We’re back with our favorite selection of UFC main card best bets. UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane main card UFC odds are available. Read on for our complete betting guide and preview on this week’s favorite main card betting picks, including updated odds and free expert UFC 270 betting predictions.
Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane
UFC Heavyweight Title Main Event Bout
Saturday, January 22, 2022 – 09:00 PM EST at Honda Center
Francis Ngannou
Professional MMA Record: 16-3-0
Knockout Record: 12-0
Submission Record: 4-0
SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 2.54
SIG Strike Accuracy: 46.02%
Takedown Average: 0.20
Takedown Accuracy: 33.33%
Submission Average: 0.41
The most feared power-puncher in UFC history returns to the octagon for Saturday’s main event, but unlike past events, he’ll be defending his heavyweight championship this time around. With a 100% finish rate from his sixteen professional victories, the UFC strap is seemingly in safe hands.
Most criticized for his lack of technical ability, Ngannou proved his doubters wrong when delivering a cool, calm, and collected performance versus Stipe Miocic. He didn’t just dethrone Miocic but also displayed a significant evolution in his offensive approach.
Ciryl Gane
Professional MMA Record: 10-0-0
Knockout Record: 4-0
Submission Record: 3-0
SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.37
SIG Strike Accuracy: 60.00%
Takedown Average: 0.71
Takedown Accuracy: 20.83%
Submission Average: 0.28
As a former training partner of his opponent this weekend, the UFC 270 main event isn’t short of drama. Despite the calming personality of France’s own Ciryl Gane, you can genuinely sense the calm before the storm.
Undefeated in both his muay thai and professional MMA careers, Gane has displayed an elite-level of striking offense for many years. Capturing the interim heavyweight title over Derrick Lewis should also give the Frenchman confidence in avoiding another devastating knockout artist in Ngannou.
Ngannou vs. Gane Fight Analysis and UFC 270 Prediction
Calf kicks, inside leg kicks, and most low kicks, in general, could potentially become key weapons for both fighters. To eliminate the power of Ngannou, low kicks are practical; likewise, to nullify the smooth movement of Gane, the same kicks can make a difference. Gane’s muay thai experience should give him the advantage in this area, whereas Ngannou would need to switch into a southpaw stance to deliver damage onto Gane’s lead leg.
As former training partners, I believe this bout will become Ngannou’s most technical and thought-out contest of his career. Although it could probably favor his chances of victory, I doubt we’re going to see the Cameroonian draw Gane into the pocket and engage in a slugfest.
For this reason, we can find value in the UFC 270 over/under odds. Because of Ngannou’s unhuman-like power and lack of time spent in the octagon, sportsbooks are naturally giving us a great price on betting the over. And I expect Gane can display his athleticism and become the fighter to test Ngannou’s longevity in a bout.
UFC 270 Betting Pick: Over 2½ rounds at -108 with FanDuel
Charles Jourdain vs. Ilia Topuria
UFC Featherweight Preliminary Card Bout
Saturday, January 22, 2022 – 07:00 PM EST at Honda Center
Charles Jourdain
Professional MMA Record: 12-4-0
Knockout Record: 8-0
Submission Record: 3-1
SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.70
SIG Strike Accuracy: 52.40%
Takedown Average: 0.00
Takedown Accuracy: 0.00%
Submission Average: 0.46
Like the true warrior he is, Charles “Air” Jourdain accepts a fight with an undefeated prospect on short notice after competing in the octagon a mere five weeks ago.
Canadian native Jourdain has delivered nothing but entertaining bouts since joining the UFC in 2019, and aged just 26-years-old, he undoubtedly has a long and prosperous career ahead.
Ilia Topuria
Professional MMA Record: 11-0-0
Knockout Record: 3-0
Submission Record: 7-0
SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 2.77
SIG Strike Accuracy: 50.00%
Takedown Average: 3.35
Takedown Accuracy: 55.56%
Submission Average: 3.35
After just three appearances, the German-born Georgian-blooded Ilia Topuria has catapulted himself into the UFC featherweight division top-15 rankings. A dominant Greco-Roman wrestling offense and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt have assisted him in making quick work of the competition thus far.
Topuria is an unbeaten prospect who also has the potential to become a UFC star; at the tender age of 24, he’s proved his worth as a professional fighter by delivering countless lopsided performances with his prime fighting years yet to arrive.
Topuria vs. Jourdain Fight Analysis and UFC 270 Betting Pick
To no surprise, Topuria is the bookmaker’s heavy favorite. But with a steep price tag of -600 and beyond, finding a viable position to wager on him is complicated.
More intriguingly is the value to be found on betting the over. Of course, for the same reasons as the main event bout, sportsbooks are expecting this contest to end quickly due to Topuria’s history of ending fights in the first round. However, Jourdain has displayed sheer toughness during his pro career, losing inside the distance on just one occasion, notably in the third round.
With such great value on a short over 1½ rounds, it’s a no-brainer to give confidence in Jourdain managing to escape the death grip of Topuria for at least 7 and a half minutes.
UFC 270 Betting Pick: Over 1½ rounds at -139 with Unibet
