CBS Sportsline picks for the fights(premium content)
Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defends his belt against fourth-ranked contender Alex Pereira on Saturday in the main event of UFC 281. The main UFC 281 fight card is set for 10 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Adesanya is a -220 favorite (risk $220 to win $100), while Pereira is priced at +190 (risk $100 to win $190) in the latest Caesars Sportsbook MMA odds for UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira.
Before finalizing any UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira picks of your own, you NEED to see the latest MMA predictions from SportsLine MMA analyst Kyle Marley. Over the past three-plus years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley's picks are up more than $13,000!
The accomplished MMA analyst has provided consistent winners for SportsLine members for the past three-plus years. His accomplishments include hitting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020 following the UFC's brief pause in action because of the pandemic. Anyone who has followed Marley is WAY UP!
This week at UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira, we can tell you Marley is backing Dominick Reyes (-220) to get past Ryan Spann (+190) in a battle of light heavyweight contenders on the preliminary card.
Marley also has strong picks for Adesanya vs. Pereira and every other bout on the UFC 281 card. He's also backing a fighter who "will dominate in the striking" to emerge with a huge victory! You MUST SEE his UFC 281 picks before making any of your own.
Here are Marley's picks and analysis for UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira (odds from Caesars Sportsbook):
Israel Adesanya (-220) vs. Alex Pereira (+190): Adesanya
This is a striker's delight between two of the best strikers in the UFC. Adesanya is the champion with a 23-1 MMA record. Pereira is only 6-1 in MMA, but he is 2-0 against Adesanya in Glory kickboxing. He won a decision against him in 2016 and knocked him out in 2017. He is the one fighter in this division who can match Adesanya's striking and he has the power edge. But he has never been in this big of a fight and he has never gone 25 minutes in the octagon. I have gone back and forth on this and I don't hate a shot on the underdog, but I will side with Adesanya.
Zhang Weili (-340) vs. Carla Esparza (+280): Weili
Esparza is a great wrestler but that's all she has to offer. She is going to have to lay on Weili for at least three rounds to get the win. I think Weili is a decent wrestler as well and, if she can use that in defense to keep this fight on the feet, she should dominate in the striking. I will take her to get a TKO.
Chris Gutierrez (-215) vs. Frankie Edgar (+185) : Edgar
Edgar is 41 and has been knocked out in three of his last four fights. This is his retirement fight and that is my main worry, but I do think he is a live underdog. Gutierrez should be the better striker, but it's his leg kicks that impress me. Edgar can still hang in the striking, but his edge is going to be in wrestling. He was winning his last fight against Marlon Vera until he was knocked out in Round 3. He landed three takedowns in that fight. Gutierrez has been taken down in six of his eight UFC fights and Edgar might be the best wrestler he has faced. If Edgar's chin holds up, I like him to get the win.
Dan Hooker (-150) vs. Claudio Puelles (+130): Hooker
This is a striker versus grappler matchup, and I will lean with Hooker to keep this fight on the feet and get a victory. Puelles is a dangerous grappler and he is live for a submission. He isn't a great wrestler, so I don't see him grinding out rounds on the ground. Hooker should have a big edge on the feet and, if he can stuff takedowns, I see him getting a TKO.
Renato Moicano (-120) vs. Brad Riddell (+100): Moicano
Moicano is the more well-rounded fighter, but he has a questionable chin. Riddell should be the better and more powerful striker. Moicano's big edge is going to be on the mat and he could work his way to a submission. If he can't get it there, I see Riddell knocking him out. I don't feel confident about picking either side and would rather just bet that the fight ends inside the distance. But I will side with Moicano.
Dominick Reyes (-220) vs. Ryan Spann (+190): Reyes
We haven't seen Reyes in 18 months, and he is coming off three straight losses. I have no idea where his head is at, but he should still have a big striking advantage with more power. Spann has power too, so he could get a TKO if Reyes' chin is gone. He is more live for a submission but I can't rely on him to dictate where the fight takes place. Give me Reyes by TKO.
Erin Blanchfield (-400) vs. Molly McCann (+320): Blanchfield
Blanchfield is excellent on the ground, but this fight must get there for her to look like this steep of a favorite. I favor McCann in a striking match by putting on the pressure and landing more volume and the harder shots. But I am going to side with Blanchfield because she can dominate this fight on the mat, and she is efficient at getting it there.
