SMUGGLING DUDS UFC 258 GAMBLING GUIDE

After an epic visit to Fight Island, the UFC return to their home in Las Vegas for a card that features not just two former teammates, but also close friends going head-to-head in the main event.

As always, be sure to check out our wild card pick too!

UFC 258

Main Card (BT Sport)
Kamaru Usman (c) Vs Gilbert Burns (Welterweight)
Although Usman departed to train under the guidance of elite athlete trainer Trevor Wittman prior to this bout, both he and his opponent were not only training partners at Sanford MMA, they were actually good friends too. Can this make a difference to the outcome? Do they really know what the other is thinking once the cage door closes? We have seen it happen before that is for sure. Both men are in a league of their own when it comes to grappling, their combined achievements are endless, it is such an intriguing match up. Burns has shown recently that he deserves this title shot, whereas Usman has proved he is still the king of his division, with overwhelming wins against every single one of his opponents, since his only loss in 2013. Burns has only gone five rounds the once, which just so happened to be his last fight, a UD over former champ Tyron Woodley, can he handle the pressure of the former TUF standout? We are not so sure and predict yet another decision win for the self-proclaimed ‘Nigerian Nightmare’.
WINNER: Usman
METHOD: Decision

Maycee Barber Vs Alexa Grasso (Women’s Flyweight)
Let us be honest, the only reason Barber lost her previous bout was that she suffered a bad injury to her knee during the fight. The ‘Future’ be back with some serious vengeance here and although Grasso is certainly no push over, she is in for a tough night at the office against a full fit Barber.
WINNER: Barber
METHOD: KO/TKO

Kelvin Gastelum Vs Ian Heinisch (Middleweight)
Should a UFC fighter be good to enjoy a substantial career, they often have a bout that sees there soul removed from their body. This is where they leave everything in the ring; walk away battered and bruised, and return half the fighter they were. We feel this was the case in 2019, when the former TUF champion went toe-to-toe with Israel Adesanya. Gastelum just cannot seem to find his groove anymore. He has serious wrestling and knockout ability but has not displayed it recently. A loss against Heinisch would mean his fourth loss in a row, and no doubt a one-way ticket to Bellator. He really has to win here but against another solid wrestler in Heinisch, and an unwillingness to go head hunting, he might not be able to do enough to get his hand raised.
WINNER: Heinisch
METHOD: Decision

Andre Ewell Vs Chris Gutierrez (Catch weight 140lbs)
A very evenly matched scrap this one. Leg kicks may be the key to victory here preventing ‘Mr Highlight’ from getting a…well a highlight.
WINNER: Gutierrez
METHOD: Decision

Maki Pitolo Vs Julian Marquez (Middleweight)
Both products of Dana White’s Contender Series, both 30 years of age, but which one is going to be victorious? It is hard to look past the fact Marquez was able to submit UK star Darren Stewart and we think he might even take this one by submission as well.
WINNER: Marquez
METHOD: Submission

Preliminary Card (BT Sport )
Bobby Green Vs Jim Miller (Lightweight)
A real battle of UFC veterans in this one, both fighters are keen to go the distance and both have been on the end of some harsh decisions so do not be surprised if this one is scored a draw! A tough one to call but we’ll say because his submission defence is good and his boxing has looked better recently, Green might jab his way to a split decision.
WINNER: Green
METHOD: Decision

Rodolfo Vieira Vs Anthony Hernandez (Middleweight)
It will be a huge upset if Hernandez beats ‘The Black Belt Hunter’ but when you have a fighter with a record of seven fights undefeated; with six submission victories, the facts make the prediction a lot easier.
WINNER: Vieira
METHOD: Submission

Belal Muhammad Vs Dhiego Lima (Welterweight)
Dhiego Lima has put some decent wins together and could well make this four in a row, but at 32 years of age, it appears things could be coming together for Muhamad, who has looked like a different fighter in his recent bouts. A sure fire hit to go the distance this one.
WINNER: Muhammad
METHOD: Decision

Polyana Viana Vs Mallory Martin (Women’s Straweight)
Another product of Dana White’s Contender Series Mallory Martin should be able to build on her first UFC victory in August 2020 against a fighter who was on the verge of being cut from the UFC prior to submitting Emily Whitmire.
WINNER: Martin
METHOD: Decision

Early Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Ricky Simon Vs Brian Kelleher (Featherweight)
Another tough one to call as both are very game featherweights who are more than happy to get caught up in a brawl and start swinging. A knockout from ‘Boom’ Kelleher is not out of the question but Simon should grind out a decision victory and go three fights undefeated.
WINNER: Simon
METHOD: Decision

Gabriel Green Vs Philip Rowe (Welterweight)
Rowe is undefeated in his last seven fights and earned his UFC contract with an impressive KO, our concern is that the quality of opponent has not been that amazing. Green was thrown in at the deep end on his UFC debut and will know what to do to avoid the same outcome.
WINNER: Gabriel Green
METHOD: Decision

Gillian Robertson Vs Miranda Maverick (Women’s Flyweight)
At only 23 years of age, and referring to yourself as ‘Fear The’ Maverick must now build on her successful UFC debut in October of last year, against a much tougher challenge in Gillian Robertson. With the number of UFC bouts under her belt already, it is hard to believe the Canadian black belt is only 25 years old. A real test for both female athletes as they look to impress not only the judges but also their employer if they want to climb the flyweight ladder.
WINNER: Maverick
METHOD: Decision

UFC 258 WILD CARD BET: Gilbert Burns to defeat Kamaru Usman via Submission

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