UFC 258 is set to take place at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas on Feb 13. The Indian MMA fan base is growing at a rapid pace with every passing month as more fans tune into UFC fight night and PPV cards.
Indian punters who are looking to bet on UFC 258 will do well to take a few minutes to examine our betting strategies and predictions and see if they match with your picks. We cover three fights in depth and give you betting odds and three other fights that we would put our money on.
Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns
Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns was set to take place in 2020 but Burns had to pull out due to an injury and his title shot went to Jorge Masvidal. Burns is back in 2021 to take back his missed opportunity and fight the champ for the UFC welterweight title.
Usman is undefeated in the UFC and the betting favorite at 4/11. However, we would go against the sportsbooks predictions and back Burns who is at 9/4. This is because Burns is going to be a much harder fight for Usman than Masvidal.
Burns has a great ground game which should negate Usman’s wrestling which he used to beat Woodley and Masvidal. Burns has also sparred on numerous occasions with Usman as the two used to train at the same gym. We feel Burns will have the advantage on the ground and should be able to get better as the fight progresses.
Usman should have a slight advantage with the standup in the early rounds but Burns’s striking has improved significantly in the last couple of years. Burns is desperate to win and not only get his hands on the belt but change the financial fortune of his family. The skill-set, hunger to win and experience of sparring with Usman, gives Burns the edge.
Barber vs. Grasso
The Future makes her return to the Octagon after a 12 month hiatus due to injury. Maycee Barber was billed as the next big thing in the UFC’s flyweight division before she suffered an injury in the Octagon and lost by decision to Roxanne Modafferi in Jan 2020. Barber is the underdog at 11/10 while the impressive Grasso is the favorite at 8/11.
Grasso is the more experienced and accomplished fighter and should win on paper. However, don’t count Maycee Barber out as she has great striking and will be eager to get a win under her belt and regain the momentum that she lost in 2020. We would put our money on Barber as she has that X factor which could be the difference.
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Ian Heinisch
We don’t understand why the bookmakers have Gastelum as the heavy betting favorite with odds of 10/21 and Heinisch as the underdog with odds of 7/4. Gastelum has lost the last three of his fights and will be under pressure to not lose his fourth fight in a row. Heinisch on the other hand is coming off an impressive KO win against Gerald Meerschaert in the first round.
Our money is definitely on Heinisch as he can not only take a punch but also return one very well. His ground game is better than Gastelum’s ground game in our opinion and hence we think he is going to win.
More Fights To Bet On
There are a number of other interesting fights on the main card, prelims and the early prelims. Pedro Munhoz will fight Jimmie Rivera in a bantamweight fight that promises to be a thriller as both fighters like to throw down. Jim Miller and Bobby Green will headline the prelims and Ricky Simon and Brian Kelleher will headline the early prelims. Our money is on Munhoz, Green and Simon.
If you are looking for MMA friendly betting sites, check out the ones below.
