Top 3 Prop Bets for UFC 278
It’s a stacked card for UFC 278 on Saturday night as the promotion hits the road and heads to Salt Lake City, Utah. All action on Saturday leads to the pound-for-pound champ, Kamaru Usman, making a Welterweight title defense against challenging Leon Edwards in the main event. Other notable bouts include Paulo Costa taking on Luke Rockhold in the co-main event and Tyson Pedro squaring off against a winless Harry Hunsucker in the main card opener. Below I’ve listed my top three prop bets for Saturday’s card.
Bet $5 UFC 278, Get $200 Instantly >>
Odds from varying sportsbooks. Click here to compare all UFC 278 odds.
Kamaru Usman (-365) vs. Leon Edwards (+320)
The Welterweight strap is on the line on Saturday night as Kamaru Usman is set to make his sixth defense at the top of the division. He’ll take on Leon Edwards, who Usman beat in a unanimous decision back in December of 2015. It was a takedown clinic for Usman as he managed six takedowns and 10:50 worth of control time.
The gap between Kamaru Usman and the rest of the division is crazy. The Nigerian Nightmare is at the top of his game right now, and he’s running through everyone in the weight class for a second time. I don’t think he’ll stumble on Saturday night in Utah. Usman, in my opinion, still has an advantage in grappling and wrestling, and I think he’s one of the scariest fighters to go toe-to-toe with on the feet. Look for Usman and Edwards to feel each other out through the first couple of rounds, but after that, I expect Usman to go to work and prove why he’s the pound-for-pound champ. Whether it comes from an upright position or by ground and pound, I like for Usman to win by knockout.
Bet: Kamaru Usman to Win by KO/TKO/DQ (+240 via DraftKings)
Jose Aldo (+120) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (-140)
This Bantamweight bout between #3 Jose Aldo and #6 Merab Dvalishvili is going to be a high-energy and fast-paced brawl between two established stars of the sport. Dvalishvili is known as “The Machine,†and I’d say that’s spot on, considering the man is relentless in his grappling and takedown efforts. The Georgian is averaging 7.30 takedowns landed per 15 minutes at a 45% success rate. On the flip side, Jose Aldo is defending opposing takedown attempts at a 90% clip. Something has to give.
Ultimately, I think Dvalishvili will prevail in the grappling department and amass some control time. That should be the difference maker in this fight as these two fighters are pretty evenly matched, in my opinion. I’m going to lock in Dvalishvili to notch his eighth straight win and do it by points.
Bet: Merab Dvalishvili to Win by Decision (+135 via DraftKings)
Tyson Pedro (-740) vs. Harry Hunsucker (+540)
The Australian, Tyson Pedro, was victorious in his return to the octagon after a four-year layoff due to knee injuries. Pedro looked sharp like he hadn’t skipped a beat in his time away from the octagon. He outstruck Ike Villanueva 22-4 and finished him with five seconds left in the first round back in April.
As for Harry Hunsucker, he hasn’t had the same fortune in his UFC tenure. He’s 0-3 in the promotion, with all three losses coming via first-round knockouts. The American-born brawler will make the cut to 205 for the first time as he tries to revive his career and find some success in the Light Heavyweight division.
Unfortunately, I don’t see this one playing out well for Harry Hunsucker. Tyson Pedro is going to have an edge in experience and speed, and he boasts black belts in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, Kempo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I think Hunsucker’s fighting for his career in the octagon, so he will hang around for the first five minutes. But after that, look for Pedro to really ramp up his pace and either knockout or submit the lowly Hunsucker. Out of Tyson Pedro’s four victories in the UFC cage, he has two by knockout and two by submission. I’m going with Pedro to win in the second round of the main card opener.
Bet: Tyson Pedro Wins in Round 2 (+550 via DraftKings)
Bet $5 UFC 278, Get $200 Instantly >>
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our Sports Betting 101 Section — including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners — or head to more advanced sports betting strategy — like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread — to learn more.