From Boston, Massachusetts, to Kallang, Singapore, the UFC brings the action back this weekend. Did you play the Sean O’Malley finish pick last week? Let’s jump into the best bets for this weekend.
The Best Bets for UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs The Korean Zombie
Na Liang vs JJ Aldrich
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The women’s flyweight division has an interesting matchup set in one of the preliminary openers. Na Liang (19-6, 0-2 UFC) has one of the biggest tests in her career as she takes on JJ Aldrich (11-6, 7-5 UFC). Both women are suffering from a two fight skid and are in desperate need of an impressive showing.
Liang is a wrestler of purest form and relies on her ability to force the fight onto the mat. Aldrich is a much more complete fighter, having decent striking and an ability to fight in grappling scenarios. Of her last two fights, Aldrich suffered a defeat to the rising star Erin Blachenfield in June 2022 and lost in a pathetic showing to Ariane Lipski in March.
Aldrich is due for an impressive performance, has the better overall skillset and trackrecord.
Fight Pick: JJ Aldrich Moneyline
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Lukasz Brzeski
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To close out the prelims, fight fans will witness a fun heavyweight encounter. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (9-1, 2-1 UFC) will be looking to find his way back into the win column alongside the man that will be across from him from the cage, Lukasz Brzeski (8-3-1, 0-2 UFC).
Cortes-Acosta is an exciting, explosive fighter that was bested by longtime UFC vet Marcos Rogerio de Lima. “Salsa Boy” was beat by a better gameplan that night and will surely prove that he has learned from the defeat.
Cortes-Acosta is a star in the making and will overwhelm Brzeski in this fight.
Fight Pick: Waldo Cortes-Acosta via T/KO
Erin Blanchfield vs Talia Santos
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The winner of this fight is title fight bound. In a high stakes women’s flyweight matchup, Erin Blanchfield (11-1, 5-0 UFC) battles Taila Santos (19-2, 4-2 UFC). Blanchfield has exploded into stardom since making her UFC debut in 2021 and for good reason. The 24-year-old is a high percentage striker with incredible grappling capability. “Cold Blooded” has found finishes in her last two fights.
Santos is just as much of a striker, if not better boxer, than Blanchfield. The veteran of more than twenty fights has solid power and BJJ to boot. The 30-year-old lost a razor close split decision to Valentina Schevchenko in June 2022 and has since been away from the Octagon.
Santos sits as the underdog in this one and surely has some value to her price tag.
Fight Pick: Taila Santos via Unanimous Decision
Giga Chikadze vs Alex Caceres
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In a battle of talented 145ers, Giga Chikadze (14-3, 7-1 UFC) makes his long awaited return against grizzled UFC vet Alex Caceres (21-13-0-1, 16-11-0-1 UFC). Chikadze last fought in a UFC Fight Night main event spot where he was obliterated by star striker Calvin Kattar. Chikadze has been out of action since January of last year and has an incredibly tough opponent in that of Caceres.
“Bruce Leeroy” is 7-1 in his last eight fights, having only been topped by the young and impressive Sodiq Yusuff. The 35-year-old is on a two fight hot streak, earning wins over Daniel Pineda and Julian Erosa.
Chikadze should rumble back to form and could perhaps even produce a performance of the night.
Fight Pick: Giga Chikadze Moneyline
Max Holloway vs Chan Sung Jung
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Fight fans will witness a battle of featherweight favorites in the main event as Max Holloway (24-7, 20-7 UFC) is set to take on Chan Sung Jung (17-7, 7-4 UFC).
There does not seem to be much to say about this one and I cannot seem to understand why this fight is happening outside of the fact that “The Korean Zombie” is a savage.
Holloway is a devasting striker—one of the best all time. “Blessed” thrives in 25-minutes fights but will not need the 5 rounds in this fight. Holloway will cruise to victory.
Fight Pick: Max Holloway via T/KO
