UFC 251: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway Betting Guide (2020)
The long wait for the much anticipated UFC Fight Island is nearly over. After a string of successful mid-pandemic events in Jacksonville and Las Vegas, the UFC heads to an island off the coast of Abu Dhabi for four fight cards over the next two weeks.
The company wasted no time, as they put the best fight up first. After having to drop out due to testing positive for COVID-19, Gilbert Burns has been replaced with the up-and-coming fan-favorite Jorge Masvidal. He steps in after one week’s notice to take on fellow welterweight Kamaru Usman.
Before the main event begins, however, another championship fight serves as the co-main event. Let’s take a closer look at this featherweight title bout.
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Alexander Volkanovski (21-1-0) vs. Max Holloway (21-5-0)
These odds came from FanDuel Sportsbook on July 10, 2020.
In what’s shaping up to be a stacked featherweight (145 pounds) division, Australian Alexander “The Great†Volkanovski has earned his top-dog status. Volkanovski has rattled off eight straight victories to ascend directly up the featherweight ranks since joining the company in 2016.
His last time in the octagon came against the same fighter he takes on in this one — he beat Max Holloway at UFC 245 for the featherweight title in December. In that fight, Volkanovski was better prepared, and he picked apart Holloway’s legs for all five rounds.
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In what was the sixth defense of his featherweight belt, Holloway played the conservative game for three rounds before opening it up in the fourth. In the end, Volkanovski’s leg kicks in the early rounds proved to be too much for Holloway to come back from, as he lost the decision unanimously.
Unlike most instances of fighters losing their belt, Holloway will immediately have a shot at getting it back, and I don’t expect the conservative approach we saw in the first fight. In the first go-around, it was clear Volkanovski and his team had done their homework and caught Holloway off guard. That’s an advantage they won’t have in this one.
While the juice is heavily slanted toward this one going the distance, I’m taking a shot at the contrary. It wouldn’t shock me if Holloway catches Volkanovski early and ends this one well before the fifth round bell. He was formerly known as a knockout artist, after all.
Pick: Will the fight go the distance? – NO (+150)
Find odds across all US sportsbooks via our consensus UFC odds >>
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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.