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UFC Odds & Best Bets Today: UFC 292 Schedule, Picks

Themi Alexis

Updated on August 19, 2026 at 3:35 PM EDT • Read time: 3 minutes and 61 seconds. Links to Twitter and Google News.

UFC predictions
UFC predictions

The UFC is back in Boston at the TD Garden, with championship belts up for grabs. Take a look at our top picks for the UFC 292 card this Saturday, based on the odds from leading sportsbooks.

In the main event, Aljamain Sterling will defend his bantamweight title and nine-fight win streak against fan favorite Sean O’Malley. Sterling became the unified champ by defeating Petr Yan in April of last year, and has successfully defended his title with victories over TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo.

O’Malley has won four consecutive fights and eight out of his last nine in the Octagon. His tough victory over Yan at UFC 280 has earned him an opportunity to compete for the belt.

The co-main event features strawweight champion Weili Zhang defending her title against challenger Amanda Lemos. Zhang is entering her first title defense in nine months since defeating Carla Esparza to reclaim the championship, while Lemos is on a winning streak with back-to-back victories over Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez.

Having considered all factors, here are our top picks for Saturday’s UFC 292. Odds are sourced from our top sports betting apps, with confidence levels rated on a 1 to 5-star scale.

Take a look at our top UFC betting picks.

UFC 292 schedule and odds

(odds via DraftKings)

Main Card (10:00 PM Eastern Time):

  • Aljamain Sterling (-258) vs. Sean O’Malley (+210)
  • Weili Zhang (-310) vs. Amanda Lemos (+250)
  • Ian Machado Garry (-500) vs. Neil Magny (+380)
  • Da’Mon Blackshear (+185) vs. Mario Bautista (-225)
  • Marlon Vera (-198) vs. Pedro Munhoz (+164)

Prelims (8 p.m. ET):

  • Chris Weidman (+210) vs. Brad Tavares (-258)
  • Gregory Rodrigues (-355) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (+280)
  • Austin Hubbard (-180) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (+150)
  • Brad Katona (-170) vs. Cody Gibson (+142)

Preliminary matches starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

  • Andre Petroski (-225) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (+185)
  • Andrea Lee (+245) vs. Natalia Silva (-305)
  • Karine Silva (-155) vs. Maryna Moroz (+130)

UFC 292 best bets

  • Fight line: Vera ML vs. Munhoz (-198 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
  • Upset: Meerschaert ML vs. Petroski (+198 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
  • Winning method: Meerschaert by submission vs. Petroski (+390 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
  • Prop bet: Weidman vs. Tavares goes the distance (+114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
  • Parlay: Sterling vs. O’Malley Under 3.5 rounds (-145) + Garry vs. Magny goes the distance (+120) + Vera (-198) = +459 (via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

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UFC top picks for UFC 292

Fight Line: Vera ML vs. Munhoz (-198 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

Marlon Vera is a force to be reckoned with on his feet, utilizing his strengths and pushing the pace. As the more athletic and versatile striker against Pedro Munhoz, I’m confident we will see a classic performance from “Chito” on fight night.

Munhoz is a willing striker with great durability, but he doesn’t have the same power as Vera. Munhoz absorbs 5.90 significant strikes per minute. If Vera can avoid Munhoz’s guillotine choke, he should be able to push Munhoz back, land more significant strikes, and secure a victory in the fight.

Upset: Meerschaert ML vs. Petroski (+198 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

I can’t resist a Gerald Meerschaert upset and I keep coming back for more for a few reasons. For starters, this experienced submission specialist has pulled off surprising victories over notable opponents like Bruno Silva and Makhmud Muradov in the UFC. Now, he’s set to face another promising fighter in Andre Petroski, who is known for his grappling skills with an average of over five takedowns per 15 minutes. This matchup could lead to an exciting ground battle that Meerschaert thrives in.

If Petroski continues his streak, he will be facing Meerschaert, who has more experience. I believe Meerschaert will use his edge in experience to capitalize on any mistakes Petroski makes on the mat and pull off another upset.

Winning method: Meerschaert by submission vs. Petroski (+390 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

Instead of simply picking Sterling to win by submission over O’Malley, I am taking a riskier bet on an upset victory this week for a potentially bigger payout (increasing from +195 to +390).

While Petroski is strong in wrestling, Meerschaert has a wider range of submission techniques, more experience in professional bouts (51 compared to 10), and has secured more tapouts (27 compared to 6). Meerschaert is also willing to exchange strikes on the feet to set up a takedown or risk being on the ground to go for a submission. If Petroski tries either scenario, Meerschaert will be ready to capitalize on any small opportunity to secure his 28th tapout victory.

Prop bet: Weidman vs. Tavares goes the distance (+114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

While Chris Weidman may be injury-prone, his extended absence from the octagon and Brad Tavares’ cautious fighting style suggest that these experienced middleweights will likely need the full 15 rounds to determine the superior fighter.

Weidman’s injury-prone past, age, and lack of recent fights may make him hesitant in the cage, while Tavares is known for his cautious approach, having gone the distance in most of his UFC fights. With Weidman likely to focus on takedowns and Tavares being strong in defending them, along with his low striking output, this match is expected to be uneventful and could come down to a decision by the judges.

Parlay: Sterling vs. O’Malley Under 3.5 rounds (-145) + Garry vs. Magny goes the distance (+120) + Vera (-198) = +459 (via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

This week’s parlay features our fight line pick along with two prop bets for the main card. Sterling and O’Malley have a combined total of almost twenty finishes, making their clash likely to end before the final bell. Sterling will be looking to secure submissions on the ground, while O’Malley will rely on his long-range striking. In the Ian Garry vs. Neil Magny matchup, I anticipate both fighters showing respect for each other. Garry will use a methodical approach to strike from a distance, while Magny will work his way into the clinch with his jab, leading to a decision by the judges.

UFC top picks placed on 18/8/2026 at 12:04 a.m. ET.

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Written By:
Themi Alexis
Watson Zakary has specialized in MMA- and boxing-specific sports betting for the past several years, having joined Underscoreg Review in early 2026. An avid bettor himself, he routinely places his bets with the especially user-friendly bet365, DraftKings for its array of prop lines, and/or FanDuel for its ever-compelling odds. Before coming to SBR, Themistoklis spent another few years covering the MMA beat at theScore, contributing everything from news stories to features to comprehensive fight week coverage, and was a diehard follower of the sport long before he ever covered it professionally. His introduction to MMA came in 2007 with UFC 74, where Randy Couture defended his heavyweight crown with a thrashing of Gabriel Gonzaga. Themistoklis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Toronto’s Centennial College. In addition to all things MMA, he is equally interested in both boxing and cinematic lore. If there’s any advice he can impart to new and experienced sports bettors, it’s to avoid betting against the greats and keep their options open, as committing to a single sportsbook can prove shortsighted and deprive them of access to the best available odds.