UFC is back at the O2 Arena in London after more than a year, showcasing a main event welterweight clash between Leon Edwards and Sean Brady. Leon Edwards is returning to the octagon after losing his title to Belal Muhammad and is eager to make a strong statement to secure a trilogy fight with Muhammad.
Can Edwards regain his winning form, or is Brady poised to challenge for the title? Let`s explore the top betting opportunities for this event.
Fight Predictions & Best Bets
Leon Edwards (+130)
It might be surprising to see former champion Edwards as the underdog. This likely reflects the stylistic matchup, as Brady is a high-level grappler, and Muhammad previously used takedowns and control to dominate Edwards. However, it`s questionable if Brady can replicate that success.
While some may doubt Edwards` excuses for his performance against Muhammad, it`s important to remember his historically stronger defensive wrestling. Although there`s a risk Brady could immediately take Edwards down, it`s anticipated that Edwards will be better at keeping the fight standing, giving him a significant advantage in striking.
Kevin Holland (+104)
This analysis shares similar thoughts for both the main and co-main events.
In the co-feature, Kevin Holland faces Gunnar Nelson, another skilled grappler, and enters as the underdog. Holland has struggled against grapplers, particularly at middleweight. However, returning to welterweight should be more favorable for him. Additionally, Nelson is less active recently, having not fought in two years. It`s predicted that Holland can keep the fight standing and outbox Nelson.
Marcin Tybura (+112)
Marcin Tybura will fight Mick Parkin in a preliminary heavyweight bout, and the betting odds seem misaligned. While Parkin is undefeated and trains with Tom Aspinall, his actual level of competition is yet to be tested against top fighters. Tybura, a consistent top 10 heavyweight, represents a significant step up in competition. Until Parkin proves otherwise, expect Tybura to maintain his position as a gatekeeper and capitalize on his underdog status.
Carlos Ulberg by Points (+160)
Carlos Ulberg is heavily favored in his fight, and for good reason. He is on an impressive winning streak. His opponent, Jan Blachowicz, is 42 years old and returning from a serious shoulder injury that kept him out for almost 20 months. Shoulder injuries can be more challenging at an older age. Confidence is high that Ulberg will win.
Nevertheless, Blachowicz is a respected former champion, known for his toughness and ability to challenge anyone in the octagon. He could make Ulberg work hard for a victory, suggesting value in betting on Ulberg winning by decision.
Alexia Thainara by Submission (+430)
While a smaller wager is advised here, Alexia Thainara, making her UFC debut against Molly McCann, has a good opportunity to make an impact. Thainara is a promising prospect with strong grappling skills, which is a weakness McCann has shown against superior grapplers. Given the high odds, it`s worth considering a bet on Thainara winning by submission due to the favorable stylistic matchup.
The Chris Duncan Parlay (+383)
It`s unlikely to win, but sometimes you have to follow a code. The code here is betting the Gimmick Parlay every time, especially when it has a perfect success rate so far.
This is about the fact that two fighters named Chris Duncan are competing at UFC London. Chris Duncan (+310) is fighting Jordan Vucenic on the main card, and Christian Leroy Duncan (-560) is facing Andrey Pulyaev on the prelims. Combining these two into a parlay seems like a must-do.
Interestingly, this Chris Duncan Parlay was also available at UFC 286 in 2023, which also took place at the O2 Arena and was headlined by Leon Edwards. This feels like a sign.
Parlay these two bets together for +383 odds.
Good luck with your bets and enjoy the fights!
