UFC Vegas 96 Best Bets

UFC Vegas 96 Best Bets

UFC Vegas 96 is a solid fight card. It may not be filled with recognizable names, but there are several ranked fights and the matchmaking is strong. Plus, The Ultimate Fighter Finale will take place during the card. Thankfully, the slate has a few solid betting opportunities. Here are three of the best bets you can make on UFC Vegas 96.

*All lines are taken from DraftKings and are accurate as of 6:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23.*

Jared Cannonier +210

In the UFC Vegas 96 main event, Caio Borralho is a -258 betting favorite against Jared Cannonier. The comeback on the underdog is +210. The line being that wide provides value on Cannonier.

I have a lot of respect for both of these fighters. Cannonier is one of the most underrated middleweights of the current era. Borralho is a sensational prospect . My issue is that I fail to see what makes a +210 underdog. I understand he is an old fighter coming off a career-altering knockout loss , but he was not brutally put out cold. Rather, it was debatably an early stoppage. Not to mention, the issues Nasourdine Imavov presented that led to that stoppage are not present in Borralho’s game.

It will be difficult for Borralho to cover this massive price tag without dominating Cannonier in the grappling exchanges. I have a hard time seeing that as Cannonier has respectable takedown defense and works diligently to get to the feet when takedown.

In striking exchanges, Cannonier should be able to control the octagon and get Borralho corraled against the fence. This should help him unload with powerful strikes. It also helps that he can throw powerful strikes at a high pace for all five rounds.

I would not be surprised to see Borralho’s foot speed give Cannonier some issues. Borrahlo gets in and out of the pocket well. That said, I do not think that will be enough to turn the striking exchanges in his favor. Plus, he does not throw a ton of volume which makes it even less likely he can win rounds on the feet.

Ultimately, it is hard to be overconfident in Cannonier because he is a 40-year-old with a below-average chin. Still, the skill on each side of the matchup does not warrant the betting line being anything close to +210. At that price, I’ll gladly bet on Cannonier.

Tabatha Ricci -130

In the UFC Vegas 96, the betting side is the favorite. Tabatha Ricci is a -130 favorite while Angela Hill sits as a +110 underdog. I am siding with Ricci.

I expect this to be a close fight. The betting line suggests the same. With that being said, I believe Ricci’s grappling will be the difference maker. In previous fights, she has fought hard to land takedowns. She has not landed takedowns at a high clip, but she has fought fighters with impressive takedown defense. Hill has shown a lot of defensive grappling improvements; however, a lot of this has been displayed against fighters looking for clinch takedowns. Ricci will shoot for the legs and attack the hips. That gives me less optimism about Hill’s defensive grappling.

On the feet, Hill could have a slight edge. Although, Ricci hits harder and has been making improvements in that realm. If forced to strike, Ricci could have impressive moments.

Ultimately, this is a close line. I would rather be on the younger fighter with more grappling upside. That is Ricci. At -130, it is one of the best bets on UFC Vegas 96.

Michael Morales ITD +140

The final bet on UFC Vegas 96 is for Michael Morales to finish Neil Magny. It’s practically impossible to play the favorite, Morales, on the money line. The -900 line provides very little return on investment. Instead, the inside the distance prop at +140 provides some value.

Morales is a serious welterweight prospect who still has room to make improvements . One of the reasons he can still make improvements is because he has unreal athleticism and physicality. Well, in this fight, he is matched up against one of the least athletic and least physical fighters in the division. That gives him a ton of finish upside.

That physical presence should also help Morales fight off Magny’s clinch game. If he can do that, this fight is left to distance striking and grappling. In both realms, he will be at an advantage. On the feet, he can land hard strikes that can hurt Magny. Similarly, he is live for a submission on the ground.

Magny is often advertised as a tough fighter who is durable. I would agree with that assessment. At the same time, Magny has been finished in seven of his ten losses. It is a plausible path to victory against Mangy.

At +140, Morales’ inside the distance prop is one of my favorite bets for UFC Vegas 96. The powerful striking is evident and a path to submission is present.

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