UFC Fight Night Predictions: 3 Best Bets for Saturday, August 9

Live from the UFC Apex, the UFC is back this weekend with another fun card. Headlined by Middleweight contenders Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez, we should be in for a fun night of fights free on ESPN+.

Today, I will break down my 3 favorite bets for this weekend’s fight card. Let’s get into it!

Cody Brundage (11-6-1) vs Eric McConico (9-3-1)

This is the first fight of the card, so if you don’t want to miss it be sure to tune in early. It should be a pretty fun one. Brundage has been around the block in his UFC career, holding a 5-5-1 record. He has faced a good amount of different opponents ranging from rising prospects to veteran journeymen, and has had very mixed results. He now takes on UFC newcomer McConico, who is coming off a KO loss in his UFC debut.

Brundage is sitting as the favorite here, and I think it is for good reason. Brundage has a ton of experience against tough competition, and while he has been extremely volatile in his results, he has shown flashes of being very solid.

McConico is known for slowing fights down, but I’m not sure that will play to his favor here. Brundage has great power himself and should probably have the edge in grappling. Give me the vet.

MY PICK: Cody Brundage -170

Steve Erceg (12-4) vs Ode Osbourne (13-8)

Jumping from the first fight of the night to the Co-Main event here, but I see some great value. Erceg is a former title challenger, but has yet to win a fight (0-2) since losing to Pantoja for the belt last year.

He now seems desperate for a win to try and work his way back into title contention. In his way stands Ode Osbourne who is likely desperate for a win as well. He enters this fight off his first win since 2023 and now holds a record of 5-6 in the UFC.

Erceg is a huge favorite, sitting at -600 as I am writing this. This is for good reason. Erceg is a top of the division talent, he has just run into a buzz saw since getting his title shot. Now facing a jounreyman in Ode Osbourne, he has the opportunity to bounce back in dominant fashion.

He is better than Osbourne on every level of the fight game so I don’t see this one going to deep. Going to take the double chance of KO/TKO/DQ & Submission to be safe here.

MY PICK: Stever Erceg by KO/TKO/DQ or Submission -135

Roman Dolidze (15-3) vs Anthony Hernandez (14-2)

I am extremely excited for this one. Both of these guys are serious contenders at the 185 division, and this will be a good test to see who can get a shot at the top 5. These guys currently round out the top 10 in the UFC rankings with Dolidze at #9 and Hernandez at #10.

Both of these guys are also coming in on impressive win streaks and with wins over very solid opponents. Dolidze took out former title challenger Marvin Vettori in his last fight in a dominating decision. Hernandez got a win over the current #11 contender, Brendan Allen. Both of these guys are in great form and have extremely well-rounded games, so this should be great.

If this was a 3-round fight, my decision may be different, but it is a 5-round main event. That leans me towards Hernandez. He has an insane pace in his fights and can match Dolidze in any position.

Dolidze is a bigger guy, standing at 6’2 with a very solid frame, but we have seen Hernandez handle this before. I think Hernandez is going to push this fight to the limits and get a tough, hard-fought win, but not a finish.

MY PICK: Anthony Hernandez by Decision +185