We’re back with our favorite selection of UFC main card best bets. The UFC in 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker main card UFC odds are available. Read on for our complete betting guide and preview on this week’s favorite main card UFC picks, including updated odds and free expert UFC Fight Night betting predictions.
Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker
UFC Middleweight Championship Bout
Saturday, February 12, 2022 – 10:00 PM EST at Toyota Center
Israel Adesanya
- Professional MMA Record: 21-1-0
- Knockout Record: 15-0
- Submission Record: 0-0
- SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 3.94
- SIG Strike Accuracy: 53.15%
- Takedown Average: 0.00
- Takedown Accuracy: 0.00%
- Submission Average: 0.24
One of the UFC’s most decorated strikers will return to defend his middleweight championship on Saturday evening. As the fighting pride of Nigeria, Israel Adesanya will be looking to replicate the impressive knockout win he already owns over Robert Whittaker.
A rematch over two years in the making, Adesanya has since suffered his first UFC defeat, but this was notably up a weight class with an extreme weight disadvantage to overcome. Still, Adesanya couldn’t be stopped inside the distance, and since the first meeting with Whittaker, he’s further extended his middleweight championship record with an additional three title defenses.
Robert Whittaker
- Professional MMA Record: 23-5-0
- Knockout Record: 10-2
- Submission Record: 5-1
- SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.68
- SIG Strike Accuracy: 45.22%
- Takedown Average: 0.64
- Takedown Accuracy: 34.48%
- Submission Average: 0.00
The UFC’s first Australian champion Robert Whittaker wasn’t handed the opportunity to regain his championship but has impressively defeated three of the middleweight’s top contenders to position himself back in front of Adesanya.
Since 2014, Whittaker has barely been challenged, boasting a 12-1 streak, with his lone loss coming against his opponent this weekend. He’s more than capable of shocking the world, but can “Bobby Knuckles” stay composed after suffering a brutal knockout loss to Adesanya?
Adesanya vs. Whittaker Fight Analysis and UFC 271 Betting Odds
I’m not interested in anticipating which martial artist will emerge victorious from the Toyota Center. Still, I do have an inkling that we aren’t going to witness the same outcome.
Although I believe Adesanya has the clearer path to victory, I expect Whittaker will have his defenses in check to avoid the knockout. Therefore, making the total rounds market a viable UFC 271 betting position to be in.
UFC Pick: Fight to start round 4 (-190) with DraftKings
Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa
UFC Heavyweight Main Card Bout
Saturday, February 12, 2022 – 10:00 PM EST at Toyota Center
Derrick Lewis
- Professional MMA Record: 26-8-0
- Knockout Record: 21-5
- Submission Record: 1-1
- SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 2.52
- SIG Strike Accuracy: 52.08%
- Takedown Average: 0.48
- Takedown Accuracy: 25.00%
- Submission Average: 0.00
With little introduction needed, Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis has broken the majority of the UFC’s knockout records, including most knockouts in UFC history (13). He’s currently tied with Frank Mir (13) for the most overall finishes in the heavyweight division, another impressive record he can break with a patented vicious knockout this weekend.
As one of the few fighters to overcome the heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, Lewis could well be lining himself up to become the next challenger for Ngannou’s title. But first, he must derail the hype of Tai Tuivasa.
Tai Tuivasa
- Professional MMA Record: 14-3-0
- Knockout Record: 13-1
- Submission Record: 0-1
- SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.63
- SIG Strike Accuracy: 54.46%
- Takedown Average: 0.00
- Takedown Accuracy: 0.00%
- Submission Average: 0.00
Tai Tuivasa has earned the position of becoming Australia’s most heavy-hitting heavyweight, fighting behind a 7-3 UFC record with six knockouts stemming back to his promotional debut in 2017. A four-fight win streak has been assisted with heaps of hype behind him, and now he’ll have the opportunity to fight a well-known name and attempt to stake a claim at title contention.
Lewis vs. Tuivasa Fight Analysis and UFC 271 Betting Odds
Two knockout artists weighing over 250lbs – for those placing wagers in the moneyline betting market should expect a sweat. And for that reason, I’d much rather position my bankroll against the expectation of a knockout.
With endless amounts of brute force being swung around in the octagon for UFC 271’s co-main event, 7 minutes is seemingly more than enough time for a knockout punch to surface.
UFCPick: Under 1 ½ rounds (-170) with DraftKings