Andre Petroski (-190) vs. Wellington Turman (+170): Turman
Petroski is a solid wrestler-grappler and he should have the edge on the ground early. I don't like his striking and favor Turman in a striking match. Petroski also has a bad gas tank and if Turman can survive while Petroski is fresh, I see him gassing Petroski out and taking over. Give me Turman to get a late finish.
Ottman Azaitar (-120) vs. Matt Frevola (+100): Frevola
Azaitar has a 13-0 record, and he has lethal power. Frevola has a questionable chin, so Azaitar can put him out in any round. But we haven't seen Azaitar in more than two years, and a knockout seems his best chance to win. Frevola isn't a bad striker, but he should have a wrestling edge in this matchup. He can put up a pace and wear Azaitar down. If his chin holds up, I like Frevola to win.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz (-120) vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez (+100): Kowalkiewicz
Juarez is a decent striker, but she has zero quality wins. Her power is the only real advantage I see for her. Kowalkiewicz doesn't look like the same fighter she used to be, but I like her overall striking more and she should be the higher-volume striker. She also will have the edge on the ground if she looks for takedowns.
Montel Jackson (-200) vs. Julio Arce (+175): Jackson
The striking could be close if Arce can land the higher volume, but Jackson is the more dangerous striker. He should also have a big wrestling edge if he looks for takedowns. I could see a striking-based decision being close, but I am much higher on Jackson overall and he can win by any method.
Carlos Ulberg (-130) vs. Nicolae Negumereanu (+110): Ulberg
Negumereanu isn't a bad striker, but Ulberg is a pure striker and levels ahead of him. Negumereanu's edge in this fight is on the ground if he can land takedowns and grind out minutes. I will take Ulberg because I don't see Negumereanu landing more than one or two takedowns and that probably won't cut it.
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Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defends his belt against fourth-ranked contender Alex Pereira on Saturday in the main event of UFC 281. The main UFC 281 fight card is set for 10 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Adesanya is a -220 favorite (risk $220 to win $100), while Pereira is priced at +190 (risk $100 to win $190) in the latest Caesars Sportsbook MMA odds for UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira.
Before finalizing any UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira picks of your own, you NEED to see the latest MMA predictions from SportsLine MMA analyst Kyle Marley. Over the past three-plus years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley's picks are up more than $13,000!
The accomplished MMA analyst has provided consistent winners for SportsLine members for the past three-plus years. His accomplishments include hitting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020 following the UFC's brief pause in action because of the pandemic. Anyone who has followed Marley is WAY UP!
This week at UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira, we can tell you Marley is backing Dominick Reyes (-220) to get past Ryan Spann (+190) in a battle of light heavyweight contenders on the preliminary card.
Marley also has strong picks for Adesanya vs. Pereira and every other bout on the UFC 281 card. He's also backing a fighter who "will dominate in the striking" to emerge with a huge victory! You MUST SEE his UFC 281 picks before making any of your own.
Here are Marley's picks and analysis for UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira (odds from Caesars Sportsbook):
Israel Adesanya (-220) vs. Alex Pereira (+190): Adesanya
This is a striker's delight between two of the best strikers in the UFC. Adesanya is the champion with a 23-1 MMA record. Pereira is only 6-1 in MMA, but he is 2-0 against Adesanya in Glory kickboxing. He won a decision against him in 2016 and knocked him out in 2017. He is the one fighter in this division who can match Adesanya's striking and he has the power edge. But he has never been in this big of a fight and he has never gone 25 minutes in the octagon. I have gone back and forth on this and I don't hate a shot on the underdog, but I will side with Adesanya.
Zhang Weili (-340) vs. Carla Esparza (+280): Weili
Esparza is a great wrestler but that's all she has to offer. She is going to have to lay on Weili for at least three rounds to get the win. I think Weili is a decent wrestler as well and, if she can use that in defense to keep this fight on the feet, she should dominate in the striking. I will take her to get a TKO.
Chris Gutierrez (-215) vs. Frankie Edgar (+185) : Edgar
Edgar is 41 and has been knocked out in three of his last four fights. This is his retirement fight and that is my main worry, but I do think he is a live underdog. Gutierrez should be the better striker, but it's his leg kicks that impress me. Edgar can still hang in the striking, but his edge is going to be in wrestling. He was winning his last fight against Marlon Vera until he was knocked out in Round 3. He landed three takedowns in that fight. Gutierrez has been taken down in six of his eight UFC fights and Edgar might be the best wrestler he has faced. If Edgar's chin holds up, I like him to get the win.
