UFC 242 Odds: Bet on Russia to Dominate

As the unstoppable Khabib Nurmagomedov prepares to defend his lightweight title, we bring you the UFC 242 betting odds preview.

Here are the two main event fighters and their full betting lines:

• Khabib Nurmagomedov – 1.20
• Dustin Poirier – 4.25

Live from Abu Dhabi, the unbeaten Russian mauler will defend against interim champion Dustin Poirier. This pits Nurmagomedov against yet another prolific striker. Nurmagomedov leads other Russians into the card looking to make a clean sweep. Analyzing the main event and best bets, here is the UFC odds preview.

UFC 242 Quick Betting Facts:

• Fighters who opened as favourites are only 3-7 (30%) in their last 10 main event fights
• Nurmagomedov opened at 1.42, his highest line outside McGregor since 2014
• Poirier is 5-0 in his last five fights when opening as an underdog
• Four of Poirier's last five fights did not go to decision
• Russian fighters are a combined 18-2-1 when adding their last three fights

UFC Odds: Main Event Betting Breakdown

UFC 242 is an event that is tailored towards Russia and they aren't shy about it as UFC odds indicate most of the Russian fighters are favourites. Taking place in Abu Dhabi, the card features prominent Russian fighters starting at the top with the lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Look for these beasts of the East to take over this card as we break down the UFC betting odds.

Khabib Nurmagomedov (C) vs Dustin Poirier (IC)

Nurmagomedov will be returning from almost a year-long absence following his suspension for his part in the post-fight altercation against Conor McGregor and his camp. The Dagestani is unbeaten at 27-0 and not a single one of his fights have looked close. Although Poirier is the fiercest underdog he'll ever face.

Poirier, like McGregor, is a striker. But unlike McGregor, Poirier didn't take a long layoff from MMA and has all the momentum behind him. With decisive victories over four UFC champions in his last fights, Poirier is approaching legendary status. A big win over Nurmagomedov will put him over the top.

But the underdog narrative aside, this should be business as usual for Nurmagomedov. He will waste no time getting Poirier to the ground, where he will abuse him as he has done to all of his opponents. Poirier is versed in wrestling, but that will not matter so much.

Although UFC 241 was filled with surprise upsets, look for UFC 242 to return to its regularly-scheduled programming with dominant victories from its favourites. Nurmagomedov will cut through Poirier like butter and with odds at 1.25, there is still value left.

Additionally, Nurmagomedov to win by decision is at 3.25 using a prop bet.

Pick: Khabib Nurmagomedov via Decision

UFC 242 Odds: Best Bets

As you can already predict, we are inching towards a Russia-heavy selection based on these UFC 242 odds. This is a card where the UFC is trying to appease a demographic by giving their most popular fighters winnable fights. While no fight is a sure thing, these fighters should deliver.

Islam Makhachev to Win (1.35)

Nurmagomedov's friend and training partner is another powerful wrestler in the division. After his knockout loss in 2015, Makhachev has rattled five impressive victories in a row. He gets a tailor-made matchup against Davi Ramos, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist who has won four consecutive himself.

Ramos is a talented grappler, but a strong wrestler will almost always beat a Jiu-Jitsu specialist. Makhachev should win this fight with little issues, most likely by decision (look for this prop when it opens).

Mairbek Taisumov to Win (1.44)

Let's switch it up by moving from grapplers to a striker. Taisumov has won six fights in a row with all but his last one coming via knockout. He has not lost a fight since 2014. The Austrian-Russian is a gifted striker and has true one-punch knockout power.

Against Carlos Diego Ferreira, he fights an MMA fighter who is on a winning streak himself. However, Taisumov should pick apart the Brazilian whose main strengths lie with his grappling.

A parlay of Makchachev and Taisumov is near-even odds at 1.85 and something to consider.

Muslim Salikhov to Win (2.03)

Not all Russians in this card are favourites. Salikhov, the "King of Kung Fu", is a slight underdog against Canadian veteran Nordine Taleb despite opening as a favourite. This is likely because Salikhov had a positive PED test and is only 1-1 in the UFC despite all the hype surrounding him.

But there shouldn't be too much worry with Salikhov. He lives up to his moniker as he is a phenomenal striker and will outstrike the more pedestrian Taleb when they stay on their feet. Taleb's wrestling will pose a threat, but not enough to deter the martial arts phenom from outstriking him to victory.

How to Win at UFC Betting Odds

To win at UFC betting odds, you will need to do two types of research: the UFC fights themselves and the best sportsbook for you. There are many options for those within Canada such as Sports Interaction. This is a go-to sportsbook for all types of combat sports like MMA and boxing. Their extensive UFC markets set them apart from many others.

But before making any commitments, read our reviews and compare the sportsbooks. You can avail of their many sign-up offers. We recommend choosing more than one book to have more betting options.

Find the best available sportsbooks you can wager online and choose the best one for you right here:

Category : Online Betting News

Tag : UFC 242 Odds , UFC Bets , UFC Odds , UFC Picks

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