UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria Betting Analysis for the Main Card and Prelims

One of the toughest men on the planet puts his UFC title on the line when Alexander Volkanovski takes on Ilia Topuria for the UFC Featherweight title.

Early odds had Topuria the favorite, but money this week has landed on Volka so that Alex is the -125 chalk. Before Volkanovski throws down against Topuria, Robert Whittaker takes on Paulo Costa in the co-main event.

Will Whittaker prove best against the chalk? Will Volka defend his title?

Check out the UFC betting odds for the bouts, analysis, and free picks for four prelim and five main card bouts at UFC 298.

Betting Analysis for the Main Card | MyBookie MMA Betting Preview on the Whole Fight Card including the Preliminary Card

UFC 298: Volkanovski vs Topuria Prelims

Zhang Mingyang vs Brendson Ribeiro

This is slight favorite Zhang Mingyang’s second UFC bout. Mingyang beat Tuco Tokkos via first round knockout in a Road to UFC episode. The -120 chalk has won 13 straight via TKO, KO, or submission in the first round.

Brendson Ribeiro is a step up in class from Zhang’s competition. Ribeiro is also on a 3-match winning streak where’s won all 3 in the first round. This should be a good fight that ends up gong to Mingyang, who has shown more ground game expertise than Ribeiro.

Zhang Mingyang vs Brendson Ribeiro
UFC Betting Pick: Zhang Mingyang | Odds for UFC 298 MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout

Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera

Nakamura is a heavy favorite in this. It makes sense because Rinya is 8-0. Not only is the chalk undefeated at 8-0, but Nakamura has won 5 of his bouts via technical knockout or knockout and 1 via submission.

Carlos Vera is 11-3 and won his last 2 via submission. But this is Vera’s first UFC bout. Dana White matched up Vera with one of the top up and coming fighters at the promotion. Nakamura gets it done and he ends Vera’s night early.

Rinya Nakamura vs Carlos Vera
UFC Betting Pick: Rinya Nakamura | Odds for UFC 298 MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout

Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Justin Tafa

Underdog Justin Tafa boasts 3 Round 1 knockout wins in his last 4. Tafa is 7-3 overall and 7-1 via knockout or technical knockout, which tells us Justin has lost just once via KO or TKO.

de Lima is 13-2 via knockout or technical knockout but just 4-6 via submission victories. Since Tafa doesn’t have submission skills, de Lima is the chalk. But Tafa may have a better chin, but de Lima has lost 10 times. Give the +125 dog a chance.

Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Justin Tafa
UFC Betting Pick: Justin Tafa | Odds for UFC 298 MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout

Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern

Lemos versus Dern qualifies as a main card bout. Both are exceptional mixed martial artists. Favored Amanda Lemos lost her last but it was versus UFC Women’s Strawweight Champ Zhang Weili. Right now, Weili is one of UFC’s top fighters.

Mackenzie Dern is 13-4 overall and has lost 3 of her last 5. Dern has fallen to talented fighters like Jessica Andrade. Still, Lemos should bounce back in this. Back the favorite to cash.

UFC Betting Pick: Amanda Lemos | Odds for UFC 298 MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout

UFC 298: Volkanovski vs Topuria Main Card

Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov

Hernandez opened a -195 chalk, which means money has gone big time onto Hernandez. The now -250 favorite has won 4 straight, 2 via submission, 1 via knockout, and another via decision.

Roman Kopylov has won 4 straight via knockout or technical knockout. This, for sure, is a massive step up for Kopylov. The Russian, that’s Kopylov, doesn’t possess the ground game that Hernandez does. The chalk takes this.

Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov
UFC Betting Pick: Anthony Hernandez | Odds for UFC 298 MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout

Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo

Here’s another where UFC bettors are pounding chalk. Dvalishvili was a -195 favorite and Henry Cejudo was a +160 underdog.

Heading into Friday, Merab is at -225 and Cejudo is at +185. Dvalishvili is 2 inches taller and has a 4 inches reach advantage. Not only that, but Dvalishvili hasn’t lost since 2018, winning 8-of-9 via unanimous decision. What that tells us is that Dvalishvili is going to use his length to score points and Cejudo from getting off power shots. Merab wins another via decision.

Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo
UFC Betting Pick: Merab Dvalishvili | Odds for UFC 298 MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout

Geoff Neal vs Ian Garry

Neal is tough but he doesn’t go into this fighting his best. The underdog in this has lost 3-of-5. Neal also gives up 4 inches in height.

Garry is undefeated at 13-0. The -240 favorite has won 7 bouts via technical knockout or knockout and 1 via submission. Garry should end Neal’s night before the final ring of the bell.

Geoff Neal vs Ian Garry
UFC Betting Pick: Ian Garry | Odds for UFC 298 MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout

Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa

Money continues to flow to Robert Whittaker even though Paulo Costa has the better overall record at 14-2.

One of the reasons is because Costa hasn’t fought since beating Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision in August 2022. Since then, Whittaker has fought twice, beating Martin Vettori via unanimous decision and losing to current champ Dricus Du Plessis via second round knockout.

Whittaker should win this. But the action has made Costa an overlay. Backing Paulo makes sense.

Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa
UFC Betting Pick: Paulo Costa | Odds for UFC 298 MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout

Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria

The odds have flipped big time. Topuria was the slight -125 chalk on Monday. As of Thursday, Volka is the -125 favorite.

Topuria has the undefeated 14-0 record. But the champ is as solid as it gets. Sure, Volka has lost 2-of-3 both losses came against possibly the best fighter at UFC right now, Islam Makhachev. Volkanovski had to go up in weight.

Back at his preferred weight, Volkanovski is going to be difficult to beat. Alexander keeps his belt.

UFC Betting Pick: Alexander Volkanovski | Odds for UFC 298 MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout

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