UFC 254: Khabib Vs Gaethje Expert Analysis

UFC 254: Khabib Vs Gaethje Expert Analysis

Written by on October 23, 2020

This Saturday, October 24, get ready for another trip to Fight Island, this time for UFC 254. This is an absolutely huge event with one of the best main cards that we have seen in a while. There are 6 fights set to go on the main card, which means a lot of betting opportunities and chances to cash some winning tickets. This is a card that has a co-main event on it, but it is the Khabib/Gaethje title fight that will serve as the headliner in this one. There is a lot to unpack here, so let’s get right to the previews and picks, along with their UFC odds.

UFC 254: Khabib Vs Gaethje | MMA Betting

Magomed Ankalaev (-315) Vs Ion Cutelaba (+255)

The main card begins with what looks to be a great looking light heavyweight bout. Ankalaev did not have the best start to life in the UFC, losing his first fight to Paul Craig, but he has reeled off 4 straight wins since then to take his career mark to 13-1. This will be the second straight time that these two have met, with Cutelaba getting hammered in an opening round loss the last time out. I think we might be in for more of the same with this one.

Lauren Murphy (-210) Vs Liliya Shakirova (+170)

It’s the ladies up next in a flyweight bout between a pair of fighters very much in form. Murphy lost her opening bout in the UFC by decision, but she has turned things around since then, reeling off 3 straight wins to get to 13-4. After compiling an 8-1 mark in her pro career, Shakirova is taking a step up into the big time with her first fight under the UFC banner. I have a feeling that this one is going to go the distance, with Murphy getting the win.

Phil Hawes (-250) Vs Jacob Malkoun (+195)

It’s an interesting Middleweight bout up next with a pair of fighters who are both still relatively inexperienced. Hawes comes in with an 8-3 pro mark and is on an impressive 4-fight win streak, although this will be his first UFC bout. Malkoun turned pro back in 2017 and has put together 4 straight wins in that time. This is a tough one to call, but I am leaning towards Hawes to win by KO to keep his streak alive.

Alexander Volkov (-185) Vs Walt Harris (+155)

The big boys will be next to step into the octagon for a heavyweight bout that should be fun to watch. Volkov comes with a ton of experience, sporting a 31-8 career mark ahead of this one. He has, though, lost 2 of his last 3, so he needs a win. Walt Harris is 13-8 in his pro career and is also looking to bounce back after a loss to Alistair Overeem his last time out. I see this one going the distance, with Volkov winning by decision.

Robert Whittaker (-115) Vs Jared Cannonier (-115)

This middleweight bout serves as the co-main event on Saturday and it is a great one. Robert Whittaker is on a tremendous run of for, coming into this one having won 10 of his last 11. In his last 3 fights that he won, those bouts went the distance. Cannonier saw his progress take a bit of a hit with back to back losses, but he has bounced back very well with 3 straight wins, all within the opening two rounds. This one goes the distance, I believe, with the edge to Cannonier.

Khabib Nurmagomedov (-335) Vs Justin Gaethje (+260)

It’s a lightweight title bout at the top of the main card, with Khabib looking to maintain his perfect career record, which now sits at 28-0. While he wins a lot, he does not always get the job done entirely quickly. Gaethje has bounced back after taking back to back losses at the tail end of 2017 and early 2018. He has won 4 in a row since then, with 3 of those victories coming in the opening round. I would not be surprised to see this one go the distance, with Khabib maintaining his unbeaten record at the end of it.


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