UFC VEGAS 116 BETTING TIPS: NO UPSETS IN ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the entertainment capital of the world for a UFC Vegas 116 card headlined by three marquee fights: Sterling vs Zalal, Dumont vs Edwards and Garcia vs Hernandez.
UFC Vegas 116: All You Need to Know
- Start time: 22:00 BST (prelims); 01:00 BST (main card)
- Event date: Sat 25th & Sun 26th April
- Venue: Meta APEX, Las Vegas
- How to watch: TNT Sports / HBO Max
- Event markets: Click here
Tip 1 – Youssef Zalal to win @ 3/4
Youssef Zalal (18-5-1) in this form is not someone to be trifled with on any given Sunday, let alone this one.
‘The Moroccan Devil’ has carved a path through the featherweight division to five straight wins – 10 when counting the odd boxing and kickboxing bouts in between – putting a previous four-fight winless run firmly in the rear-view mirror
During this current unbeaten UFC stretch, Zalal has submitted all but Calvin Katter – who he still dominated en route to a decision – showcasing a number of different holds, from rear naked chokes to armbars to arm triangles.
Key to this success has been an effective back-game used to control and tire opponents, the same strategy that has brought Aljamain Sterling (25-5-0) a lot of success in his own right.
How effective that will be against the bigger Zalal is worth questioning, especially when looking at how much ‘Funk Master’ has struggled to out-wrestle similar profiles such as in his decision loss to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310.
That’s why we can see this drifting into a kickboxing battle at times as Sterling searches for a plan B… which he’ll also lose.
Zalal wins, no matter how you frame it.
Tip 2 – Norma Dumont to win by decision @ 4/6
What happens when two bantamweights on strong runs collide on one of the biggest stages?
You get the kind of fireworks Norma Dumont (13-2-0) and Joselyne Edwards (17-6-0) have practically patented at this point as two fighters more than capable of lighting anyone up on their day.
Both entered the UFC with questions to answer but have since turned things round impressively and now sit within touching distance of a title shot.
The only thing standing in their way is each other, with ‘The Immortal’ going in the favourite as the third-best fighter in the division.
Edwards may sit higher in the rankings but her smaller frame and questionable takedown defence leave her vulnerable from multiple positions if Dumont does what Dumont usually does and does well.
The Brazilian edges it for that reason for us, as her strength and durability should be enough to absorb Edwards’ best shots while snuffing out any momentum that would otherwise prove troublesome.
And, yes, ‘La Pantera’ is the more potent striker between the two but this fight won’t be decided in these flurries.
Tip 3 – Alexander Hernandez to win @ 8/11
If there’s a battle to rival the main and co-main event for quality, it’s Rafa Garcia vs Alexander Hernandez.
It’s a fight that seems to have flown under the radar but it’s one of the standout fights on this UFC Vegas 116 card – featuring two very well-rounded fighters with something to build on.
Garcia (18-4-0) showed some real stones stopping Jared Gordon in his last outing while Hernandez (18-8-0) comes in on a four-fight win streak, including finishes over Diego Ferreira and Chase Hooper.
So who has their hand raised in Las Vegas when it’s all said and done?
Both have their appeal but our pick is ‘El Gran Chango’, who we fully expect to weather any and all storms either on his feet or on the ground – assuming Garcia can even get him there.
This fight might have screamed upset had it happened sooner given the Americans previous vulnerabilities… vulnerabilities he’s since patched up and overcame in some style.
Just ask Ferreira and Hopper.
Like our picks but prefer bigger and better odds? Combine our UFC Vegas 116 tips in one all-action 4/1 Acca here.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
