Charles Oliveira will defend his UFC lightweight title for a second time on Saturday, as he faces the challenger, a powerful puncher in Justin Gaethje. Oliveira has already answered questions about his toughness and our picks expect him to do so again. Here is our complete guide to the last 3 main fights, including FREE PICKS and BEST BETS!
Dave Covers Spreads, UFC FREE PICK: Michael Chandler vs Tony Ferguson
Tony, Tony, Tony. I hate to say it, but I think Tony is done. I Mean Beneil Dariush just took him down and dominated him. Even if chandler doesn’t get the TKO, chandler can probably even take him down at this point. Ferguson just isn’t that strong anymore, he can literally be “thrown” around nowadays, which makes me sad. His ground game is really good, but we often see him get his best grappling moments when he opponent is just gassed out. A good example of this was in his fight against Kevin lee back in 2017.
I just think there is so many ways for Chandler to win this fight. He was even able to escape Oliveira’s submission attempts on the ground. Oliveira had him on his back and Chandler found a way out of it. Chandler has great leg kicks, he will come out and just chew at the legs of Ferguson completely exhausting him and then step in and catch him putting him out cold. Ferguson’s chin just seems to be always in the air and Chandler can catch that. Throw in the fact that Chandler knows he has a McGregor fight on the cards if he gets this win, expect him to come out and get this one done.
PICK: Michael Chandler by TKO
Best Bet: Will the fight go the distance - No
Dave Covers Spreads, UFC FREE PICK: Rose Namajunas vs Carla Esparza
I am going with Rose Namajunas in this fight. Carla Esparza won the first fight of course, pretty impressively too. She had good time on the feet and great grappling, the difference is that Rose Namajunas has really improved since then. Namajunas has improved on her feet, so much so that she won’t be finished by Esparza and her grappling is just as good. Its good that Esparza won the last fight that means the odds are better for us to bet Namajunas in this one.
You just look at Esparza’s latest fights and it just puts you more and more in favour of Namajunas. Yes she has some good wins but the level of opponent just isn’t the level of Namajunas! If Rodriguez can stuff the takedowns early, Namajunas definitely can.
FREE PICK: Rose Namajunas ML
Dave Covers Spreads, UFC FREE PICK: Charles Oliveira vs Justin Gaethje
Now this is a great fight!I am going with the Champ, Charles Oliveira to get the job done. There is a big jiu jitsu lake of awareness is Justin Gaethje’s game and we saw that when he went up against Khabib Nurmagomedov. I know what you are thinking of course it looked like that he was fighting arguably the best grappler ever. Well guess what! Oliveira is right up there with the level of Khabib!
On that back foot Gaethje just doesn’t have that same power he had when he was seeking and destroying the likes of Edson Barboza or James Vick. These guys aren’t known for their chins. I know what Justin is a lot more technical now and has improved but he is going up against Oliveira who has proven to us he can take a beating. Look at his last fight against Poirier, he got destroyed in the first round by one of the best strikers ever and speaking as someone who took Oliveira in that fight (as the underdog) I was terrified. But Charles is a man of opportunity he came out in that second round and completely took over the fight. Within 20 seconds I knew my ticket was cashing. When Justin shows little awareness against Khabib, you just have to go with the champ in this one. Oliveira has been saying he wants to beat him up with his hands. I see this one going big punches back and forth and then once Charles has had enough he will take the back and choke him out.
FREE PICK: Charles Oliveira ML
Best Bet: Charles Oliveira (Double Chance) by Submission or TKO
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Thanks for reading, Dave Covers Spreads.