UFC 277 goes down Saturday July 30th on PPV. Its the rematch between Juliana Pena and Amanda Nunes. Pena shocked the world in their first fight and took Nunes’ belt and its time to see if “the Lioness” hit a speed bump or if its the Pena era. We will also see an amazing flyweight fight between Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France for the interim title.

Here are some specifics. The early prelims start at 6pm with the prelims being at 8pm. The main card is at 10:oo pm . All of it is on ESPN+ and it will cost you $75.

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

127-98 this year. 44-24 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.)

(9-4 last fight card. 3-2 on locks)

PRELIMS

Blood Diamond

Nick Negumereanu

Joselyne Edwards

Michael Morales (lock)

Drakkar Klose (lock)

Don’Tale Mayes

Drew Dober

Alex Morono

• Anthony Smith vs. Magomed Ankalaev

  Magomed Ankalaev is just a fighter that I dont really enjoy watching. I feel like his game plan for everything is to push his opponent against the cage, control the clinch, and grind out a win without actually doing much. Anthony Smith is not like that at all and Smith is the biggest test Ankalaev has faced yet.

  Smith is looking to get back into the title picture and this win could give him a shot. What hurts Smith is he has struggled in the past against wrestlers. He was piecing Glover Teixeira until he gassed out and Glover took him down and controlled him. Jon Jones kind of bullied him on the ground as well. And that will be Ankalaev’s game plan. BUT something in my gut says Anthony Smith reminds folks of how good he is and he gets the win.

  Anthony Smith

• Alex Perez vs. Alexandre Pantoja

  Perez was probably pushed a little too fast. In a weak flyweight division he found himself in a title fight where he got dusted within a round. He found out the hard way that there are levels to this game. And I think hes going to find out that even a level down, hes not quite there YET.

  I love Pantoja. I think hes a top 4 fighter in the division. And while I think Perez is good, and he certainly hasn’t peaked yet, I think Pantoja is just better at this point.

  Alexandre Pantoja

• Derrick Lewis vs. Sergei Pavlovich

  “someones going to sleep” usually leads to a fight going the distance. But these two guys arent here to fight for 15 minutes. Its a matter of who connects first. This fight isnt in Houston, so I like Lewis. Who is still surprisingly agile for his size, and will pose problems for Pavlovich who will be swinging from his hip praying to connect. But Lewis will be doing one of his famous post fight pressers when it ends.

  Derrick Lewis

• Kai Kara-France vs. Brandon Moreno

  I wasnt a believer in Kai Kara-France until he took out Askar Askarov. I looked at Askarov as the NEXT guy in the division to challenge for a title. But KKF took him out and is riding a 3 fight win streak where he looks like a different fighter from the one that lost to Brandon Royval. BUT Brandon Moreno’s career ascension is something to admire. Cut from the organization he fought back and worked his way up to arguably the best fighter in the division and you could make a case that he currently is the best. He is also used to a 5 round fight and KKF is entering his first main event. So take Moreno by unanimous decision.

  Brandon Moreno (lock)

• Juliana Pena (C) vs. Amanda Nunes

  She was a +700 underdog and she shocked the world. Juliana Pena took Amanda Nunes’ best shot and just rope a doped her. It was something that few people expected but can she do it again? A lot of excuses were made for Nunes. Weather you buy into those excuses or not is another question. I tend to believe some of it. I think Nunes did get a little complacent as she destroyed all opponents. It got to the point where she was facing opponents and CHOSE to go the distance to “proving the doubters wrong.” She looked like a cat playing with a mouse.

  Because of that I think she runs through Pena. Nunes did leave her long time gym ATT and is now training with different coaches. That could either work for or against her. But I think talent is just going to win out. I think Nunes needed this wake up call and its going to be bad news for Pena. Nunes by finish.

  Amanda Nunes (lock)

• Parlays

  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 $255,684 (+255584)
  If you just parlay the prelims, using all my picks and wagering $100 you would walk away with $7,731 (+7631)
  Parlay the main card, taking all my picks and wagering $100 you would cash in $4,303 (+4203)
  And if you just want to take my locks and parlay them on BetMGM, wagering $100 you would win $328 (+228)

  Odds subject to change. Good luck!

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