The UFC returns this weekend after a week hiatus and heads back to its Las Vegas home with Strawweights Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan battling it out in the main event. In the co-main Randy Brown and Francisco Trinaldo go head-to-head in an intriguing clash of styles and ‘Super’ Sodiq Yusuf looks to halt the momentum of UFC newcomer Don ‘Shameless’ Shainis. We take a look at my best three bets on this weekend’s card below.
UFC Fight Night Betting Tips
Mackenzie Dern vs. Yan Xiaonan
While this might not be a headliner that will make you eagerly await the weekend it is certainly a fight with potential title ramifications at Strawweight. Realistically with two more wins Mackenzie Dern is in line for a title shot. The Brazilian jiu jitsu phenom struggled early in her career to transition to MMA and actually get the fight to the mat but recently she has shown her striking has greatly improved as has her wrestling. Yan Xiaonan despite losing convincingly last time out to Marina Rodriguez has the scalps of Claudia Gadelha, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Angela Hill on her resume.
However, Xiaonan’s bottom game is horrendous and Dern’s ground game is the best in the UFC women’s ranks. So this begs the question does it get to the ground? I just can’t see a way Dern doesn’t get it down in five rounds, even if it is by jumping guard and from there the Brazilian should make the Chinese woman look like a fish out of water. Back Dern to get the stoppage victory.
Mackenzie Dern to win by KO/TKO or submission
$1.85 (4 Units)
Francisco Trinaldo vs. Randy Brown
Massive fan of Randy Brown as he is just so fun to watch but I do not like this match up for him. While Francisco Trinaldo is 44-years-old and it is inevitable any time now his body and jaw will give up, he is riding a three-fight winning streak and looking still to be at the backend of his prime. Most recently he outpointed the promising Danny Roberts. Trinaldo is an opportunistic finisher who is very well rounded in his skillset. If they were coinflip odds I wouldn’t be jumping in but considering I would lean towards Trinaldo winning this fight, the odds on offer are way too good to refuse. Trinaldo catches Brown in the third in what is a back-and-forth fight.
Francisco Trinaldo to win
$3.80 (2 Units)
Brendan Allen vs. Kristof Jotko
I will keep this one short and sweet. Brendan Allen is the atypical over promise and under deliver fighter. His opponenent Kristof Jotko entered the UFC with a fair bit of hype but since a bad run through 2017-18 has just flown under the radar. That being said recently he has notched wins in five out of his last six.
Allen struggles with smothering pressure and that is exactly what Jotko does well. He walks him down, drags him to the mat and controls him from the top to register a rather lopsided and uneventful decision win.
Kristof Jotko to win
$1.90 (3 Units)
