UFC Picks: Can Calvin Kattar Hold off Arnold Allen?
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After the biggest fight card of the year at UFC 280, the UFC heads back to the Apex for UFC Vegas 63, as Calvin Kattar and Arnold Allen meet in a battle that likely will determine the next title contender at featherweight.
It’s a fantastic Fight Night card, and the American audience won’t have to watch at lunchtime for this one, with the fight times moving back to the evening. Here are our betting picks for this weekend’s UFC.
Calvin Kattar vs. Arnold Allen
A compelling fight is in store in the featherweight division, as Calvin Kattar and Arnold Allen battle for a place in the title discussion. The sportsbooks have this extremely close, with Kattar to win -111 and Allen to win sitting at -115. We have a different view.
The 28-year-old Allen is arguably MMA’s most underappreciated talent, simply because he barely speaks in front of the cameras. He dismantled Dan Hooker in his last bout with a sensational TKO that has him on an 11-fight win streak, one of the longest such runs in the UFC.
Kattar lost in a split decision to Josh Emmett in his last bout, not long after Max Holloway registered the most punches on him in a five-round fight in a brutal decision loss.
Kattar is magnificent with his hands, and few UFC boxers are better. But Allen’s overall game in MMA is much better, and with his strongman father teaching him about weightlifting the past few years, his wrestling skills and physique have developed greatly.
Kattar has a shot, but this seems like Allen’s time to shine, and he's long overdue for a title shot.
Arnold Allen by points is +250 with FanDuel.
Max Griffin vs. Tim Means
In the co-main event, 38-year-old Max Griffin battles 36-year-old Tim Means in a fight with huge implications on ranking points for either in the welterweight division.
Neither fighter is likely to make his way into the top 10 given their ages, but with both men losing last time out, it is a chance to get back in the win column against a well-known opponent.
Griffin lost via split decision to Neil Magny in March, giving him has 18 wins and nine losses in his career; eight of those defeats have been on points. Griffin did have a commendable three-fight win streak before losing to Magny, with a TKO victory against Ramiz Brahimaj, a brutal KO in a performance-of-the-night display against Song Kenan, and a unanimous-decision victory over Carlos Condit.
Means was submitted via a D’Arce choke against Kevin Holland in June and went on a three-fight win streak before that, as he got a unanimous decision win over Laureano Staropoli, Mike Perry and the impressive Nicolas Dalby.
The fight that could go either way. It will, however, likely go the distance.
Max Griffin vs. Tim Means to go the distance is -126 with FanDuel.
Jared Vanderaa vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Jared Vanderaa enters having won only one of his past six fights, while rising star Waldo Cortes-Acosta has won all seven of his bouts in professional MMA.
There’s no way we can justify backing a fighter on such a terrible run against a man who hasn’t lost. Vanderaa holds a black belt in jiu-jitsu, and there is always the chance he gets hold of Cortes-Acosta and works in submission attempts. Given that he has only three submission wins in 21 matches, the last in 2017, this is doubtful.
It probably will be an easy night for "Salsa Boy," who is also making his UFC debut.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta to win by KO/TKO/DQ -105 is with DraftKings.
Josh Fremd vs. Tresean Gore
Tresean Gore has only fought five times in professional MMA, and his hype train is losing speed after he suffered two UFC losses in two bouts. In fact, his two victories were in Ultimate Fighter Season 29 exhibition bouts and therefore not professional wins. He remains a serious threat with his hands.
Josh Fremd comes into his second UFC bout after three losses and nine wins. Anthony Hernandez beat him comfortably in April, but his knockout power, excellent striking and jiu-jitsu skills will likely ensure he prevails here.
If he doesn't, we still expect to see a finish in this fight between two men who must win to make a name for themselves.
Exact method of victory to be a KO/TKO/DQ is -105 with DraftKings.
Dustin Jacoby vs. Khalil Rountree
After struggling to make a name for himself in the UFC, Khalil Rountree heads into his fight with Dustin Jacoby following two wins in a row. One was especially unfortunate for Modestas Bukauskas, as Rountree delivered an oblique kick that snapped his leg to get the TKO win.
Dustin Jacoby is the No. 13 light heavyweight in the world and has not lost in the UFC. In fact, since prevailing on Dana White's Contender Series 27, Jacoby has won three fights via a TKO/KO, drawn with Ion Cutelaba and registered three unanimous-decision wins.
Jacoby has been excellent in the UFC, and we can't see him faltering here.
Dustin Jacoby to win by KO/TKO/DQ is +140 with DraftKings.
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