We have an amazing card this weekend with the UFC heading back to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV for UFC 317. Headlined by two title fights, we are in for a night to remember.
Two former champions in Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira, will face off for the vacant Lightweight title in the main event, while current champ Alexandre Pantoja will defend his belt against Kai Kara-France in a Flyweight showdown. Along with those fights, we have a stacked card so get ready for a fun night.
Today, I will break down my 3 favorite bets for this weekend’s fight card. Let’s get into it!
Beneil Dariush (22-6-1) vs Renato Moicano (20-6-1)
This will be a very fun fight between two veterans of the UFC. Both of these guys made their UFC debut in 2014 and haven’t looked back since. Both guys have fought the cream of the crop in the lightweight division, so this will certainly be a highly skilled fight.
Darisuh has faced back-to-back tough losses at the hands of Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira, so he will be looking to get back on track. Moicano’s last fight was a quick loss to the former champ Islam Makhachev (who moved to welterweight), but he looked completely outmatched.
Both of these guys are extremely well-rounded fighters. They show no glaring holes in their game and really can manage to fight anywhere the fight brings them. Moicano probably has a hand up in his BJJ game, but Dariush is the more talented wrestler.
This fight, I think, will go the distance and that's where I give Darisuh the nod. Darisuh has never lost by decision in his professional career and has won 50% of his UFC fights by decision. I think he will have more pace and gas than Moicano when it comes down to it, and if he can get him grappling early, he should be able to tire him out.
MY PICK: Beneil Dariush by Decision +250
Alexandre Pantoja (29-5) vs Kai Kara-France (25-11)
I am very excited for this one. The first of our two championship fights, Pantoja will have another chance to defend his belt. He has successfully defended his belt 3-times and in each he has looked pretty dominant.
The flyweight division isn’t the most talent-heavy at the top, but these guys always put on a show, and I expect that to happen again this weekend. However, I am a bit surprised at Kara-France getting a title shot.
He is 1-2 since 2022, but he did manage a good win against Stever Erceg last time out. We will see if he can put up a good fight and show why he deserved this chance. Honestly, I think Pantoja dominates this fight.
He is so talented no matter where the fight goes and I think he can dominate KKF in the grappling exchanges. KKF is dangerous on his feet and truly has rare KO power at 125, but I think Pantoja is too crafty to let this one slip away. I am taking Pantoja with his point spread to make it a bit more juicy.
MY PICK: Alexandre Pantoja -5.5 -125
Ilia Topuria (16-0) vs Charles Oliveira (35-10)
I couldn’t be more interested in a fight. I think we are in for absolute fireworks between these two and we will get to see just how legit Topuria is now that he bumped up a weight class.
Topuria clearly is one of the best fighters alive right now, but he has a smaller frame. He is 3 inches shorter and is giving up 5 inches in reach against Charles. Both of these guys are former champions, so there is no doubt in my mind that we will see a great fight.
I think Charles needs to really rely on his grappling to win this one. Topuria has the ability to put anyone's lights out, and his boxing is some of the best in the UFC. He walked through Volk and Holloway at featherweight, and now we’ll see how he handles the big boys.
Charles is 2-2 in his last 4 with losses to Tsarukyan and Islam, but he dominated Dariush and Chandler between those. However, I think Ilia is going to make a statement this weekend. He has been unbelievable so far in his career, and if he can dominate Charles, it will be a legacy win.
However, I like Charles' odds to go the distance and make this fight closer than the odds are showing. Give me Charles to cover the point spread and end Ilia’s finish streak.
MY PICK: Charles Oliveira +5.5 +350
