LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 04: (L-R) Opponents Petr Yan of Russia and Aljamain Sterling face off during the UFC 259 press conference at UFC APEX on March 04, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

UFC 273 best bets: Sterling, Yan in for long night

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Saturday's UFC 273 card features a featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski and Chan Sung Jung, as well as a highly anticipated rematch between bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling and interim titleholder Petr Yan.

Volkanovski is a massive favorite to retain his title against "The Korean Zombie," sitting at -800 on theScore Bet. Of course, that's far too wide for us to make a straight bet. The move would be to use Volkanovski in a parlay, but even then, you're not getting much value.

Before the action gets underway at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, here are the two best bets for the event:

Sterling-Yan over 4.5 rounds (-130)

If the first fight between Sterling and Yan is any indicator, the rematch is bound to go deep into the fifth round and likely to the final horn.

While Yan seemed to be comfortably in control of Sterling by the time he landed the infamous illegal knee in March 2021, it had still been a competitive fight to that point. Yan and Sterling are close enough in skill that they'll usually produce competitive contests.

Plus, neither is a huge finisher, at least not early. Yan is known to be a slow starter; he uses the first two rounds to figure out his opponent, then gains momentum in the later rounds. Meanwhile, seven of Sterling's last 11 fights - including the first Yan bout - ended in a decision.

Anything can happen in MMA, so maybe Sterling catches Yan off guard with an early submission, or perhaps Yan puts Sterling away with a big punch. But all signs are pointing toward this one going to the judges, and at a cheap price of -130, the over 4.5 rounds prop is worth a play.

Tecia Torres (+100) vs. Mackenzie Dern

Less than three years ago, Torres was riding a four-fight skid and on the verge of the end of her UFC career. But now she's won three in a row, and a victory over Dern would put her back into the strawweight title conversation.

And this is a winnable fight for Torres.

Dern's striking skills remain quite limited, as we saw in her main-event loss to Marina Rodriguez last October. Torres is a lot better on the feet, and she can capitalize on that.

Of course, Dern is one of the best jiu-jitsu practitioners in the UFC, never mind at 115 pounds. If she can get Torres to the mat, this is undoubtedly Dern's fight to lose.

But Torres is a crafty veteran. She should be able to keep her distance against Dern and cruise to a decision nod. And at plus money, you have to side with "The Tiny Tornado."

Here are the full odds for UFC 273 on April 9: