Anything can happen in the wild world of fighting, but some matchups are just easier to predict.
Saturday’s UFC Vegas 72 definitely has some toss-up bouts that could go either way, but there are also some lopsided matchups for bettors to (hypothetically) take advantage of.
Here are the best bets for this weekend’s card:
The Lock of the Week: Martin “Badys” Buday vs. Jake “The Prototype” Collier
Martin Buday hasn’t lost a fight since 2017, when he was out-pointed by a far more experienced Juan Espino throughout a unanimous decision loss.
Since then, “Badys” (11-1) has marched through anyone silly enough to sign on the dotted line. Six knockouts and two decision victories later and Buday is finally starting to turn some heads.
While his sizzling string of success is reason enough to side with the Slovakian slugger, Jake Collier’s lackluster results should also spell easy pay day to bettors.
Knocked out by Chris Barnett and outclassed by a ageless Andrei Arlovski in his two most recent outings, Collier has lost three of his last four bouts. Once 8-1 as a professional, Collier is 5-7 since joining the UFC.
It’s clear that “The Prototype” is in dire need of a few updates. Since that’s not likely to happen before fight night, put it all on the surging “Badys” to handle business.
Bet The Under: Trey “The Truth” Waters vs. Josh “Bushido” Quinlan
The judges can schedule their lunch break for when these two exciting fighters square off Saturday night. Scorecards won’t be needed as these scrappers like to settle things themselves in the cage.
Of their combined 14 fights, only one has gone the distance. They’ve combined for seven knockouts and five submissions victories in their young careers.
Trey Waters’ (7-1) only loss came against undefeated Gabriel Bonfim via von flue choke in the 2022 contender series. Waters most recently knocked out Jalin Fuller at Legacy Fighting Alliance 156 on April 14.
Josh Quinlan (6-0) has a no-contest on his record because he tested positive for the banned substance drostanolone after viciously knocking out Logan Urban on the contender series in 2021. Quinlan was suspended nine months, returning to action in August to knock out Jason Witt at UFC Fight Night in San Diego.
These brawlers know how to keep their fate out of judges’ hands. Expect that trend to continue on fight night.
Fight of the Night: Yadong Song vs. Ricky Simon
This bantamweight headliner is sure to provide the fireworks to nab the evening’s top honor.
Ricky Simon is riding a five-fight win streak, earning victories against some of the division’s top contenders. Simón most recently bested Jack Shore via arm triangle at UFC on ABC 3 in July. He also earned impressive victories against Raphael Assuncao, Brian Kelleher and Gaetano Pirrello in 2021.
While Yadong Song is coming off a loss to Cory Sandhagen, the “Kung Fu Kid” is certainly worthy of his Top 10 ranking. Song previously ended Marlon Moraes’ time with the UFC with a vicious uppercut last March, and he finished Julio Arce back in Nov. 2021.
Song’s chin must be made of some sort of Chinese granite. He ate everything Cory Sandhagen threw at him in September before judges called the fight due a gruesome gash over Song’s left eye, but judges had it even after four rounds. Song also famously took a brutal beating against bantamweight contender Marlon “Chito” Vera and still earned the head-scratching decision win.
While we know it’s possible—Song was knocked out by Alexey Polpudnikov back in 2016—it’s not likely Simon has the power to end this one quickly, so expect a war between these two warriors.
Note to reader: Best Bets is a series solely intended to entertain readers. This is in no way betting advice. Do NOT put your mortgage payment down on a bet based on the opinion of this amateur bettor. You’ve been warned.
