After Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya tore the house down in Australia, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is back at the Apex with UFC Vegas 96. It's going to be an exciting night headlined by the massive main event between former UFC Middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier and the always-tough Caio Borralho.
As usual, Betting News has your back covered regarding the biggest MMA events, including Saturday's Sin City showcase.
Let's start previewing UFC Vegas 96 by looking at BetOnline's latest odds, as well as my three favorite main card bets.
UFC Vegas 96: Cannonier vs Borralho Full Card Odds
All UFC Vegas 96: Cannonier vs Borralho odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 12:30 p.m.
UFC Vegas 96 Main Event: Jared Cannonier vs Caio Borralho Odds — Middleweight
Record: Jared Cannonier (17-7) vs. Caio Borralho (16-1)
Moneyline: Jared Cannonier (+205) | Caio Borralho (-240)
The upcoming Angela Hill vs. Tabatha Ricci showdown is projected to go either way, however, I like the idea of the latter winning via points. As Hill has been lately, she's turning 40 in just a few months and now has to face an opponent who's 10 years younger than her. BetOnline is also favoring that this fight will go the distance (-450), which isn't a good thing for Hill given that she's just 4-5 in her last nine fights that reached the round limit.
Considering how Ricci is 5-1 when going the distance since joining the UFC, I expect to see the judges siding with her again in Vegas.
2. Ryan Loder vs. Robert Valentin u2.5 Rounds (-155)
While Ryan Loder and Robert Valentin prepare to decide the Ultimate Fighter 32 middleweight tournament winner, I don't expect it'll be a lengthy bout. After all, Loder and Valentin have a total of 13 finishes in 21 combined fights. The middleweight duo will also be giving it their all to secure the victory, meaning it won't be a shock if they try to finish the other early on.
Additionally, four of Loder's seven career outings went under 2.5 rounds while 11 of Valentin's 14 bouts did the same.
3. Neil Magny vs. Michael Morales Won't Go the Distance (+125)
Neil Magny and Michael Morales will engage in a hard-hitting welterweight meeting at UFC Vegas 96. Having said that, there's a good chance that this showdown won't last all three rounds. For starters, four of Magny's last six fights featured a finish while 12 of Morales' 16 career bouts failed to go the distance. Morales' fights also last an average of 12:03 minutes while Magny's fight time sits at 12:44.
Considering how Morales — the heavy favorite — boasts a whopping 75.0% finish rate, I just can't see this fight going all the way.
UFC Vegas 96: Cannonier vs Borralho Information & FAQ
When is UFC Vegas 96?
UFC Vegas 96 will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024.
Where is UFC Vegas 96?
UFC on ESPN 62 airs live from the Apex in Las Vegas, NV.
What time does UFC Vegas 96 start?
UFC Vegas 96 Preliminary Card Start Time: 7 p.m. ET
Devon is a Master of Journalism graduate who joined the sports betting world in 2020. His favorite leagues to cover are the NHL, NBA and NFL, and has a soft spot for fantasy football specifically. Outside of sports, he enjoys the finer things in life like pasta, live music and getting even more tattoos.
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