We’re back with our favorite selection of UFC main card best bets. The UFC 273: Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie main card UFC odds are available.
Read on for our complete betting guide and a preview of next week’s favorite main card UFC picks, including updated odds and free expert UFC 273 betting predictions.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung
UFC Featherweight Main Event Championship Bout
Saturday, April 09, 2022 – 07:00 PM EDT at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Alexander Volkanovski
- Professional MMA Record: 23-1-0
- Knockout Record: 11-1
- Submission Record: 3-0
- SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 6.42
- SIG Strike Accuracy: 58.53%
- Takedown Average: 1.77
- Takedown Accuracy: 34.55%
- Submission Average: 0.28
The most dominant Australian UFC champion returns to the octagon next weekend. And if Alexander Volkanovski continues his current trend of defeating anyone and everyone, we could be looking at the future greatest featherweight competitor in the sport’s history.
Since Volkanovski’s arrival to the UFC, he’s maintained an impressive unbeaten streak behind ten consecutive victories inside the octagon.
An almost perfect striking offense complemented with a diverse grappling skillset has positioned “The Great” as the featherweight champion who’ll now defend his title for the third time at UFC 273.
“The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung
- Professional MMA Record: 17-6-0
- Knockout Record: 6-3
- Submission Record: 8-0
- SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.07
- SIG Strike Accuracy: 50.12%
- Takedown Average: 0.82
- Takedown Accuracy: 47.06%
- Submission Average: 0.72
“The Korean Zombie” has provided fight fans with unforgettable octagon moments for the past 11 years. However, after losing his first title opportunity to Jose Aldo in 2013, the Zombie was absent for 4 years due to mandatory military service.
Since his return in 2017, he’s collected victories over some of the 135lb division’s most elite competition. Now he’s receiving a second chance at the title that evaded him 8 years ago.
When Max Holloway was forced out of next weekend’s championship bout, there wasn’t a more suitable replacement than Chan Sung Jung.
Fresh from a decisive win over the talented Dan Ige, back-to-back stoppage finishes over Frankie Edgar and Renato Moicano can also be factored into his deserving position in the UFC 273 main event.
Fight Analysis and UFC 273 Betting Odds
Volkanovski opened as the -330 betting favorite at sportsbooks, but the betting public and/or large staked wagers have driven this line to an astronomical price. Now sitting around the -700 price zone, Volkanovski is pretty much unplayable as a single wager.
While I believe the Zombie is always a tempting underdog to back, Volkanovski’s discipline inside the cage is too challenging to neglect.
The champ’s lateral movement and precise shot selection have overcome one of the best strikers in UFC history, Max Holloway. Furthermore, he’s outsmarted Holloway on two occasions!
UFC bettors have steamed this line for a good reason; they understand that Volkanovski is a true elite mixed martial artist.
And for this reason, I have a funny feeling that the Zombie’s aggressive plodding forward style will cost him dearly in this bout, giving Volkanovski a great chance at ending this fight inside the distance.
UFC Pick: Volkanovski wins inside the distance (+220) with Caesars Sportsbook
Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan
UFC Bantamweight Co-Main Event Championship Bout
Saturday, April 09, 2022- 07:00 PM EDT at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Petr Yan
- Professional MMA Record: 16-2-0
- Knockout Record: 7-0
- Submission Record: 1-0
- SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.98
- SIG Strike Accuracy: 56.67%
- Takedown Average: 1.75
- Takedown Accuracy: 61.54%
- Submission Average: 0.22
Petr Yan will finally receive his rematch versus Aljamain Sterling after being stripped of the bantamweight title in the worst way – a disqualification.
The Russian native product of Tiger Muay Thai and the RCC Academy delivered a vicious knee to a grounded Sterling, and some will say that Sterling milked the opportunity as a quick way out.
Unfortunately, the title changed hands via disqualification for the first time in UFC history. While I don’t personally agree with this decision, I’m happy to watch Yan exact his revenge in the rubber match.
Aljamain Sterling
- Professional MMA Record: 20-3-1
- Knockout Record: 2-1
- Submission Record: 8-0
- SIG Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.84
- SIG Strike Accuracy: 58.41%
- Takedown Average: 1.77
- Takedown Accuracy: 24.72%
- Submission Average: 0.89
Sterling has unquestionably earnt his position as a top-5 bantamweight globally, but I struggle to refer to him as the champion.
He made a respectful round 1 versus Yan look competitive, but anyone with a smidgen of MMA knowledge could see Yan began to run away with the contest from round 2 onwards.
Sterling will make his first title defense versus the rightful bantamweight champion, and I don’t expect it to be a walk in the park for the Serra Jiu-Jitsu student.
Fight Analysis and UFC 273 Betting Odds
Petr Yan is renowned for downloading the data of his opponents during the first 5-7 minutes of his contests, as you’ll often find him losing round 1.
So, Sterling’s seemingly impressive efforts in the first round of the first contest aren’t something to write home about.
I don’t believe there’s a current bantamweight contender who can match the complete MMA skillset of Petr Yan.
He owns some of the sharpest boxing offenses the bantamweight division has witnessed without highlighting the grappling prowess he holds as a backup.
Like the main event, bookmakers have labeled Yan accurately, and the public has steamed him beyond -400. However, with Yan’s calm and patient style, I expect this fight to reach the 4th round, making the over 3 ½ rounds prop an idealistic wagering option at -163.
UFC Pick: Over 3 ½ rounds (-163) with Caesars Sportsbook
