UFC Vegas 77 marks the return of MMA to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 15.
Before checking out our UFC Vegas 77 picks, look at the best UFC betting sites and the UFC Vegas betting odds.
Let’s take a look at some of the fights on the undercard for this event. Starting with the Jun Hong Park vs. Albert Duraev.
Middleweight: Albert Duraev vs. Jun Yong Park
Neither Duraev nor Park holds a ranking in the middleweight division, making their Saturday bout crucial in establishing their recognition.
Both fighters enter the contest fresh off victories, with Duraev securing a split decision win over Chidi Njokuani and Park triumphing over Denis Tiuliulin via submission.
I am leaning towards Park due to his proven ability to win over the judges. Impressively, he boasts a perfect 4-0 record in UFC bouts determined by decision.
This is attributed mainly to his assertiveness in the octagon, landing an average of 4.92 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy rate of 51%.
In comparison, Duraev falls short in these aspects, with marks of 2.94 significant strikes per minute and a 40% accuracy rate.
Additionally, Park holds a substantial advantage in takedowns, boasting a reliable 51% success rate compared to Duraev’s 27%. This gives Park control over whether the fight remains standing or goes to the ground.
As mentioned earlier, Park has excelled in the UFC by grinding out battles and convincing the judges in his favor.
He hasn’t secured a knockout victory in over five years, and Duraev has yet to suffer a submission loss at the UFC level.
Therefore, I recommend backing Park to win by decision once again. Expect a back-and-forth encounter between the two fighters before Park’s hand is ultimately raised in victory.
Lightweight: Nazim Sadykhov vs. Terrance McKinney
Despite being considered one of the most dangerous fighters in his division, it’s surprising to see Terrance McKinney as the underdog in his upcoming bout against Nazim Sadykhov.
McKinney recently suffered a disappointing knockout loss in January. However, he has made a significant change by switching camps and now trains with Kevin Holland, a move that inspires confidence.
On the other hand, Sadykhov holds a 1-0 record in the UFC but was trailing 20-18 against Evan Elder before the fight was halted due to a cut.
While McKinney may opt to utilize his wrestling skills, his striking abilities will prove too much for Sadykhov.
Anticipate McKinney to land a significant strike and secure a first-round knockout victory. However, placing a straight wager on McKinney is the safest bet.
Bantamweight: Holly Holm vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
The UFC Vegas 77 main card presents an incredibly thrilling women’s bantamweight main event that showcases the talents of Holly Holm and Mayra Bueno Silva.
Despite grappling with various medical challenges in recent years, Holly Holm has demonstrated resilience by putting together an impressive streak.
The seasoned 41-year-old fighter has emerged victorious in three of her last four bouts, most notably triumphing over Yana Santos via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 43.
While Mayra Bueno Silva may possess a different level of experience than her opponent, her recent achievements must be noticed.
With only one loss in her last six fights, Silva has secured three consecutive wins, two of which were accomplished by submission before the end of Round 2.
In this weekend’s showdown, my prediction leans towards Holly Holm securing the victory. Firstly, Holm possesses superior cardio compared to Silva, who has only reached the fifth round once in her 13 previous bouts.
Additionally, Holm represents the most formidable challenge Silva has encountered thus far, and her adept grappling defense should neutralize Silva’s submission attempts.
Although the match may be lengthy, Holm has the necessary skills to emerge triumphant.
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