UFC on ESPN+ 34 is on Saturday and will take place at the UFC APEX facility again.
Hopefully we won’t have any fighters have to drop out this weekend.
Ion Cutelaba tested positive for COVID-19 and his fight against Magomed Ankalaev was cancelled this past weekend. Ankalaev was on one of my parlays, which pushed the payout lower, but I went 1-1 on straight bets and 2-0 on parlays for a total profit of +4.75 units at UFC on ESPN+ 33.
Let’s keep the momentum going this Saturday.
Top UFC Betting Sites for 2020.
You’ll get the best UFC odds at America’s Bookie (100% Free Plays on Every Deposit).
Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai Best Bet
Fight Odds: Overeem (-150) vs. Sakai (+120)
We’re going to find out if Sakai (15-1-1) is ready to take a leap into elite status.
Sakai is 4-0 in the UFC with TKO/KO wins against Chase Sherman and Marcin Tybura. He also has two decision victories against Andrei Arlovski and Blagoy Ivanov – both were impressive wins.
Overeem (46-18-0-1) is still fighting at 40-years-old and he has looked good.
He fought back in May and knocked out Walt Harris after almost being knocked out early in the fight and the only losses he has suffered the last few years have been against title contenders.
Overeem is only 6-4 since 2016 in the UFC, but he’s typically fighting the best of the best.
The Demolition Man will have a 3’’ reach advantage and he’s much more accomplished. He averages just 3.66 SLpM, but he’s accurate (63%). Sakai averages 5.45 SLpM, but only lands at a 46% rate.
Overeem also has strong wrestling and he should look to take Sakai to the mat. In Sakai’s lone loss, Cheick Kongo was able to control the big heavyweight on the ground with relative ease.
Sakai is a big heavyweight with power (11 TKO/KO wins), so you can’t count him out here.
However, my money will be on the veteran. Overeem is still powerful and he has a more threatening offensive attack where he can land takedowns, land in the clinch and utilize his reach.
Pick: Alistair Overeem ML (-150) at America’s Bookie
Ovince St. Preux vs. Alonzo Menifield Best Bet
Fight Odds: St. Preux (+110) vs. Menifield (-140)
These guys were supposed to fight earlier this month at UFC on ESPN 15.
I predicted St. Preux to win then and I’m not switching my pick now. Let’s just hope the fight takes place this Saturday, as OSP is still going to need to test negative for COVID-19 this week.
I linked my reasoning for the OSP pick above.
Pick: Ovince St. Preux ML (+110) at America’s Bookie
Michel Pereira vs. Zelim Imadaev Best Bet
Fight Odds: Pereira (-120) vs. Imadaev (-110)
Pereira (23-11-0-2) has a lot of fights under his belt, but he’s just 1-2 in the UFC.
He joined the promotion last year and won his debut by KO against Danny Roberts. However, he has lost his last two fights against Tristan Connelly (Decision) and Diego Sanchez (DQ).
He was disqualified against Sanchez after landing an illegal knee.
Imadaev (8-2) was 8-0 to start his professional career, but he’s 0-2 in the UFC. He also joined the UFC last year, but he has losses to Max Griffin (Decision) and Danny Roberts (KO).
The fact he was knocked out by Roberts and Pereira defeated Roberts by KO; I’m going to bet on the small favorite here. Pereira has a unique fighting style that’s very unorthodox.
Pereira will set the pace early and as long as he doesn’t gas too badly, he’ll win.
Pick: Michel Pereira ML (-120) at America’s Bookie
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UFC on ESPN+ 34 Parlay Predictions
There are a lot of close fights on the UFC on ESPN+ 34 card this Saturday.
It’s definitely not a fight card to hammer parlays like last week was, but here’s my best parlay:
Kelleher ML + Rosa ML (+155 Odds)
Brian Kelleher (21-11) is fighting Kevin Natividad (9-1) on Saturday.
Natividad is taking the fight on short notice and will be making his UFC debut. Kelleher has the edge in experience, as he has fought in the UFC nine times (5-4). With nine submission wins to his name, I expect Kelleher to take this fight to the mat early on and finish off the newcomer.
Karol Rosa (13-3) is 2-0 in the UFC since joining the promotion last year. She has two decision wins against Lara Fritzen Procopio and Vanessa Melo. Sijara Eubanks (5-4) is 3-2 in the UFC since joining the promotion in 2018, but Rosa is the bigger fighter, has a reach advantage and will grind out a win.
UFC on ESPN+ 34 Betting Lines
Alistair Overeem (-150) vs. Augusto Sakai (+120)
Alonzo Menifield (-140) vs. Ovince St. Preux (+110)
Karol Rosa (-130) vs. Sijara Eubanks (+100)
Michel Pereira (-120) vs. Zelim Imadaev (-110)
Brian Kelleher (-225) vs. Kevin Natividad (+175)
Thiago Moises (-180) vs. Jalin Turner (+150)
Bartosz Fabinski (-150) vs. Andre Muniz (+120)
Viviane Araujo (-185) vs. Montana De La Rosa (+155)
Alexander Romanov (-115) vs. Marcos Rogerio De Lima (-115)
Hunter Azure (-215) vs. Cole Smith (+170)
