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UFC Vegas 74 Kara-France vs. Albazi: Parlay Odds, Picks & Predictions (2023)

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After taking off the final week of May, the UFC is back at the Apex this weekend for another fight night card. Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi are the main event and will be the finale of a card with many MMA veterans. 44-year-old Andrei Arlovski is one of those veterans and will enter the octagon for his 58th appearance as a professional fighter. The card begins at 6 p.m. EDT on ESPN, and the main card will follow at 9 p.m. on the same channel.

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2023 total: Down 7.44 units

UFC Vegas 74 Kara-France vs Albazi: Parlay Picks

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

Leg 1: Johnny Munoz Moneyline (+185)

Johnny Munoz will fight Daniel Santos in the bantamweight division in the prelims. Both men are entering this fight following a win and have a similar amount of experience. Munoz is 12-2 and will have a 71-inch reach. Santos is 11-2 and has a 67-inch reach. The things that make Santos dangerous are also his weaknesses. He is tough as nails, but he gets hit a lot and has a chance to showcase his toughness. Santos averages 4.82 significant strikes landed per minute while absorbing 7.52 strikes per minute with 32% accuracy. He clearly does not care to eat a shot to land a punch, but he is not accurate with his striking.

It could be a problem against Munoz, a well-rounded fighter with technical striking. He averages 3.69 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.30 strikes per minute. He is much more defensive, which should help him get the victory over Santos. Both men are willing grapplers, but Santos has the advantage in jiu-jitsu, while Munoz probably has the wrestling advantage. Munoz will likely try to keep this fight standing because of the dangerous ground game of Santos. Munoz may not be getting enough respect from the oddsmakers in this spot, and the odds should be closer to a pick ’em.

Leg 2: Jamie Mullarkey Moneyline (-435)

In the featured bout of the prelims, Jamie Mullarkey will fight Muhammad Naimov, who is a late replacement for Guram Kutateladze. Kutateladze had issues with his visa and had to withdraw from the bout. Naimov is making his UFC debut after losing on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020. Since that loss, he has gone 3-1 outside of the UFC. Mullarkey has won four of his last five fights, with the lone loss coming against Jalin Turner. He has a good matchup in this fight and should get a victory against his late replacement opponent.

Mullarkey has a well-rounded game and is durable. He averages 2.62 takedowns landed per 15 minutes. In Naimov’s loss on DWCS, he surrendered three takedowns to Collin Anglin and lost via unanimous decision. Mullarkey should be able to wrestle him to the mat and control him for most of the fight. He will also hold a four-inch reach advantage over Naimov, which should help him stay outside and land shots on the feet.

Leg 3: Jim Miller Moneyline (-240)

Jim Miller is entering the octagon for the 42nd time under the UFC promotion. His opponent, Jesse Butler, is making his UFC debut in the lightweight division. He is 12-4 in his career and is 31 years old. Miller is 39 years old and has a professional record of 35-17. Miller will be business as usual come Saturday night, regardless of the opponent. Butler will enter the cage with everything to gain and nothing to lose on two days’ notice.

Miller’s submissions are as dangerous as any fighter in the promotion. He has years of experience inside the octagon to draw from and is taking on somebody who will be nervous entering the cage. It is a massive advantage for Miller, who will likely be the better striker. There are no stats for Butler, but eight of his victories have come via submission and one knockout. Miller lands 2.85 significant strikes per minute and absorbs 3.08 strikes per minute. He also averages 1.56 takedowns landed per 15 minutes and should be able to control where the fight happens. He is in a position to get back on track with a win in this short-notice matchup.

Parlay Odds: +396

DraftKings is the best place to play this parlay, and betting one unit or less is the best way to attack it. The main card starts at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN.


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