The UFC returns to the Apex Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada for this weekend’s UFC Fight Night card. In what looks to be an entertaining slugfest, Johnny Walker and Thiago Santos face off in the main event. In the co-main, Kevin Holland returns against Kyle Daukaus and Aspen Ladd returns from knee surgery to face Macy Chiasson. All that and much more on this week’s UFC Fight Night card. Check out our UFC betting tips below!
UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Walker Betting Tips
Johnny Walker vs. Thiago Santos
Honestly this clash is just hilariously violent. Both men are wildly entertaining despite neither being genuine title contenders currently. Thiago Santos is on a three-fight skid, while Johnny Walker is 2-2 in his last four UFC bouts, yet both men headline a card solely due to their entertainment factor. Honestly the fact Johnny Walker is only a slight underdog has me perplexed. He looked like he was about to get knocked out by Ryan Spann before landing vicious elbows on a reckless Spann. He was manhandled by Nikita Krylov in the fight before that and he either wins by flash knockout or gets decisively beat. Where this fight is fascinating is I doubt either man will choose to wrestle, making this a strike for strike fight until someone falls. I personally back Santos’ chin way more than Walker’s and for that reason I am rather confidently tipping Santos to secure a knockout victory. Walker has shown that he has cardio issues in the past so the longer this fight goes, the greater discrepancy there is. While since his knee surgery Santos looks slower and more hesitant, he still carries the knockout power that earnt him a title shot and I expect him to put his fellow Brazilian to sleep here with a power right hand.
Thiago Santos to win by KO/TKO
$2.20
Aspen Ladd vs Macy Chiasson
I first previewed this fight back in July when they were originally scheduled to fight and my thoughts haven’t changed at all. Ladd is still fresh in MMA at just 26 years of age and comes into this fight off of knee surgery. Usually this would concern me but I just see her still being way too good for Macy Chiasson. Ladd is 9-1 in her MMA career and that one loss came to Germaine de Randamie in a fight where she had one of the worst weighs cuts I have ever seen. In that fight she fell to virtually the first punch she was hit with and I am happy to completely scrap that as any form of technical deficiency on her part.
Chiasson is decent everywhere but great nowhere. She is 8-1 in her professional career but she hasn’t fought anyone of note. I expect Ladd to take her down and beat her up until the referee calls a stop to the contest. The American will work to mount or to Chiasson’s back and just unleash a vicious barrage of strikes. This will be a statement win for Ladd and I hope it sets up a fight with a big name to get her closer to the title shot, such as Holly Holm or Irene Aldana.
Casey O’Neill vs Antonina Shevchenko
King Casey is going to be a money train until they pair her up against a strong grappler. The Australian is two from two in the UFC, both impressive finishes. I still believe people don’t give O’Neill the credit she warrants on the ground. Her top and back control is excellent and she has great ground and pound to go with her slick submissions. While her striking still needs work, on the ground she dominates anyone who isn’t elite, and Antonina Shevchenko falls into that category. While Shevchenko is dangerous on the feet, her ground game has never caught up and I doubt it ever will. When O’Neill swarms her opponent and puts her back on the mat, it will be a complete domination. Back O’Neill to win and once again to get the finish.
Casey O’Neill to win by KO or submission
$2.20
