UFC Picks

The first fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 276 will see Nikolay Veretennikov take on Khaos Williams. This will be a fight in the UFC Welterweight division. Veretennikov enters this fight with an MMA record of 14-7 and 2-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.69 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 56%. Veretennikov absorbs 3.30 strikes and has a striking defense of 45%. In terms of grappling, he is averaging 0.42 takedowns every 15 minutes, has a takedown accuracy of 16%, and a takedown defense of 62%.

Williams enters this fight with an MMA record of 15-5 and 6-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.94 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 39%. Williams absorbs 5.39 strikes and has a striking defense of 40%. He has not shown any grappling ability in the UFC, but has a takedown defense of 51%.

Williams is the small favorite in this fight; however, he still looks to be the best betting option. While neither fighter has been consistent in the UFC, Williams has a clear advantage due to his striking volume. Veretennikov, on the other hand, has a slight edge in grappling, but does not land takedowns with much accuracy for it to be a threat to Williams. Regardless, given that Williams has still been more successful in the UFC, backing Williams to win will be our best bet.

The second fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 276 will see Timmy Cuamba take on Benardo Sopaj. This will be a fight in the UFC Bantamweight division. Cuamba enters this fight with an MMA record of 10-3 and 3-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.77 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 44%. Cuamba absorbs 3.58 strikes and has a striking defense of 57%. His grappling has also been solid, averaging 1.31 takedowns every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 31%, and his takedown defense is 72%.

Sopaj enters this fight with an MMA record of 12-3 and 1-1 in the UFC. He averages 4.24 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 56%. Sopaj absorbs 4.88 strikes and has a striking defense of 49%. So far in the UFC, he has been a very good grappler, averaging 2.53 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 71% and a takedown defense of 76%.

Sopaj is the heavy favorite in this fight; however, he still looks to be the best betting option. Not only does Sopaj have the clear edge in striking volume, but he also has the advantage in grappling ability. Cuamba has the advantage in terms of UFC experience, but because he is lacking when it comes to striking and grappling, backing Sopaj to win will be our lean.

The third fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 276 will see Modestas Bukauskas take on Christian Edwards. This will be a fight in the UFC Catch Weight division. Bukauskas enters this fight with an MMA record of 19-7 and 7-5 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.24 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 42%. Bukauskas absorbs 4.05 strikes and has a striking defense of 50%. His grappling has not been very strong, averaging just 0.26 takedowns every 15 minutes. Bukauskas has a takedown accuracy of 66% and a takedown defense of 79%.

Edwards enters this fight with an MMA record of 8-4, and this will be his UFC debut. He has won 6 times in his MMA career by finish, while 2 of his 4 MMA losses have come by finish.

Bukauskas is a significant favorite in this fight; however, he still appears to be the best betting option. While Bukauskas has not always been the most consistent fighter in the UFC, he still has far more UFC experience compared to Edwards. Asking Edwards to win in his UFC debut against a solid fighter feels like too much; therefore, backing Bukauskas to win will be our lean.

The fourth fight on the Main Card at UFC Fight Night 276 will see Malcolm Wellmaker take on Juan Diaz. This will be a fight in the UFC Bantamweight division. Wellmaker enters this fight with an MMA record of 10-1 and 3-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.80 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 56%. Wellmaker absorbs 5.39 strikes and has a striking defense of 52%. He has not shown any grappling ability, but has a takedown defense of 57%.

Diaz enters this fight with an MMA record of 15-1-1 and 1-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.82 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 39%. Diaz absorbs 5.02 strikes and has a striking defense of 60%. His grappling has also been solid, averaging 3.01 takedowns every 15 minutes, and has a takedown accuracy of 33%.

With this fight, we will be looking for it to end inside the distance. Wellmaker has seen 3 of his last 4 UFC fights end inside the distance, while Diaz has seen his only UFC fight end inside the distance. Therefore, given that both fighters have shown a high finish recently, backing this fight to end inside the distance will be our lean.

The Co-Main Event at UFC Fight Night 276 will see Dooho Choi take on Daniel Santos. This will be a fight in the UFC Featherweight division. Choi enters this fight with an MMA record of 16-4-1 and 5-3-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.67 strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 56%. Choi absorbs 4.02 strikes and has a striking defense of 56%. His grappling is solid, averaging 1.43 takedowns every 15 minutes. Choi has a takedown accuracy of 53% and a takedown defense of 47%.

Santos enters this fight with an MMA record of 14-2 and 4-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.76 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 40%. Santos absorbs 5.03 strikes and has a striking defense of 51%. His grappling has also been strong, averaging 3.01 takedowns every 15 minutes. Santos has a takedown accuracy of 40% and a takedown defense of 73%.

For this fight, we will be looking at a total rounds prop. Santos has seen 4 of his 5 UFC fights go over 1.5 total rounds, while Choi has seen his last 6 UFC fights do the same. Both fighters have been able to extend the majority of their recent fights into the later rounds; therefore, backing over 1.5 total rounds is our best bet.

The Main Event at UFC Fight Night 276 will see Arnold Allen take on Melquizael Costa. This will be a fight in the UFC Featherweight division. Allen enters this fight with an MMA record of 20-4 and 11-3 in the UFC. He averages 3.47 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 42%. Arnold absorbs 3.04 strikes and has a striking defense of 60%. His grappling is also decent, averaging 0.86 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 47% and a takedown defense of 71%.

Costa enters this fight with an MMA record of 26-7 and 7-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.38 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 49%. Costa absorbs 2.97 strikes and has a striking defense of 54%. His grappling is also solid, averaging 2.00 takedowns every 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts during the same period. He has a takedown accuracy of 40% and a takedown defense of 58%.

Allen is the heavy favorite in this fight; however, Costa looks to be the best betting option. For one, Costa is in much better form, having won 6 UFC fights in a row, while Allen is 1-3 over his last 4 UFC fights. Further, Costa has the better striking volume and grappling ability. For that reason, backing Costa to win in an upset will be our best bet.