UFC on ESPN 42 is set to go down at Orlando’s Amway Center on Saturday, December 3rd. Also known as UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland, the event is headlined by a welterweight bout between Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland.
The co-main event is another welterweight clash, with Bryan Barberena taking on Rafael dos Anjos. The stacked fight card also features fighters such as Jack Hermansson, Tai Tuivasa and Kyle Daukaus.
I have scoured the UFC on ESPN 42 odds to find the top picks for Saturday’s event. Below, I share my predictions for Thompson vs. Holland, Barberena vs. Dos Anjos and another intriguing match-up. Keep reading to discover my picks.
Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland Predictions
Fight Odds: Thompson (+135) vs. Holland (-155)
Let’s start with the big one.
Holland heads into this clash as the bookmakers’ favorite, leaving Thompson as the underdog. However, the tight odds indicate that Saturday’s main event is destined to be a close-fought battle.
It is no secret that Holland is dangerous on his feet, but he is not the best grappler. Let’s not forget that he suffered a submission defeat against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279 back in September.
On the flip side, Thompson is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in UFC history. Having climbed to #6 in the welterweight rankings, the experienced 39-year-old certainly has what it takes to upset the odds in Orlando.
In my eyes, backing Thompson at +135 makes a lot of sense.
Best Bet: Stephen Thompson to Win (+135)
Bryan Barberena vs. Rafael dos Anjos Predictions
Fight Odds: Barberena (+420) vs. dos Anjos (-540)
Next up, it’s the co-main event between Barberena and dos Anjos. As you can see, the bookmakers expect dos Anjos to make light work of Berberena – making the moneyline market look pretty unattractive.
Instead, I recommend backing dos Anjos to win by decision. Four of the Brazilian’s previous six triumphs have come by decision, so it seems like the most probable method of victory this time around.
Barberena’s generous odds of +420 are bound to attract plenty of attention. However, the 33-year-old is the bookies’ rank outsider for a reason. Dos Anjos should have more than enough quality to overcome the Californian.
Best Bet: Rafael dos Anjos to Win by Decision (-135)
Jack Hermansson vs. Roman Dolidze Predictions
Fight Odds: Hermansson (-190) vs. Dolidze (+160)
The last of my UFC on ESPN 42 picks concerns the middleweight showdown between Jack Hermansson and Roman Dolidze. Derek Brunson was originally scheduled to fight Hermansson, but Dolidze stepped up after Brunson picked up an injury.
I really like the look of Hermansson’s price here. “The Joker” sits at #8 in the middleweight rankings following victories over Chris Curtis and Edmen Shahbazyan, so I can see him dominating Dolidze. The Georgian will likely put up a decent fight, but Hermansson should cruise to a relatively comfortable decision win.
Best Bet: Jack Hermansson to Win (-190)
UFC on ESPN 42 Main Card Betting Lines
Stephen Thompson (+135) vs. Kevin Holland (-155)
Bryan Barberena (+420) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (-540)
Matheus Nicolau (-380) vs. Matt Schnell (+310)
Tai Tuivasa (+180) vs. Sergey Pavlovich (-210)
Jack Hermansson vs. Roman Dolidze (+160)
Eryk Anders (+185) vs. Kyle Daukaus (-215)
