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UFC Odds & Best Bets Today: UFC 290 Schedule, Picks

Ramirez Madeline

Updated on July 8, 2023 at 3:33 PM EDT • Read time: 3 minutes and 40 seconds. Links to Twitter and Google News provided.

UFC predictions
UFC predictions

The UFC’s return to T-Mobile Arena this Saturday will be headlined by a pair of title fights featuring Alexander Volkanovski vs Yair Rodriguez in the featherweight division and Brandon Moreno vs Alexandre Pantoja in the flyweight division. Check out our UFC 290 best bets based on the odds from top sportsbooks.

After falling short in his bid for the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in February, Alexander Volkanovski is determined to maintain his dominance in the featherweight division. Before his defeat, the pound-for-pound stalwart, known as “Alexander The Great,” had solidified his place among the UFC’s elite with impressive wins over top contenders like Max Holloway, Brian Ortega, Chad Mendes, Chan Sung Jung, and featherweight legend Jose Aldo.

Rodriguez claimed the interim featherweight title after defeating Josh Emmett by submission on the same night Volkanovski lost to Makhachev. He earned his spot in the title bout by defeating Ortega, although the fight was stopped due to injury, Rodriguez had been performing well until then.

In the co-main event, Moreno will aim to defend his title while also attempting to figure out how to defeat Pantoja. The two fighters have met twice before, and in both instances, Pantoja came out on top against the reigning champion.

In addition to the main and co-main events, there are numerous exciting matchups that offer betting opportunities.

These are our top UFC picks for UFC 290, with odds provided by our recommended sports betting apps. Confidence level is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

Take a look at our predictions for the Volkanovski-Rodriguez and Moreno-Pantoja fights.

UFC 290 schedule and odds

(Odds via DraftKings)

Main card (10 p.m. ET)

  • Alexander Volkanovski (-375) vs. Yair Rodriguez (+285)
  • Brandon Moreno (-200) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (+170)
  • Robert Whittaker (-410) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (+310)
  • Jalin Turner (-285) vs. Dan Hooker (+240)
  • Bo Nickal (-2800) vs. Val Woodburn (+1300)

Prelims (6 p.m. ET)

  • Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price (-240)
  • Jack Della Maddalena (-950) vs. Josiah Harrell (+600)
  • Yazmin Jauregui (-410) vs. Denise Gomes (+310)
  • Jimmy Crute (-130) vs. Alonzo Menifield (+110)
  • Tatsuro Taira (-1050) vs. Edgar Chairez (+700)
  • Vitor Petrino (-225) vs. Marcin Prachnio (+190)
  • Cameron Saaiman (-600) vs. Terrence Mitchell (+430)
  • Shannon Ross (+125) vs. Jesus Santos Aguilar (-145)

UFC 290 best bets

  • Winning method: Volkanovski by decision (+140 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Over/Under: Moreno v. Pantoja Over 3.5 Rounds (-155 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Winning Method: Whittaker by decision (+215 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Winning method: Della Maddalena by KO/TKO in Round 1 (-130 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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UFC top picks for UFC 290

Winning method: Volkanovski by decision (+140 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I predict Volkanovski will win by decision in this fight. He has shown himself to be the top fighter in the division, but I don’t believe he will finish Rodriguez early. In his last six victories, five have been decided by the judges, and I anticipate a similar outcome on Saturday.

While there is a slim possibility that the incredibly creative Rodriguez could surprise Volkanovski with a spectacular move, it is not the most probable result.

In the end, the champion is the more versatile fighter, excelling in wrestling and consistent striking. Volkanovski’s accuracy and high volume of strikes give him the edge. He may wear down “El Pantera” over five rounds for a clear victory, or secure a late stoppage. My prediction leans towards a decision win for the champion.

O/U: Moreno v. Pantoja Over 3.5 Rounds (-155 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In their careers, Moreno and Pantoja have a total of 11 losses, all of which were by decision. Pantoja holds a submission win over Moreno, but it was during an exhibition fight on The Ultimate Fighter. Pantoja also won the rematch with a unanimous decision in 2018. Since then, Moreno has evolved into one of the best 125-pound fighters, while Pantoja has maintained a 7-2 record during that time.

While I believe Moreno has made significant progress in his skills to defeat the dragon, I do not anticipate a quick victory over the formidable Pentoja. I predict a fierce battle that will likely span at least three and a half rounds.

Winning method: Whittaker by decision (+215 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This pick carries some risk. Whittaker and Du Plessis have a total of 22 finishes between them, showing they are capable of ending fights violently. However, Whittaker has had his last five bouts go to the judges’ scorecards, and he has won his last six fights by decision.

I believe Whittaker is the more versatile fighter and will probably outperform DDP over the course of 15 minutes to secure a tough victory. If this were a five-round fight, I might predict a stoppage, but for three rounds, I feel confident in predicting a decision win for Whittaker.

Winning method: Della Maddalena by KO/TKO in Round 1 (-130 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Harrell, an undefeated prospect, is stepping into the UFC on short notice, while Della Maddalena has a proven track record with four consecutive finishes in the Octagon. With his size, strength, and ability to end fights early, Della Maddalena is expected to dominate. The Australian fighter, known for his quick and brutal knockouts, has won 11 fights by KO/TKO, with seven of them coming in the first round. While betting on Della Maddalena to win may not offer much value, betting on him to win decisively and aggressively could be a profitable choice.

I believe Harrell has potential in the UFC, but I anticipate Della Maddalena dominating on Saturday night.

The top UFC betting picks for July 6, 2023 were made at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

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Written By:
Ramirez Madeline
A sportswriter for more than a decade, Ramirez Madeline was once voted “World’s 78th Greatest Lover” by ‘Relatively Attractive People Magazine’.* After covering nearly every sport under the sun for theScore, Smith settled in as head MMA writer where he helped shape the company’s coverage and establish its combat sports identity. Since then, he’s dipped his toes (cannonballed) into the world of betting, where he specializes in the UFC and NHL. Constantly chasing that gigantic Parlay Dragon, Smith was devastated when a Leon Edwards head kick completely obliterated a recent five-leg parlay. You can read his rantings and ravings on Twitter @Heldrificus. *Not a real publication.