Dan Hooker (-150) vs. Claudio Puelles (+130): Hooker
This is a striker versus grappler matchup, and I will lean with Hooker to keep this fight on the feet and get a victory. Puelles is a dangerous grappler and he is live for a submission. He isn't a great wrestler, so I don't see him grinding out rounds on the ground. Hooker should have a big edge on the feet and, if he can stuff takedowns, I see him getting a TKO.
Renato Moicano (-120) vs. Brad Riddell (+100): Moicano
Moicano is the more well-rounded fighter, but he has a questionable chin. Riddell should be the better and more powerful striker. Moicano's big edge is going to be on the mat and he could work his way to a submission. If he can't get it there, I see Riddell knocking him out. I don't feel confident about picking either side and would rather just bet that the fight ends inside the distance. But I will side with Moicano.
Dominick Reyes (-220) vs. Ryan Spann (+190): Reyes
We haven't seen Reyes in 18 months, and he is coming off three straight losses. I have no idea where his head is at, but he should still have a big striking advantage with more power. Spann has power too, so he could get a TKO if Reyes' chin is gone. He is more live for a submission but I can't rely on him to dictate where the fight takes place. Give me Reyes by TKO.
Erin Blanchfield (-400) vs. Molly McCann (+320): Blanchfield
Blanchfield is excellent on the ground, but this fight must get there for her to look like this steep of a favorite. I favor McCann in a striking match by putting on the pressure and landing more volume and the harder shots. But I am going to side with Blanchfield because she can dominate this fight on the mat, and she is efficient at getting it there.
Andre Petroski (-190) vs. Wellington Turman (+170): Turman
Petroski is a solid wrestler-grappler and he should have the edge on the ground early. I don't like his striking and favor Turman in a striking match. Petroski also has a bad gas tank and if Turman can survive while Petroski is fresh, I see him gassing Petroski out and taking over. Give me Turman to get a late finish.
Ottman Azaitar (-120) vs. Matt Frevola (+100): Frevola
Azaitar has a 13-0 record, and he has lethal power. Frevola has a questionable chin, so Azaitar can put him out in any round. But we haven't seen Azaitar in more than two years, and a knockout seems his best chance to win. Frevola isn't a bad striker, but he should have a wrestling edge in this matchup. He can put up a pace and wear Azaitar down. If his chin holds up, I like Frevola to win.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz (-120) vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez (+100): Kowalkiewicz
Juarez is a decent striker, but she has zero quality wins. Her power is the only real advantage I see for her. Kowalkiewicz doesn't look like the same fighter she used to be, but I like her overall striking more and she should be the higher-volume striker. She also will have the edge on the ground if she looks for takedowns.
Montel Jackson (-200) vs. Julio Arce (+175): Jackson
The striking could be close if Arce can land the higher volume, but Jackson is the more dangerous striker. He should also have a big wrestling edge if he looks for takedowns. I could see a striking-based decision being close, but I am much higher on Jackson overall and he can win by any method.
Carlos Ulberg (-130) vs. Nicolae Negumereanu (+110): Ulberg
Negumereanu isn't a bad striker, but Ulberg is a pure striker and levels ahead of him. Negumereanu's edge in this fight is on the ground if he can land takedowns and grind out minutes. I will take Ulberg because I don't see Negumereanu landing more than one or two takedowns and that probably won't cut it.
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Give me a winner
Hey 17
I'm going to do a 2 team chalky parlay
Zhang/Gutierrez.....$200.00/$150.00
Enjoy and good luck
I'm going to do a 2 team chalky parlay
Zhang/Gutierrez.....$200.00/$150.00
Enjoy and good luck
If Gutierrez can keep it standing should win imo
GL
Not playing anything but my opinions
Under 4.5 rounds -129 Zhang/Esparza
I think Poirier is the better fighter but I think +200 is decent for Chandler when Poirier doesn't have a wrestling advantage
Also think Pereira odds are decent at +200 but would be better for him in kickboxing
GL
Not playing anything but my opinions
Under 4.5 rounds -129 Zhang/Esparza
I think Poirier is the better fighter but I think +200 is decent for Chandler when Poirier doesn't have a wrestling advantage
Also think Pereira odds are decent at +200 but would be better for him in kickboxing
Thank you and thank you for expertise.
Good luck
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