UFC 296 Betting Tips: Predictions & Odds For The Las Vegas Showdown
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UFC 296 Predictions:
- Paddy Pimblett To Beat Tony Ferguson By Submission – 13/5 With Unibet
- Leon Edwards To Beat Colby Covington – 5/6 With Coral
Leon Edwards and Colby Covington are the headline act for UFC 296, as they square off for the UFC welterweight championship title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during the early hours of Sunday morning.
Edwards steps into the octagon as the slight favourite on UK betting sites, backed by his triumphant title defence in a thrilling trilogy fight against Kamaru Usman back in March.
Adding to the excitement for the British audience, Paddy Pimblett's showdown with UFC legend Tony Ferguson promises to be another highlight of the event.
At 39 years old, many speculate that this could be a farewell fight for El Cucuy. However, a victory over Paddy the Baddy might just be the spark needed to reignite Ferguson's illustrious career.
Edwards Needs To Earn Victory
After two-and-a-half years, Leon Edwards shifts his focus onto a new opponent following two previous clashes with Usman.
The Jamaican-born Brit faces the tough task of defending his title against Colby Covington in his home country, aiming for his 22nd victory inside the octagon.
Betting apps have installed Edwards as the frontrunner in this one with odds of 5/6 on offer for him to claim victory, while Chaos is priced at 21/20 to dethrone the reigning champ.
Both fighters enter the bout with just three defeats on their records, and Covington is poised to bring a similar aggressive fighting style that Usman struggled to implement successfully. He will attempt to impose himself on his opponent and utilise his deadly offensive wrestling capabilities to tire out the Brit.
At 35 years of age, Colby Covington's 21-month hiatus from the octagon since his victory over Jorge Masvidal, might play a crucial role in this contest, especially considering that Edwards was in action a more recent nine months ago.
Covington will draw confidence from the fact Usman led on the judges' scorecards in his second fight with Edwards. Additionally, the frantic conclusion of Nate Diaz's bout with Rocky provides the American with the belief that he can rock his opponent.
In what promises to be a hard-fought title bout, our assessment is in line with the consensus among MMA betting sites, which sides with Edwards to secure the win and remain champion.
With the exception of a no-contest bout against Belal Muhammad in March 2021, the 32-year-old has been on an outstanding run, securing an impressive 11 consecutive victories in the UFC. However, these wins have not been without their fair share of scares.
The headlining fight has generated significant anticipation worldwide and if Edwards can maintain the calmness that he possesses, it could prove to be a decisive factor in securing another triumph at UFC 296.
A Stoppage Win Needed For Pimblett
Following his heavily debated victory last time out over Jared Gordon, Paddy the Baddy will be determined to secure a decisive finish, as he looks to eradicate any doubts of him being overhyped.
The Liverpudlian is riding a four-win streak since making the move over to the UFC and steps into the ring on Sunday with the goal of extending his unbeaten start to life under Dana White.
The 28-year-old hasn’t fought since that win over Gordon back in December 2022, and he recognises the significance of having a win over Ferguson on his resume so early into the UFC.
Pimblett boasts a record of two submission victories, one knockout, and one decision in his four wins, and anticipation is high as he is likely to pursue another submission win this weekend - which is available at 13/5 with Unibet.
Ferguson on the other hand, enters this contest on the back of six straight defeats and confidence will be at an all-time low for the American as he nears the end of his career.
In order to stand a chance of beating the Englishman, he has to let his hands go early on, rekindling the violent streak he once possessed in his prime.
Although, Pimblett is expected to counter this strategy by engaging in wrestling to nullify the UFC veteran, with the goal of securing yet another victory through a rear-naked choke.
This bout carries significant weight for both fighters, albeit for different reasons. A loss for Ferguson could potentially mark the end of his career, while a setback for Paddy may stagnate his progress of ascending to the pinnacle of what the UFC has to offer.
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