SMUGGLING DUDS UFC 289 GAMBLING GUIDE

The UFC returns to Canada with a headline bout featuring one of the most dominant female fighters in UFC history. Can The Lioness begin another ferocious win streak or is there another title fight upset on the horizon?

Main Card (BT Sport)

Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Irene Aldana (Women’s Bantamweight)

The only advantage Aldana has is that she is slightly bigger than the champ. That is pretty much it. Whilst she won’t be intimidated, the Mexican will soon find out that Nunes isn’t messing about. Even though she bounced back in style, getting embarrassed by Juliana Pena definitely still haunts ‘The Lioness’ and it is something she’ll never let happen again, certainly not by Irene Aldana.

WINNER: Nunes

METHOD: KO/TKO

Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush (Lightweight)

A win here for Dariush will take him up to 9 fights unbeaten as well as a title shot. Who wants Dariush as the champ though? Not many people that’s for sure. Dariush will be looking to play the long game here and ride out a decision win, but the former title holder knows this is the beginning of what could be his last chance to fight for the title again. In Du Bronx we trust!  

WINNER: Oliveira

METHOD: Submission

Mike Malott vs. Adam Fugitt (Welterweight)

Strap yourself in because this is going to be wild. Both fighters love nothing more than a good old fist fight and we expect this one to be FON.

WINNER: Malott

METHOD: KO/TKO

Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr (Featherweight)

Ige looked like a new man in his last bout, and he will be looking to build on the momentum against one of the unsung characters of the UFC in Landwehr. We are going to go for broke here and pick ‘The Train’ to do us proud once again.

WINNER: Landwehr

METHOD: Decision

Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Eryk Anders (Middleweight) 

The Canadian is an absolute cardio machine which will most likely be the biggest factor. If Anders can’t put him away early, he’ll begin to slow down which is when we feel Barriault will steam roll him.

WINNER: Barriault

METHOD: KO/TKO

Preliminary Card (BT Sport)

Nassourdine Imanov vs. Chris Curtis (Middleweight)

When your best mate Sean Strickland fought (and beat him) in his previous bough, Chris Curtis should come into this one with the best game plan ever. Imanov is a tough cookie though so we could be looking at another one going the distance.

WINNER: Curtis

METHOD: Decision

Miranda Maverick vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (Bantamweight)

Another sure fire hit to go the distance. The obvious pick would be Maverick, but this is women’s MMA and UFC judge scoring can be terrible at times! You have been warned.

WINNER: Maverick

METHOD: Decision

Aiemann Zahabi vs. Aori Qileng (Bantamweight)

Quite a tough one to call but expect the Zahabi’s to come with a game plan that might not produce the most exciting of bouts, but a one that gets them the ‘W’.

WINNER: Zahabi

METHOD: Decision

Kyle Nelson vs. Blake Bilder (Featherweight)

DWCS stand out Bilder to defeat Nelson in his own back yard on a unanimous points decision.

WINNER: Bilder

METHOD: Decision

Early Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

David Dvorak vs. Stephen Erceg (Flyweight)

Rising Australian star Erceg makes his jump from the lower leagues into the top division against a well-schooled veteran in Dvorak. Whilst ‘The Undertaker’ hasn’t got the worst UFC record, anyone who has followed ‘Astro Boy’s’ record will know he’s probably going to win by sub here.

WINNER: Erceg

METHOD: Submission

Diana Belbita vs. Maria Oliveira (Women’s Strawweight)

Absolute stinker of a bout to open the show. If this produces anything other than a drawn-out decision, we’ll be very surprised indeed. Toss a coin or just leave off the betting acca.

WINNER: Belbita

METHOD: Decision

UFC 289 WILDCARD BET: Irene Aldana to def Amanda Nunes via KO/TKO