't composed on the feet as he throws wild, and leaves himself open.
Abu Azaitar is a grinder and he'll land punches, push against the fence, dirty box and just make it a grueling match.
Azaitar is coming off a loss to Marc-Andre Barriault after beating Vitor Miranda, but this is a massive step down in competition for Azaitar. He's quite a bit older than Dumas, but I think his technique and composure will get him the win here.
Javid Basharat -440 v Victor Henry +340
Sometimes you get a good read on a fighter, and cash on him fight after fight, and you don't want to bet against him, and that's Javid Basharat for me.
I've cashed on him four times in a row, and I think it will be five in a row. Basharat is a cerebral fighter who reads his opponents for the first part of the first round, he learns their weaknesses and then pounces.
He's done the same thing against Mendonca, Gravely and Jones in the UFC where he gets better as the fight goes on, mostly using really accurate strikes to set up a takedown where he controls and wins the round.
He fights Victor Henry who is 2-1 in the UFC and is coming off a win to Tony Gravely, who is a guy that lost to Basharat.
Both guys have similar styles with good striking and good takedown and ground games, but I think Basharat is just a bit better everywhere. Henry's jab can be a problem for Basharat, and Henry will be able defend takedowns, but I don't know if he has what it takes to win two rounds from Basharat.
He was getting rocked in the third round against Gravely as his cario went away, and Basharat won't be getting tired. If you want to bet on Basharat, just bet him to win by decision at a much better price. All three of Basharat's UFC fights have easily gone the distance.
Mohammad Yahya -105 v Trevor Peek -115
Trevor Peek's fights are never short on excitement as he swings as hard as he can to KO his opponent as quickly as possible. He hasn't shown any patience, or the ability to set up strikes, he just throw really hard, and he's tough as hell.
However, he didn't get the KO finish against Chepe Mariscal, and he tired out and dropped a decision loss as Mariscal survived the early barrage and grinded out a decisive win.
That's what this fight comes down to really, is can Yahya survive the early strikes and grind out the win. I don't think he's got the strength to absorb the shots that Peek will land on him.