We’re back with our UFC in Vegas Fight Night predictions. The UFC in Vegas 35: Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze main card UFC Odds are available. Read on for our complete betting guide and preview next weekend’s favorite matchups, including updated odds and our free expert betting predictions.
UFC in Vegas 35 Main Event Prediction
Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze
UFC Featherweight Bout
at Apex Centre
This weekend’s main event of the evening will see #6 ranked featherweight Edson Barboza and his opponent #12 ranked Giga Chikadze.
Edson Barboza (22-9-0) has grown a reputation as one of the most fearsome strikers on the UFC roster. The Brazilian native owns a diverse range of offensive strikes due to a background in the sport of Muay Thai.
Barboza has been delivering highlight-reel finishes and some of the most epic fights since his arrival to the UFC in 2010. And now, aged 35-years-old, he’s earned legendary status.
Giga Chikadze (13-2-0) is flying Georgia’s flag, and like his opponent this weekend, he owns a dangerous striking offense. The difference is that Giga stems from a background in kickboxing, having competed for the Glory fight promotion whilst also building an MMA record.
Attempting to predict this contest is brutal, as both men present dangers in the stand-up area of the fight game.
Barboza has some of the fastest leg kicks inside the UFC, with beautiful use of boxing combinations to match. He can often utilizes his leg strikes at range and his punches inside the pocket. He isn’t showing many signs of slowing down despite his older age, and backing anybody to beat him is always worrisome.
Giga has great high kicks, and although his boxing combinations aren’t as crisp, he throws up a nice jab to disguise his fight-ending kicks.
Instead of throwing darts and predicting a winner, the durability of both men has been solid. I’m steering towards this fight reaching the judges’ scorecards, and we can also find some decent value
UFC Vegas 35 Best Bet: Fight starts round 4 @ -135 with DraftKings [1.35u returns 1u profit]
UFC in Vegas 35 Main Card Bout Prediction
Kevin Lee vs. Daniel Rodriguez
UFC Lightweight Bout
at Apex Centre
There’s no denying that Kevin Lee has fought some of the stiffest competition inside the lightweight division, but with a move up to 175lbs, I struggle to see the 5’9 stature of Lee succeeding.
This weekend “The Motown Phenom” will face a 6’1 striking purist in Daniel Rodriguez, and I think we’re being gifted a beautiful set of odds.
I’m not entirely discrediting Lee; we’ve seen him throw high kicks and end fights; he does possess a vital wrestling skill set to ground opponents and remove their offense. But the problem is that Rodriguez has a trustworthy wrestling defense and the ability to get off his back; he’ll also be the exceptionally larger man with a refined striking output that Kevin Lee cannot match.
Daniel Rodriguez was stolen from his undefeated UFC record; he didn’t lose to Nicolas Dalby; he was robbed. I expect this weekend to be D-Rod’s coming out party where he finds his first notable win in the UFC. I anticipate that he’ll be excited to fight a big-named fighter like Lee and soon give a reminder that moving up a weight class isn’t easy.
UFC Vegas 35 Best Bet: Daniel Rodriguez to win @ +130 with DraftKings [1u returns 1.30u profit]
