The long wait is almost over for Ultimate Fighting Championship fans, as Nate Diaz is getting ready to get back inside the octagon this weekend. Diaz, a true MMA legend, hasn’t fought since June of 2021, but that’s all about to change this weekend. This piece has our best UFC 279 Bets: Nate Diaz vs. Khamzat Chimaev picks. Will the Stockton, Calif. native be able to record a win and make UFC 279 betting fans happy?
When taking a look at the best UFC betting odds for this one, Nate Diaz is a big underdog going up against Chimaev. As a matter of fact, the best-rated sportsbooks, which include the reliable Bovada review, have listed Diaz at +630. As for Chimaev, he’s been recorded at -1000 for UFC 279 betting. This is not what Diaz is used to, as he’s normally a favorite entering the octagon for a big showdown.
Chimaev has impressed in his recent bouts, but the same can’t be said for Diaz. He’s on a three-fight losing streak, which has been tough for all of his supporters. Looking ahead to this weekend, Diaz is hoping to not only bring his streak to an end but also record a win in a convincing fashion. That won’t be an easy task, but Diaz is ready to answer the call in this case. As for Chimaev, he has no doubts he’ll record a win.
| UFC 279 odds |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chimaev to win | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 | -1000 |
| Diaz to win | +630 | +630 | +630 | +630 |
| Jingliang to win | -295 | -295 | -295 | -295 |
| Ferguson to win | +235 | +235 | +235 | +235 |
“I don’t need to fight that guy. I fight the guy just for fun,” Chimaev said recently to reporters leading up to UFC 279. “I was a kid when he was fighting. I could wait for the title. I took that fight, that guy is not a top (fighter), but he’s famous. Everyone loves him. Everyone talks about this gangster. I eat gangsters for breakfast. I’m gonna (expletive) that guy up.”
Those are some unreal words from Chimaev, and he’s most certainly looking forward to the opportunity of bringing down Diaz. While Diaz is a living legend in the sport and has all the tools to record an upset, we don’t see it happening this time. That said, we’re going with Chimaev as our pick to win this one. Agree? Check out our best UFC betting sites to record a wager.
In another big-time UFC 279 betting matchup, Li Jingliang should take down Tony Ferguson when they put on the gloves this weekend. Jingliang himself is in the middle of an impressive run, and he’s got the kind of power that should turn plenty of heads. Jingliang will enter this battle with his 19-7-0 record, while Ferguson is 26-7-0 in his UFC career thus far.
The last time we saw Ferguson was at UFC 274 in May, but that was a meeting to forget. In his bout going up against Michael Chandler, Ferguson was knocked out in the second round. He entered that fight with high expectations but couldn’t get the job done. As for Jingliang, his last appearance was at a UFC Fight Night in July, and he came out on top with a knockout. He’s ready to impress at UFC 279 but won’t overlook Ferguson.
“For the people who say it like that, Tony Ferguson [has] four losses straight, never fought at welterweight… you forget who he is,” Jingliang said recently. “He is Tony Ferguson. You forgot all those people whose faces got cut by Tony Ferguson. He choked amazing fighters. You should give credit to him.”
Those are words of respect from Jingliang, who knows that Ferguson has what it takes to record a win. This should be a sensational fight, and it’s one that people have been looking forward to. Jingliang will have his hands full, but his -295 odds tell you that plenty of people strongly believe in him having his hand raised. This includes us, as we’re going with Jingliang as part of our UFC 279 picks.
Lastly, Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez will be a tremendous matchup for UFC fans to enjoy. Both these catchweight fighters are pretty evenly matched up, as they’re both known for not only their strength but their speed as well. Holland and Rodriguez have UFC followers jacked up for this one, as this one could end up going the distance.
Holland is 23-7-0 in his UFC career, while Rodriguez is 16-2-0. The oddsmakers have things even here, with Holland at -196 and Rodriguez at +158. This fight is going to be a pound-for-pound brawl. It has plenty of people counting down the days for UFC 279 to arrive.
Things are going to be tight in this one. Holland has been receiving plenty of bets on one hand, while Rodriguez has people buzzing about his potential. This matchup could go either way this weekend, but we’re going to go with Holland to record a victory.
