Nearly two months later I make my return to the UFC streets. If you followed my bets during UFC 286, I’m sorry. We got smoked. The good news is I’m back and UFC 288 is set to happen this weekend.
The card is headlined by the return of Henry Cejudo (who hasn’t fought in nearly three years). I’ll save my thoughts on him for when I preview their fight but let’s just say I strongly hate that fucker.
Here’s my UFC 288 Preview along with my predictions and best bets.
UFC 288 PPV PREVIEW
MATCH 5: Kron Gracie (+155) VS Charles Jourdain (-160)
Honestly this is my live reaction when I just typed out these names.
Honestly who the fuck are these guys. I would rather have at least 4 fights on the prelims kicking off this UFC card. Garcia has a record of 5-1 but is coming off a loss while Jourdain is coming off two losses and holds a record of 13-6-1… One more time, why the fuck are these bums kicking off UFC 288?
Prediction: First instinct said Garcia by submission (+220) in the 2nd round (+900) so that’s what I’m going with.
Best Bet: Garcia ML (+155)
Match 4: Movsar Evloev (-600) VS Diego Lopes (+450)
Diego Lopes steps in on short notice after Bryce Mitchell was forced out with an injury earlier this week. Lopes is making his UFC debut and could instantly make a name for himself by defeating #10-ranked featherweight Movsar Evloev. Evloev holds a record of 16-0 with the last 6 coming via decision. My only concern for the Russian fighter is if preparing for the submission specialist Bryce Mitchell will leave a opening for Diego Lopes to knock him out.
Prediction: Don’t know much about these fighters but Evloev should dominate this fight.
Best Bet: Diego Lopes +450 (Shocks everyone… maybe)
Match 3: Jessica Andrade (-200) Vs Yan Xiaonan (+160)
Finally, a fight where I know both fighters. Andrade is making a quick three-month turnaround after her 2nd round submission loss to Erin Blanchfield. She’s no stranger to responding to a loss as she’s only lost consecutive fights once in her 34-fight career. Yan on the other hand makes her return to the octagon nearly two years after this KO loss to Carly Esparza.
Prediction: Everything points to Andrade dominating and knocking out Yan… Almost so confident that I want to fade myself and pick Yan to win outright. Ultimately I’m going with my gut and picking Andrade by 2nd round KO. (+650)
Best Bet: Andrade By KO (+360) + Fight Not To Go Distance (+105)
Co-Main Event: Gilbert Burns (-132) VS Belal Muhammad (+105)
Best fight on the card and the gap isn’t even close. Two of my favorite/most bet-on fighters in the UFC face off in the ring and I honestly don’t know which side I wanna go with. Burns steps into the octagon for THIRD TIME this year (will be tied with Andrade for most in UFC). He is 2-0 with easy defeats over Neil Magny & Jorge Masvidal.
Belal Muhammad on the other hand hasn’t stepped into the octagon since his fight against then-undefeated Sean Brady. Muhammad proved he was a contender in the division after he delivered this blow to give him the win.
Prediction: Choosing the winner of this fight is basically like flipping a coin to me. Ultimately my gut says Gilbert Burns gets this done in an absolute 5 round thriller. This will be the fight of the night, a KO/Submission are both also possible at any moment in this fight which makes this contender matchup even more enticing.
Best Bet: Fight To Go Distance (-110)
Main Event: (C) Aljamin Sterling (-110) VS Henry Cejudo (-115)
The main event of UFC 288 is headlined by the return of Henry Cejudo. Henry Cejudo retired in 2020 after his TKO win against Dominick Cruz. He had successfully defended a belt in two different weight classes and felt he had nothing else left to prove. That was until Aljamin Sterling came along and packaged together a 10-fight win streak (some flukey questionable wins). Honestly and quite frank I hate these two fighters more then anyone in the entire UFC. Sterling thinks he’s tough shit when in reality he won the belt from a DQ in a fight he was getting smashed in. In the rematch he beat Yan via decision in a very controversial decision from the judges.
Dana White was very vocal in his displeasure on the decision.
Then most recently last October he defended against TJ Dillashaw who ended up having a horrible, blown-out shoulder that he could barely fight with and shouldn’t have even stepped into the octagon with in the first place. I give credit where credit is due, but Sterling doesn’t deserve any. He now gets “Triple C” who hasn’t fought in three years and has looked out of shape when he’s been yapping his mouth lately.
Prediction: Sean O’Malley is waiting to face the winner, which is how I decided to pick the winner of this fight. Sterling deserves to lose and Henry deserves to get knocked out. If there was ever a time for one of those weird double KOs to happen this is the fight.. hopefully. Cejudo Vs O’Malley seems much more enticing of a fight which is why I’m siding with the small guy this weekend.
Best Bet: Fight Not To Go Distance (+105) & Fight To End By KO (+260).
All in the hope one of these clowns gets knocked out.
UFC 288 BET CARD:
- Garcia +155 (1U)
- Diego Lopes +450 (.5U)
- Andrade/Xiaonan NOT To Go Distance +105 (1U)
- Andrade By TKO +360 (.5U)
- Burns/Muhammad TO GO Distance -110 (1U)
- Sterling/Cejudo NOT To Go Distance +105 (1.5U)
- Sterling/Cejudo To End VIA KO +260 (.5U)
- PARLAY: Burns/Muhammad To Go Distance + Sterling/Cejudo NOT To Go Distance +283 (.5U)
Some people call me MarTy and some people call me Ryan. Wildcard when it comes to my writing. #FadeMe if I ever tweet out “locks”.