UFC 259: Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan Betting Guide
Though March is just starting, UFC 259 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV is already being billed as the best top to bottom card of 2021. Featuring three title fights in total, including one against two current champions of separate weight classes in the main event, that could very well end up being exactly right.
Before the co-main and main event get started, a bantamweight title bout between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan (C) gets the elite action underway
Let’s take a closer look at what on paper is one of the closest fights of the evening.
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Betting Profile: Aljamain Sterling (19-3-0)
Last Five Fights
| W | W | W | W | W |
Since making his UFC debut in 2014, Aljamain “Funkmaster†Sterling has had an up and down ride, but in 2018 hit his stride to go on a five-fight win streak, setting up his first shot at a title in this one. An area he has specifically excelled is his ability on the ground.
Of the five wins, two have ended in submission victories for Sterling, most recently over Cory Sandhagen via a rear-naked choke. His 1.0 submission average per 15 minutes inside the octagon is one of the best in the bantamweight division.
Betting Profile: Petr Yan (15-1-0)
Last Five Fights
| W | W | W | W | W |
For Russian Petr Yan, since joining the UFC in the summer of 2018 the ascent to a title has been a decisive win. Having only lost once (a split decision) in his professional fighting career, Yan’s admittedly lacks the big names (in their prime) that a win over Sterling would give him.
Unlike Sterling and many other bantamweights for that matter, Yan is known for his striking ability. With a Strikes Landed per Min. (SLpM) of 6.32, Yan has the ability to end a fight in a matter of seconds.
Outright Bet
On paper, it’s hard to find more evenly matched guys than these two. One area Sterling has an advantage is his reach, with a wingspan of 71″ vs. the 67″ of Yan. If Sterling can use that length to get Yan to the ground, I think he can ground and pound his way to a five-round victory
Top Prop Bet
While it’s relatively early in both of these guy’s UFC stints, this is clearly, by a wide margin, the biggest fights of their careers. With that, often comes an aversion to risks and a conservative game plan.
That’s exactly what I see playing out in this one, and think there’s currently a ton of value in this one going the distance.
Pick: How will the find end? – Points (+110)
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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.