Sean Strickland and Jared Cannonier each say they do not know a lot about one another, however mutual respect exists between the ranked middleweight contenders forward of their conflict Saturday in the primary occasion of UFC Struggle Night time: Cannonier vs. Strickland. Their five-round battle, which carries title-shot implications, will headline the primary UFC combat card (7 p.m. ET) from the Apex facility in Las Vegas. Each fighters are coming off losses to latest champions at UFC 267 in July. Strickland was defeated by Alex Pereira, who went on to take the title from Israel Adesanya. Cannonier misplaced a choice to Adesanya in the primary occasion of UFC 267. The winner of Saturday’s major occasion will probably be a prime candidate for a title shot subsequent yr.
Each fighters are supplied at -110 (danger $110 to win $100) within the UFC Struggle Night time: Cannonier vs. Strickland odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Within the co-main occasion, light-weight prospects sq. off as Arman Tsarukyan (-170) meets Damir Ismagulov (+150). Earlier than locking in any UFC Struggle Night time: Cannonier vs. Strickland picks, be sure you try the MMA predictions and betting recommendation from SportsLine analyst Kyle Marley.
Marley received the first-ever “ToutMaster” UFC betting contest sponsored by MMAOddsBreaker and seems repeatedly on a number of MMA betting and every day Fantasy reveals. He watches each single combat for each skilled MMA card and does intensive analysis earlier than every occasion.
Over the previous three-plus years, $100 bettors who’ve adopted Marley’s picks are up greater than $12,000. The completed MMA analyst kicked off the 2022 UFC season in January by telling SportsLine members to again Calvin Kattar (+200) towards Giga Chikadze (-240) within the featherweight major occasion. Kattar’s lopsided unanimous-decision victory gave Marley’s followers one other straightforward winner. Anybody who has adopted him is approach up.
Now, with UFC Struggle Night time: Cannonier vs. Strickland in sight, Marley has studied the cardboard from prime to backside and revealed his prime alternatives. Marley’s UFC Struggle Night time picks are solely obtainable at SportsLine.
UFC Struggle Night time: Cannonier vs. Strickland preview
The stakes are excessive in Saturday’s major occasion as a result of the winner may see himself in a title combat in early 2023 and each combatants have ties to the title image. In November, Adesanya misplaced the middleweight to Pereira following 5 profitable defenses. His closing protection got here towards Cannonier, who gave a lackluster efficiency in his first title shot and misplaced by unanimous resolution in July.
Pereira earned his title shot with a win in an eliminator in July towards Strickland, who had been the division’s hottest contender. Though a rematch between Pereira and Adesanya seems imminent, both Strickland or Cannonier could be beneath robust consideration for the subsequent title bid with a formidable efficiency Saturday.
Cannonier (15-6) is a former heavyweight who did not discover constant success till he ultimately dropped down two weight courses to middleweight (185 kilos), the place he repeatedly enjoys an enormous dimension benefit over his opponents. He has nice athleticism and energy, however a cautious strategy price him towards the elusive Adesanya. Nevertheless, his elbow-heavy knockout of Derek Brunson in February was one of many UFC’s most violent finishes in 2022.
Strickland (25-4) should not be onerous to search out. His model resembles that of a refined bar-room brawler as he pursues his opponent from the opening bell with relentless strikes and is prepared to take a shot to land one or two of his personal. Nevertheless, this technique backfired towards Pereira when the Brazilian landed his signature left hand for a first-round knockout. Strickland hadn’t misplaced in additional than 4 years. You’ll be able to solely see who to choose at UFC Struggle Night time right here.
Prime UFC Struggle Night time predictions
We’ll share considered one of Marley’s UFC Struggle Night time alternatives right here: He’s backing Julian Erosa (-180) to get his hand raised towards Alex Caceres (+160) in a matchup of veteran featherweights on the primary card.
Erosa (28-9) is a flexible fighter who has 11 knockouts and 12 submissions to his credit score. The 33-year-old Seattle native misplaced his first three UFC outings however has since emerged as a pressure within the resolution with wins in six of his previous seven. He took a choice towards Hakeem Dawodu in September.
Caceres (19-13-1) is an 11-year UFC veteran who has surged to wins in 5 of his previous six appearances. The 34-year-old Miami native is seeking to bounce again from a choice loss to Sodiq Yusuff in March.
“The grappling may very well be shut, however I favor Erosa and I see him having an even bigger edge on the ft. He can win by any methodology, however I’ll take him to win a dominant resolution,” Marley informed SportsLine. See who else to again proper right here.
The best way to make UFC Struggle Night time picks
Marley additionally has robust picks for Cannonier vs. Strickland and each different bout on the UFC Struggle Night time card. He is additionally backing a fighter whose “huge edge needs to be on the ground” to choose up a dominant victory. These UFC picks are solely obtainable at SportsLine.
Who wins Cannonier vs. Strickland? And the way precisely does every combat finish? Go to SportsLine now to get detailed picks on each combat at UFC Struggle Night time, all from the incomparable skilled who’s up greater than $13,000 on MMA prior to now three years, and discover out.
UFC Struggle Night time odds, combat card
See full UFC Struggle Night time picks, predictions, and greatest bets right here
Sean Strickland (-110) vs. Jared Cannonier (-110)
Arman Tsarukyan (-170) vs. Damir Ismagulov (+150)
Amir Albazi (-450) vs. Alessandro Costa (+350)
Julian Erosa (-180) vs. Alex Caceres (+160)
Drew Dober (-150) vs. Bobby Inexperienced (+130)
Cheyanne Vlismas (-195) vs. Cory McKenna (+170)
Jake Matthews (-250) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (+210)
Julian Marquez (-165) vs. Deron Winn (+145)
Stated Nurmagomedov (-120) vs. Saidyokub Kakhramonov (+100)
Rafa Garcia (-135) vs. Hayisaer Maheshate (+115)
Manel Kape (-250) vs. David Dvorak (+210)
Sergey Morozov (-250) vs. Journey Newsom (+210)
