UFC 319 betting preview: Is there any value on Du Plessis?
The UFC returns to the Windy City on Saturday night for a highly anticipated middleweight title fight, as Chicago's United Center plays host to UFC 319. In the main event, Dricus Du Plessis defends the 185-pound championship for the third time against undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev.
Chimaev (-260), who has been heralded as a future champion since he joined the promotion in 2020, is favored to beat Du Plessis (+210) on ESPN BET and theScore Bet and seize the throne. Truthfully, this fight could unfold in several different ways and might be best avoided altogether. Chimaev is a monster, but Du Plessis is criminally underrated, having been the underdog in three of his last four fights (and again in this one) despite holding a perfect record in the Octagon. This is a 'dog-or-pass situation.
With that, let's move on to some of the best bets for UFC 319.
Lock of the card: Chase Hooper (-330) def. Alexander Hernandez
Chase Hooper grew up in front of UFC fans' eyes after debuting in 2019 at age 20, and he's finally starting to come into his own as a legitimate threat in the lightweight division. Hooper has won five in a row and should have no problem keeping that momentum going against Alexander Hernandez. Look for Hooper to use his significant advantage on the ground to control Hernandez for long stretches, wear him down, and possibly lock up a submission within 15 minutes.
Best underdog bet: Lerone Murphy (+150) def. Aaron Pico (-180)
It's surprising that Lerone Murphy is a clear-cut underdog in his co-main event clash with Aaron Pico. Yes, Pico has a lot of hype behind him coming over from the PFL, but Murphy is one of the featherweight division's top talents and has faced the steeper competition. A very technical and calculated striker, Murphy should be able to outwork Pico on the feet. All of this gives him a good chance of playing spoiler, so taking him at plus money feels like a bit of a steal.
Best prop bet: Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose goes over 2.5 rounds (-166)
On a card full of competitive matchups, there aren't too many props we're overly confident in. But the undercard bout between Edson Barboza and Drakkar Klose going over 2.5 rounds is a solid bet. Barboza has gone the distance in three of his last four fights, while Klose has made it to the judges' scorecards in eight of his 12 UFC appearances. Don't count on seeing a finish in this one.
π Check out all the odds for UFC 319 on ESPN BET and theScore Bet here
Main card
- Dricus Du Plessis (+210) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (-260)
- Lerone Murphy (+150) vs. Aaron Pico (-180)
- Geoff Neal (+205) vs. Carlos Prates (-255)
- Jared Cannonier (+160) vs. Michael Page (-190)
- Tim Elliott (-350) vs. Kai Asakura (+270)
Preliminary card
- Baisangur Susurkaev (-1000) vs. Eric Nolan (+600)
- Gerald Meerschaert (+195) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (-240)
- Jessica Andrade (+125) vs. Loopy Godinez (-150)
- Chase Hooper (-330) vs. Alexander Hernandez (+260)
Early preliminary card
- Edson Barboza (-140) vs. Drakkar Klose (+120)
- Karine Silva (-220) vs. Dione Barbosa (+180)
- Alibi Idiris (-500) vs. Joseph Morales (+350)
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