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UFC 290 Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez Parlay Odds, Picks & Predictions

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It is International Fight Week 2023, and the UFC has a packed schedule this week. Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, Jens Pulver and Donald Cerrone were elected into the UFC Hall of Fame on Thursday, alongside Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald II.

Then they move on to one of the most stacked cards of the year with two title fights. Alexander Volkanovski will defend his belt against Yair Rodriguez, and Brandon Moreno will put his belt on the line against Alexandre Pantoja. The early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET, the prelims begin at 8 p.m. and the main card is slated for 10 p.m. on PPV.

Follow me on Twitter @UFCapper for more picks and predictions on the day of the fights.

UFC 290 Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez: Parlay Picks

2023 total: Down 8.74 units | Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

Leg 1: Jack Della Maddalena Money Line (–1100)

Josiah Harrell accepted this fight on short notice, and it would be surprising to see him get his hand raised. Jack Della Maddalena is -300 to win by knockout, which explains the massive difference in abilities in striking. Harrell is making his UFC debut and will likely earn another bout because of the short-notice nature of this fight. He will have a five-inch reach disadvantage and is lacking in experience. Della Maddalena has four UFC wins under his belt and just impressively beat Randy Brown in February. He lands a whopping 8.27 significant strikes per minute and has an average fight time of just over five minutes. He should get the job done early in this one.

Leg 2: Robbie Lawler Money Line (+200)

Robbie Lawler is supposed to retire after this fight, which means he will leave it all in the cage. He made his professional debut in 2001 and his UFC debut in 2002. Lawler loves to fight and has continued to fight the most difficult opponents deep into his career. He is 2-6 in his last eight fights, but some were against Ben Askren, Colby Covington, Rafael dos Anjos and Tyron Woodley.

He will fight Niko Price this Saturday, which suits Lawler stylistically. Both fighters are known for their durability, but Lawler has more power, even at 41. Price lands impressive volume but has not won by knockout since 2019. Lawler should have some opportunities to land powerful counters as Price steps in to land his shots. Lawler needs to stay away from the mat and Price’s grappling game. Given the circumstances, it is not wild to believe this fight remains standing for the duration. Lawler is a live underdog and has a pretty good chance of getting his hand raised in a back-and-forth striking match.

Leg 3: Jalin Turner Money Line (-285)

Dan Hooker is a big lightweight but will be the shorter man in the cage on Saturday. Jalin Turner stands at 6’3’’ and has a 77-inch reach compared to Hooker, who is 6’0’’ and owns a 75-inch arm reach. Both men are predominantly strikers but may mix in a takedown to keep each other honest. Turner lost his last fight against Mateusz Gamrot via split decision but was on a five-fight winning streak before the loss. Hooker has won three of his previous seven bouts dating back to 2020. He lost to Islam Makhachev, Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier during that run, which is admissible.

Turner lands 5.63 significant strikes per minute and only absorbs 3.79 significant strikes per minute. He is good at executing his offensive game plan and not getting hit. Turner is the better athlete and is getting better with each performance. Hooker is 33 and has seen a lot of action inside the octagon. These two fighters seem to be going in different directions, so the younger, faster and bigger fighter should win.

Total Parlay Odds: +342

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