UFC 279 Odds, Picks & Predictions: Top Prop Bets (2022)
UFC 279 fight week has officially arrived as a pair of welterweights will square off in Saturday’s main event. In what’s expected to be the funeral of a UFC legend, the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev is a massive favorite over the Stockton, Calif. bad boy Nate Diaz.
While my full card of picks can be via my weekly newsletter, here are my top three prop bets for Saturday’s UFC 279.
Let’s take a closer look.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Norma Dumont (7-2-0) vs. Danyelle Wolf (1-0-0)
With just one professional fight to her name, Danyelle Wolf will make a giant leap on Saturday as she takes on the No. 15 ranked women’s featherweight Norma Dumont. In Dumont, Wolf is drawing a fighter whose only loss since late 2020 was a split decision loss to Macy Chiasson in May, a fight she was in control of for stretches before the defeat.
While Wolf is a relative unknown in the MMA world, she is a former boxer who comes into the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2020. Though I expect her to hold her own, I think Dumont dominates the later rounds and gets this one done.
Bet: Norma Dumont Wins by Decision (-105)
Johnny Walker (18-7-0) vs. Ion Cutelab (16-7-1)
This is a battle between two of the most aggressive fighters in the game, as both enter every fight looking to get it over with early. Combined, these two average 1.52 rounds per fight, with 92% of their wins ending inside of the distance.
While things are about even on the ground, Johnny Walker holds the edge in striking, landing nearly 3x more knockdowns per 15 minutes and an accuracy clip of 17% higher. Not only do I think the wrong fighter is favored in this one, but I think Walker gets it done without the judge’s input.
Bet: Johnny Walker Inside the Distance – Yes (+275)
Khamzat Chimaev (11-0-0) vs. Nate Diaz (21-13-0)
With 11 straight wins to start his professional MMA career, Khamzat Chimaev was tested for the first time in April in a three-round war with former title contender Gilbert Burns. In the first fight of his career that left the second round, Chimaev chipped away at burns winning a unanimous decision victory.
As for Diaz, his last quality win came against Conor McGregor in March 2016, going 2-3 in the time since and making an enemy out of the UFC in the process. For what will likely be his last fight, I expect an aggressive game plan that ends violently for the legend of the game.
Bet: Khamzat Chimaev by KO/TKO (+100)
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Johnny is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Johnny, check out his free UFC picks newsletter and follow him @JohnnyCovers.