UFC Fight Night 281 Best Bets: Dricus Du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman
UFC Fight Night 281 is scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, featuring a main event in the Middleweight division between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman. Below, I have my 3 UFC Fight Night 281 best bets, all of which will include fights on the main card.
In addition to my best bets for this event, be sure to check out all of our UFC Fight Night 281 predictions
UFC Fight Night 281 Best Bet: Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan - Fight to End by KO/TKO (+115)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to +100.
The co-main event at UFC Fight Night 281 pits Jared Cannonier and Christian Leroy Duncan in the Middleweight division. Duncan is a significant favorite in this fight, so we're going to focus on the method by which this fight ends rather than the money line. Cannonier has seen 14 of his 27 career MMA fights end by KO/TKO, which includes 10 of his 20 UFC fights. Similarly, Duncan has seen 10 of his 16 career MMA fights end by KO/TKO, which includes 5 of his 9 UFC fights. Because both fighters have seen the majority of their fights end by KO/TKO, backing this fight to also end by KO/TKO at plus money feels like substantial value.
Check out our full prediction for Jared Cannonier vs Christian Leroy Duncan
UFC Fight Night 281 Best Bet: Chase Hooper Win by Finish over Mitch Ramirez (-150)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -160.
The third fight on the main card at UFC Fight Night 281 is a bout between Chase Hooper and Mitch Ramirez in the Lightweight division. Hooper enters this fight 9-5 in the UFC, averaging 4.50 significant strikes per minute with a striking accuracy of 49%. Meanwhile he absorbs 3.02 strikes and has a striking defense of 39%. His grappling has been strong, averaging 2.43 takedowns every 15 minutes and 2.1 submission attempts during the same period, along with a takedown accuracy of 32% and a takedown defense of 55%.
Hooper is the heavy favorite in this fight, so I'm again going to pivot off the money line and take Hooper to win inside the distance. Through 22 career MMA fights, Hooper has won by finish 12 times, including 6 of his 14 career UFC fights. Ramirez, on the other hand, has lost all 3 of his UFC fights by finish. He has not shown much promise to begin his UFC career, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Hooper take care of business rather quickly.
Check out our full prediction for Chase Hooper vs Mitch Ramirez
UFC Fight Night 281 Best Bet: Fatima Kline Win by Decision over Tabatha Ricci (-160)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -170.
The second fight on the main card at UFC Fight Night 281 will see Tabatha Ricci take on Fatima Kline in the women’s Strawweight division. Kline enters this fight with an MMA record of 9-1 and 3-1 in the UFC, while she averages 5.01 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 50%. Her defense is solid, absorbing 2.71 strikes at 57%, and her grappling is strong with 2.02 takedowns every 15 minutes, a 58% takedown accuracy and a 50% defense.
Of her 3 wins in the UFC, Kline has only one win by decision. That said, Ricci has not lost by finish in the UFC since June 2021. Ricci’s other 3 UFC losses have all come by decision, including in her most recent fight. As such, I'm in agreement with oddsmakers and believe this fight will go the distance before Kline is named the winner.
Check out our full prediction for Fatima Kline vs Tabatha Ricci
