UFC on ESPN 59 takes place on Saturday at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. This card features a women’s flyweight fight between Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez as the Main Event. Here are our best bets for this UFC card, which will include 3 fights on the Main Card. Be sure to also check out the rest of our UFC predictions for all of the UFC on ESPN 59 Main Card fights.
The Main Event at UFC on ESPN 59 will see Rose Namajunas take on Tracy Cortez. This will be a fight in the UFC Women’s Flyweight division.
Cortez comes into this fight with an MMA record of 11-1 and she is 6-0 in the UFC. Cortez is averaging 4.11 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 53%. She is absorbing 2.79 strikes and has a striking defense of 60%. Her grappling is solid as well, averaging 2.33 takedowns per every 15 minutes. Her takedown accuracy is 46% and her takedown defense is 75%.
Namajunas is the significant favorite in this fight, but Cortez has been much more impressive in her UFC career. A win here for Cortez could put her on the map, so because Cortez has the edge in striking and grappling, backing her to pull the upset will be our UFC best bet.
Read our full Rose Namajunas vs Tracy Cortez prediction
The Co-Main Event at UFC on ESPN 59 will see Santiago Ponzinibbo take on Muslim Salikhov. This will be a fight in the UFC Welterweight division. Ponzinibbio comes into this fight with an MMA record of 30-7 and he is 11-6 in the UFC. On the other side, Salikhov comes into this fight with an MMA record of 19-5 and he is 6-4 in the UFC. Ponzinibbo is the heavy favorite in this fight, so instead we will be looking for this fight to end inside the distance. He has seen his last 2 fights end inside the distance, while Salikhov has seen 2 of his last 3 fights do the same. Because of this, backing this fight to end inside the distance will be our UFC best bet of this bout.
Read our full Santiago Ponzinibbo vs Muslim Salikhov prediction
The fourth fight on the Main Card at UFC on ESPN 59 will see Drew Dober take on Jean Silva. This will be a fight in the UFC Lightweight division.
Silva comes into this fight with an MMA record of 13-2 and he is 3-0 in the UFC. Silva is averaging 5.71 strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 54%. He is absorbing 4.11 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 56%. His grappling his solid as well, averaging 1.17 takedowns per every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 50% and his takedown defense is 72%.
Dober is a small favorite, but Silva looks to be the better side. Silva has had a perfect start to the UFC, while Dober is an inconsistent 1-2 in his last 3 UFC fights. Silva has also fought recently, easily winning by KO/TKO. Because Silva is in better form, backing him to win will be our UFC best bet.
Read our full Drew Dober vs Jean Silva prediction
