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UFC Vegas 35 Betting Guide

A kick boxer’s dream fight this week, as up and comer Giga Chikadze takes on vet Edson Barboza. Barboza is coming off a very impressive performance in his last fight…

HOUSTON, TEXAS – MAY 15: Edson Barboza kicks Shane Burgos during their featherweight bout of UFC 262 at Toyota Center on May 15, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

A kick boxer's dream fight this week, as up and comer Giga Chikadze takes on vet Edson Barboza. Barboza is coming off a very impressive performance in his last fight as he picked apart dangerous Shane Burgos. On the other side of the cage is 13-2 Giga Chikadze who in undefeated in his UFC tenure. Its also the Ultimate Fighter Finale....so theres that.

Here are some specifics.The early prelims start at 7pm with the prelims kicking off at 8pm and then the the main card starts at 10pm and everything can be seen on ESPN+

I will give you my predictions in the order the fights are to take place. All odds are courtesy of Bet MGM. The King of Sports Books! For new users head on over there and use the promocode PatEgan and get your first bet RISK FREE up to $1K

175-121-2 so far this year ( 53-38-1 on locks, which I should start calling "Bagsters" because theyre complete trash)

(3-9 last fight card. 0-3 on locks)

PRELIMS

Mana Martinez -275

Pat Sabatini (lock) +125

JJ Aldrich -400

Dustin Jacoby -200

Sam Alvey +115

Abdul Razak Alhassan +180

Gerald Meerschaert +450

MAIN EVENT TIME

Andre Petroski vs. Micheal Gilmore

Andre Petroski being out of the Ultimate Fighter tournament in the second round was a bit of a let down. Petroski was one of the favorites to win the tournament. But its obvious the UFC is high on him because they have him kicking off the main card and they've given him a very favorable matchup in Micheal Gilmore. Gilmore was a last second replacement for the show, not even making the original cut. You then saw why when he got into the cage as he was submitted pretty quickly. Petroski should steam roll through Gilmore. Hes also a Philly guy so there's a reason to cheer for him.

Andre Petroski (lock) -500

Kevin Lee vs. Daniel Rodriguez

Kevin Lee was originally supposed to get scorched by Philly's own Sean Brady, but Brady pulled out. Usually the UFC will give the fighter whos healthy a favorable matchup. They didn't do that with Kevin Lee. Lee, whos a former light weight title contender, moves up to 170. Hes a man without a real weight class. Hes too emaciated when he fights at 155, and too small when he fights at 170. It doesn't mean he cant win, but I think he will have trouble taking down the bigger Rodriguez. I think Rodriguez ends up stuffing the takedown attempts and proves to be tough to take down. If Lee gets the takedown, hes going to spend a lot of energy getting it. I do worry that this ends up being a boring fight where Lee ends up winning by just dominating the clinch work and forcing a stalemate. I think thats a REAL possibility, but Im still taking Rodriguez

Daniel Rodriguez +125

Ricky Turcios vs. Brady Heistand

The Ultimate Fighter Bantamweight crown is on the line and Ricky Turcious will take it. Ricky was already featured on Dana White's Contender Series (losing to the now cut Boston Salmon) and is the more experienced fighter. Heistand is good, but I just dont think its his time yet. Both guys train at a high level gyms, but I look at Turcious as a man whos been there, where Heistand isnt quite ready for this moment.

Ricky Turcios (lock) -165

Gilbert Urbina vs. Brian Battle

This Ultimate Fighter Middleweight final was supposed to be Brian Battle VS Tresean Gore. And I would favor Gore in that fight if Gore didn't have to pull out. Gore seems a lock to be signed by the UFC and make his debut once hes healthy. But in steps the man he beat to get to the finals, Gilbert Urbina. I like Urbina's game. He got knocked out in the semi finals but his ground game is impressive. Urbina would not be the first alternate to end up winning the ultimate fighter (Ryan Hall was a replacement. As was Brandon Moreno) and I think Urbina gets it done and is added to the list

Gilbert Urbina +140

Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze

Edson Barboza is a lot like Jose Aldo. A veteran fighter who moved down in weight classes and has flourished. And just like Aldo, many thought the weight cut would be his downfall, but it hasn't YET. Barboza is a BIG 145er, and he really should be 3-0 in the division (he was robbed against Dan Ige) but hes got a big test in front of him in kickboxer Giga Chikadze. Chikadze has been a force since entering the UFC. Dominating opponents with his flashy kicks. But Barboza is the king of the kick. This is a MASSIVE step up in competition for Giga Chikadze and hes been calling for this for a while. So if he ready? I dont think so. Barboza is a grizzled vet who knows how to take care of up and coming prospects. Im still very high on Giga Chikadze, I just think this is a bad matchup for him.

Edson Barboza -115

Since BET MGM is the king of parlay’s here is how the parlay odds look!

  • f you take every one of my picks and parlay them on BetMGM, wagering $100 you’d win $370,611 (+370611)
  • If you just parlay the prelims, using all my picks and wagering $100 you would walk away with $19,047 (+18947)
  • Parlay the main card, taking all my picks and wagering $100 you would cash in $1,945 (+1845)
  • And if you just want to take my locks and parlay them on BetMGM, wagering $100 you would win $433 (+333)

Odds subject to change. Good luck!

Pat EganEditor
Pat is Philly through and through, having grown up in the Oxford Circle of Northeast Philadelphia. He attended Cardinal Dougherty High School, and it was at CD that a teacher suggested he should pursue a career in sports radio. He worked his way up the ranks and joined the morning show in June of 2020. As a content creator for 97.5 The Fanatic he writes about Eagles, Sixers, Phillies and Flyers. Follow Pat on Twitter @Pat_Egan

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