UFC 274 Betting Guide
Not a great card and it got worse after weigh ins. UFC 274 has two “titles” on the line as we get the straw weight rematch between Carla Esparza and Thug Rose Namajunas. Then in the main event Justin Gaethje can finally win UFC gold, but the champion Charles Oliveira was stripped of the title after failing to make weight.
Here are some specifics. The early prelims start at 5:30 with the prelims kicking off at 8:oo and the main card starting at 10pm. All of the action 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
73-56 this year. 25-15 on locks.
In 2021 I hit on 60% of picks. In 2021 I hit on 61% of “locks” (so a lot of people had keys to that lock.)
(7-7 last fight card. 3-2 on locks)
PRELIMS
Fernie Garcia
Ariane Carnelossi
Kleydson Rodrigues
Tracy Cortez
Andre Fialho
Blagoy Ivanov (lock)
Brandon Royval (lock)
Norma Dumont
Francisco Trinaldo
Randy Brown
MAIN EVENT TIME
Joe Lauzon vs. Donald Cerrone
This is exactly where Donald Cerrone should be in his career. Far from a title fight, and never getting back to one, Joe Lauzon is a perfect matchup and it could be the ceremonial “senior” division of the UFC. The vets that will never truly be contenders, but fun fighters nonetheless. I think the move back to 155 will benefit Cerrone in this fight. He is going to be coming in bigger than Lauzon and the size difference is my big difference in the fight. Cerrone gets back in the win column
Donald Cerrone
Mauricio Rua vs. Ovince St. Preux
OSP’s move to heavyweight was short lived, and for obvious reasons. He got obliterated. He is going up against Shogun Rua in a veteran battle. But even at 40 Shogun has proved that he still has a little left in the tank. Its not like OSP is much younger at 39. And if Cerrone and Lauzon kick off the “senior” division, then this is the light heavyweight version. Fact is, this is a gross fight. Rua by decision. Honestly skip it.
Mauricio Rua
Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
This is going to be UGLY. Ferguson hasnt won A ROUND since 2019. And I dont think the streak ends. Ferguson is COOKED. And while I dont think Chandler will ever hoist UFC gold, hes still a top 5 light weight. Ferguson is on his way out and maybe he will bounce back when he eventually signs with PFL. But this is the lock of all locks
Michael Chandler (lock)
Rose Namajunas (C) vs. Carla Esparza
The rematch from way back in 2014 will also be for the strawweight belt. “Cookie Monster” has definitely earned her way back to the belt, as she obliterated Xiaonan Yan in a fight that I thought she would lose. She didn’t and ran through her. Rose has proven to be the best in the division, but what Rose are we getting? She has talked about the pressure of being a champion and how it weighed on her. She is in the exact same position when she originally lost her belt to Jessica Andrade but what was lost in that Andrade fight is the fact that Namjunas was winning….conivingly, until she got dropped on her head. I think Namajunas is just better at this point in her career than Esparza
Rose Namajunas
Charles Oliveira (C) vs. Justin Gaethje
I think very highly of Charlie Olives. I picked him against Dustin Poirier when many were on the opposite side (I’m rarely right so let me brag.) Hes crazy legit…but Justin Gaethje is on a TEAR. After losing to Poirier in 2018 he changed his ways. Still willing to throw down, but now less likely to go all out and gas out in a round or two. The job that Trevor Whittman has done with Gaethje has done loads for his game. BUT….if this goes to the ground theres a good chance Oliveeira and his BJJ takes over and the question at that point is can Gaethje survive? I think his wrestling is good enough to stuff Oliveira’s advances and keep the fight standing long enough for Gathje to, at first pick Oliveira apart at the legs and chop him down. Justin Gaethje by TKO in round 4.
Justin Gaethje (lock)
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 $67,290 (+67190)
- If you just parlay the prelims, using all my picks and wagering $100 you would walk away with $3,676 (+3576)
- Parlay the main card, taking all my picks and wagering $100 you would cash in $1,830 (+1730)
- And if you just want to take my locks and parlay them on BetMGM, wagering $100 you would win $627 (+527)
Odds subject to change. Good luck!
