UFC 241 goes down this Saturday in California, it is arguably the card of the year. The return of superstars such as Nate Diaz and Yoel Romero, coupled with a scrap for the bragging rights of undisputed baddest man on the planet, makes the event a must-watch. Because of the number of high profile bouts, most of the lines on the card are incredibly tight. Although this may seem detrimental to betting, the lines in fact enable punters to bet on numerous underdogs who have a great chance of winning their respective bouts. That being said, here are some UFC 241 betting tips.
UFC 241 Betting Tips
1. Yoel Romero (-155) vs Paulo Costa (+135)
The first and only favourite worthy of a tip this week is none other than Cuba’s very own Benjamin Button, Yoel Romero. Romero (13-3) takes on undefeated striking sensation Paulo Costa (12-0) in a bout between two of the best bodies in MMA. How both the 42-year-old Romero and the IV-using Costa have maintained their unbelievable physiques may be up for debate, but there is no question that this fight will be a barn burner.
Romero is coming off a split decision loss to Robert Whittaker for the middleweight belt. Many believe that Romero had done enough to dethrone the Aussie after dropping him multiple times. Romero is one of the most undeniable athletes in the UFC but has recently adopted a more technical and measured approach to his striking. With eleven wins coming by knockout, Romero’s explosiveness is undisputed.
For the first time in his career, Romero may be meeting someone whose physique and power transcends his own. Paulo Costa has finished each of his twelve fights and has shown devastating knockout power in every bout of his career.
Despite this, he has never faced an opponent near the standard of Yoel Romero. Having never been into the third round, Costa’s cardio could be pushed by Romero who has been all five rounds twice in his professional career. Romero is also an Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling. If Romero engaged with Costa on the mat, he would near certainly dominate.
Although Costa is a surging athlete with age on his side, Romero is the smart UFC 241 betting pick here. Romero simply possesses more paths to victory and has far more experience against top fighters than his Brazillian opponent. Costa may get a flash KO, but considering Romero has only been knocked out once in his career and has shown an iron chin in recent bouts, this is quite unlikely. This means that Romero is the no-brainer of these UFC 241 betting tips.
Tip – Yoel Romero to win
2. Cory Sandhagen (-185) vs Raphael Assuncao (+160)
Cory Sandhagen (11-1) is on a surge. Riding a six-fight win streak, a win over Raphael Assuncao (27-6) would ensure a title shot in the near future. Sandhagen won the unofficial junior violence-weight title in April 2019, defeating John Lineker in an excellent contest that would lead to the Brazillian being cut from the UFC.
Sandhagen looked fantastic against Lineker, adopting a style focusing on footwork and movement. This lead to comparisons with former champion Dominick Cruz, to which Sandhagen responded that he was an ‘upgrade‘ on the legendary bantamweight. This impressive performance coupled with some impressive finishes means it is no surprise that Sandhagen is a heavy favorite.
However, as a +160 underdog, Assuncao is a brilliant pick. Assuncao is a veteran of the UFC, being part of the organisation since 2011. The Brazillian has beaten very high-level opponents, including disgraced former champion T.J Dillashaw and top contenders Aljamain Sterling and Marlon Moraes. Assuncao is a phenom on the ground and could test Sandhagen’s submission defense if he is able to land a takedown.
Although there are plenty of reasons Sandhagen could win this bout, picking Assuncao is a brilliant choice. Assuncao has beaten the higher caliber opposition and stylistically could prove troublesome for Sandhagen. Considering he is a fairly large underdog, Assuncao could make punters some big money this weekend.
Tip – Raphael Assuncao to win
3. Anthony Pettis (-130) vs Nate Diaz (+110)
Ladies and gentlemen, it truly is time. Nate Diaz (19-11) makes his first octagon appearance since August 2016 where he lost in a razor-thin decision to Conor McGregor. The fan favorite has been his usual antiestablishmentarian self in the build-up to his return, particularly highlighted by smoking an herbal cigarette in the open workouts this week. Nate Diaz will fight Anthony Pettis (22-8) in a bout that guarantees fireworks.
Former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has been thrown back into the limelight after losing his belt and failing to make an impact at featherweight. In his sole welterweight appearance, Pettis knocked out the elusive Stephen Thompson with a breath-taking superman punch. This confirmed that the Milwaukee native was well and truly back.
If Nate Diaz can fight the way we remember him for, he stands a great chance vs Pettis. Both fighters have brilliant striking but are also equally dangerous on the ground. It truly is an incredibly even matchup. However, on the feet, Diaz may be able to pull away from Pettis. Diaz is incredibly durable, having taken McGregor’s best shots and only being knocked out once in his career. If Diaz has maintained his sharp boxing and impeccable accuracy he could outstrike Pettis. Pettis favors extravagant kicks and techniques as opposed to clean boxing. Although this leads to spectacular finishes, it also means that Pettis is fairly easy to hit. If Diaz has retained his power and cardio, he could exploit the holes in Pettis’s defense.
Diaz will be near-impossible to finish. As the underdog in this bout, he a highlight of the UFC 241 betting tips. If Diaz can roll back the years with a finish, a super fight versus Masvidal or the McGregor trilogy bout could be the next spectacle for fans.
Tip – Nate Diaz to win
4. Daniel Cormier (-135) vs Stipe Miocic (+155)
Although the bout itself is incredibly hard to call, betting on a heavyweight title fight is simply irresistible. Daniel Cormier (22-1) immortalized himself as one of the all-time greats when he dethroned Stipe Miocic (18-3) at UFC 226. Cormier caught Stipe Miocic with a right hook whilst exiting the clinch in the very first round. In one brief moment, Miocic’s historical title rein and glistening legacy had been shattered. UFC 241 represents his chance at redemption.
Much like the first bout, the rematch is incredibly difficult to call. Because of this, it is difficult to ‘tip’ on the fight. However, with such close betting lines – you can’t go wrong betting on your preferred fighter to win the belt. In a bout which could decide the heavyweight GOAT in most people’s minds, it truly could go either way.
Tip – Go with your heart
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