SMUGGLING DUDS UFC 297 GAMBLING GUIDE

Welcome to our first guide of 2024! We hope you all enjoyed the break and are looking forward to another year of awesome MMA cards and few bob along the way.

Main Card (TNT Sports)

Sean Strickland (c) vs. Dricus du Plessis (Middleweight)

A superb main event made even more epic from the build-up. We don’t care if the hype has been scripted, it has worked, and we are fully invested! Over the years, avid Gambling Guide followers will have seen how well the South African has done for us. Strickland is a dog and is clearly in the prime of his career. Driscus du Plessis is as well, and there lies the problem for Strickland. Crazy that Adesanya isn’t getting a look in here – but he will face the ‘Stillknocks’ once he puts Strickland away in dramatic/awkward slugging fashion.

WINNER: du Plessis

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (Women’s Bantamweight)

Every man and his dog are picking Bueno Silva, and rightly so as it could be argued Pennington has had her time and is transitioning into a gate keeper for the division. Whilst the Brazilian will be looking to rewrite the controversy of her last bout (she tested positive for a banned substance after submitting Holly Holm) we say don’t count out Rocky.

WINNER: Bueno

METHOD: Decision

 

Neil Magny vs. Mike Mallot (Welterweight)

If Magny wins it will be one of the bigger upsets on the card. The former title contender has matched against a rising Canadian star – in Canada. We foresee Magny getting dropped and subbed inside 2 rounds.

WINNER: Mallot

METHOD: Submission

 

Chris Curtis vs. Marc Andre Barriault (Middleweight)

A tough pick for sure and to be honest, we initially thought the work rate of Barriault would be the defining factor, but we have decided to not bet against ‘Action Man’ this time. As one of Sean Strickland’s main sparring partners, Curtis should be able to weather the Canadian storm.

WINNER: Curtis

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Arnold Allen vs. Mosvar Evloev (Featherweight)

It would be easy for us to go with Evloev via endless take downs, but he faces a stone-cold takedown defence specialist in Arnold Allen. If the Brit can do his thing and get a few digs in along the way, he might just be the one to end the Russian’s impressive winning streak.

WINNER: Allen

METHOD: Decision

 

Preliminary Card (TNT Sports)

Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield (Bantamweight)

Katona has been in some scraps lately and is facing some one who knows how to land a punch in Garrett Armfield. Based on the fact he’s riding a wave of points victories and has never been dropped, it has to be Katona via UD.

WINNER: Katona

METHOD: Decision

 

Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson (Bantamweight)

Due to the crazy frame of his body Woodson will always be a handful and a difficult opponent to figure out. Jourdain will have his work cut out, but he has shown us enough to think he can take this one.

WINNER: Jourdain

METHOD: Decision

 

Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras (Bantamweight)

For any casuals - these two already fought on DWCS and the result was Taveras seeing stars. We think it’ll be a case of revenge and the tables will turn. Should be a decent scrap regardless.

WINNER: Taveras

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana (Women’s Strawweight)

When you get two high level grapplers it can often result in a bit of a tear up. Not sure that will be the case here, but you never know!

WINNER: Viana

METHOD: Decision

 

Early Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson (Welterweight)

The 27-year-old Brit made the step up from DWCS to UFC card in March of last year and got wiped out in the first round. We would love ‘The Future’ to produce the goods but Lainesse might just send him packing.

WINNER: Lainesse

METHOD: KO/TKO

 

Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Priscilla Cachoiera (Women’s Flyweight)

Toss a coin or simply leave off the betting acca as this one is going to be close. We’ll take Jasudaviscius by split decision in a relatively boring bout.

WINNER: Jasudavicius

METHOD: Decision

 

Malcom Gordon vs. Jimmy Flick (Flyweight)

Both aged 33, both coming off back-to-back losses and both with questionable chins. The hometown advantage might just edge it for Gordon.

WINNER: Gordon

METHOD: Decision

 

UFC 297 WILDCARD BET:  Sean Strickland to def Dricus du Plessis via KO/TKO