UFC makes its way to Louisville for a loaded fight night card this week! Middleweights Nassourdine Imavov and Jared Cannonier take the spotlight in what is an important fight in the division.
Check out our best bet for their clash and 3 others below before the action kicks off on Saturday, 5 PM EST. Best of luck, fight fans!
Top Parlay: Taylor Lapilus ML AND Raul Rosas Jr. ML -101 (DraftKings)
After a 3-1 record in his first stint wasn't enough to save his job, Lapilus returned to the UFC last year after winning 7 of 8 since being cut. He's split his two showings, with his loss coming against undefeated prospect Farid Basharat.
The Frenchman has excellent striking and the takedown defense to utilize it. He eventually gave into Basharat's high-intensity pace on the mat, but he stuffed over half of his takedown attempts in the process.
His opponent, Cody Stamann, should have the same game plan since he'll be giving up close to 10 inches of reach. I expect Lapilus to shut down most of those takedown attempts, score more damage on the feet, and take home a decision win.
The highly touted prospect Raul Rosas Jr. returns on Saturday to take on former Ultimate Fighter winner Ricky Turcios. Rosas Jr. is known for his high-level grappling, and Turcios has been taken down plenty in his 3 showings with the UFC.
Turcios can be scrappy and will make Rosas Jr. work at times, but this feels like a showcase matchup to keep building up the young 19-year-old prospect. Rosas Jr. should rack up tons of control time before he finds a sub or dominant decision victory.
Top Total: Charles Radtke vs. Carlos Prates Under 1.5 Total Rounds (+120)
If you haven't checked out the footage on Brazilian Carlos Prates yet, I encourage you to do so. He has what I call "turn-off power" and has finished his last 7 opponents by TKO. Out of those 7, only one fight has gone over 1.5 rounds.
Across from him will be a fellow power puncher, Charles Radtke. He doesn't own many under 1.5 fights on his record, but he has the power and ground skills to end fights early. 6 of his 9 wins have been by stoppage, and he's coming off a nasty 1st round TKO win against Gilbert Urbina earlier this year.
I'm banking more on Prates power to get us here, but both men could end this fight in a blink of an eye. Look for these two to throw early and often.
Best Favorite: L'udovit Klein ML (-124)
I've really liked what I've seen lately from L'udovit Klein. He has a legit boxing background and grappling to go with it. He'll want to avoid the mat with the BJJ Blackbelt Thiago Moises, but Klein has held his last 5 opponents to 1/10 on takedown attempts.
If he continues to be successful with his takedown defense, I don't see Moises being able to compete on the feet with Klein. Moises' only TKO stoppage came in his last fight, where he won by leg kicks.
Klein's boxer background may mean he's susceptible to leg kicks, but I think he makes the adjustments knowing Moises is coming off the stoppage. I see Klein using his power strikes to finish Moises late.
Main Event Play: Nassourdine Imavov ML (-120)
For our main event play, we're going to side with Imavov over UFC vet Jared Cannonier. The UFC matchmakers did a good job putting these two together with where they're at in their careers and how well rounded they are.
Both can strike, grapple, and have main event 5-round experience. The difference here should be Imavov's speed when striking and the eventual decline of a 40-year-old Cannonier. Additionally, Cannonier is coming off an MCL tear that required surgery last October.
If anyone can overcome these obstacles, it's Cannonier, but history tells us these red flags matter in close matchups, and Imavov has the speed and grappling to at least take the 3 rounds needed. I see him doing the most damage to earn a decisive victory in this week's main event.
