In the highly anticipated UFC 291 main event, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje are set to face off again five years after their initial encounter, which saw Poirier emerge victorious.
Now, the question arises: Will Gaethje be able to exact his revenge?
Before checking out our UFC 291 picks, look at the best UFC betting sites and the UFC Vegas betting odds.
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira
Recently, the key to defeating Thompson has been wrestling and holding him down, as Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad demonstrated.
However, when facing strikers, Thompson has proven formidable, as evident in his victories against Kevin Holland, Geoff Neal, and Vicente Luque.
On the other hand, Pereira shares a similar striking style with Thompson but possesses a more unorthodox approach. Concerns arise regarding his cardio, as he has shown signs of gassing out in recent fights, and competing at elevation in Utah may exacerbate this issue.
I anticipate Pereira attempting to wrestle Thompson in this highly anticipated matchup, but ‘Wonderboy’ should be adept at keeping the fight on the feet.
Thompson’s elusive movement makes him difficult to hit, and I foresee him taking control in the second and third rounds, ultimately securing a decision win in this thrilling showdown.
I would recommend betting on Stephen Thompson to win this fight outright at -155 odds at Bovada.
Heavyweight: Alex Pereira vs. Jan Blachowicz
This highly anticipated fight could steal the show, with both men being skilled strikers in their own right. However, my prediction leans towards Pereira as the victor.
His youth, physical advantage, and superior striking ability give him the edge in this matchup. To secure success in his light heavyweight debut, Pereira must maintain his stance and utilize his size to keep Blachowicz at bay.
Regarding the best bet, taking Pereira outright at (-103) is a solid option. These fighters are likely to come out swinging with the intention of ending the fight swiftly.
Pereira’s reputation for delivering heavy punches, demonstrated by his knockout of Adesanya, sets him apart.
While Blachowicz is undoubtedly formidable and will land some significant shots, I envision Pereira delivering the decisive knockout blow, reclaiming his prominence in the light heavyweight division.
I recommend betting on Alex Pereira to win this fight outright at -103 odds at Bovada.
Lightweight: Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje
The main event of UFC 291 features a highly anticipated bout for the symbolic BMF belt.
The first showdown between these two saw Gaethje batter Poirier with leg kicks while Poirier pieced up Gaethje with boxing combinations. In the fourth round, Poirier ate another leg kick but traded back with an overhand left that stunned Gaethje, and he followed up with a flurry of punches that finished him.
That was just the third fight in Gaethje’s UFC career, and he was fresh off a knockout loss to Eddie Alvarez. Since then, Gaethje has become a more patient and calculated fighter while sharpening his footwork and upgrading his defense.
While Poirier has also improved, he’s still more-or-less the same fighter he was then. Another factor that could play a role is the high elevation at Salt Lake City, with Gaethje used to train in Denver at an even higher altitude.
The advantage might not be as stark as some fans and pundits believe. Cardio has never really been an issue for Poirier, and he arrived in Utah a while ago and has been preparing for these conditions.
Also, remember that Salt Lake City isn’t much higher than Calgary, where Poirier knocked out Alvarez and claimed a POTN bonus in 2018.
Regardless of the elevation, I think this fight should be closer to a pick’em and will lean towards Gaethje on the money line since he has made bigger strides since the first matchup.
I recommend betting Justin Gaethje to win this fight at +130 odds at Bovada.
See below the top online betting sites where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
