Can you please rewrite the following sentence for me?<br><br>Original sentence: “I am going to the store to buy some groceries.”
This weekend, UFC 271 marks the highly anticipated return of the UFC to Houston, featuring an exciting rematch for the middleweight championship.
In Saturday’s main event, Israel Adesanya, the reigning middleweight champion, is set to defend his 185-pound belt against the man he dethroned, Robert Whittaker.
In the co-main event, two top contenders in the heavyweight division collide, setting the stage for an epic showdown. Meanwhile, on the main card, the battle to determine the next middleweight contender intensifies.
For all sports bettors in Michigan interested in UFC 271, we present a comprehensive guide.
How to watch UFC 271
What is the event: UFC 271
The event will take place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
The date is Saturday, February 12th.
The Early Prelims will commence at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
The preliminary rounds will commence at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN/ESPN+.
The main card will commence at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN+.
UFC 271 Main Card Odds
UFC 271 showcases highly anticipated fights in the middleweight and heavyweight divisions.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook MI, provided here is a summary of the card along with the current odds at the time of writing.
The UFC Middleweight Championship is up for grabs in an exciting showdown between Israel Adesanya, the current champion and favorite with odds of -280, and Robert Whittaker, ranked No. 1 and the underdog with odds of +225.
In the heavyweight division, the third-ranked Derrick Lewis is favored at odds of -180 against the eleventh-ranked Tai Tuivasa, who stands at odds of +155.
In the Middleweight Division, the third-ranked fighter Jared Cannonier is favored with odds of -165, while the fourth-ranked Derek Brunson has odds of +145.
In the Bantamweight Division, Kyler Phillips is favored at -400, while Marcelo Rojo is the underdog at +300.
In the Lightweight Division, Bobby Green is the favorite with odds of -140, while Nasrat Haqparast is the underdog with odds of +120.
Saturday’s main event marks the second encounter between the two middleweight title contenders.
The initial meeting took place during UFC 243 on October 5, 2019, where the then-champion Whittaker (24-5) competed on his home turf in Australia. Adesanya (21-1) emerged victorious with a second-round knockout, securing the title of unified middleweight champion.
Since then, Adesanya successfully defended his title three times, but unfortunately experienced his only defeat. This defeat came in a decision loss against Jan Blachowicz, the then-light heavyweight champion, in March of the previous year. Adesanya’s most recent fight resulted in a decision victory over Marvin Vettori on June 12 of the same year.
Whittaker has bounced back from losing the title by securing three consecutive decision victories against tough opponents such as Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum.
The oddsmakers are favoring the champion to remain victorious due to his impressive speed and power that proved to be advantageous against Whittaker in their previous fight. Whittaker might attempt to apply a similar strategy as Blachowicz did, aiming to overpower Adesanya and take him down to the mat. It’s worth noting that Whittaker has previously competed as a light heavyweight contender.
According to BetMGM Michigan, Whittaker is receiving 72% of the total number of tickets for the main event. Nonetheless, Adesanya is responsible for 51% of the total betting amount.
Adesanya enters this match with an extra boost of motivation following the recent signing of a highly profitable multi-fight contract with the UFC. The reigning champion firmly believes that he has now secured the second-highest salary among all active fighters, with Conor McGregor being the only one potentially earning more.
Adesanya expressed satisfaction with the new deal, stating at UFC 271 Media Day, “I’m pleased that we reached an agreement. I eagerly anticipate the positive impact of this agreement extending to other fighters.” He also raised the question of his value to the company, emphasizing that his worth should not be underestimated. Adesanya asserted, “If you’re undervaluing my contribution, you’re only fooling yourself. I bring a multitude of unique perspectives and styles to this organization.”
Fan favorites collide in heavyweight brawl
Fans will be abuzz with excitement for the co-main event featuring the clash between Derrick Lewis (25-8, 1 NC) and Tai Tuivasa (13-3).
These two fighters are powerful brawlers who throw heavy punches with malicious intent and have no intention of taking the fight to the ground.
In his MMA career, Lewis has accumulated a total of 21 knockouts, whereas Tuivasa has managed to secure 12 knockouts.
Lewis is considered the slight favorite by oddsmakers in his hometown of Houston. However, it’s worth mentioning that his previous defeat occurred in Houston, where he was knocked out by Ciryl Gane in the third round last August. Nevertheless, Lewis quickly recovered by delivering a first-round knockout to Chris Daukaus on December 18th.
It’s difficult not to be fond of Tuivasa. In addition to his ferocious strength, Tuivasa has gained recognition for his unique way of celebrating a win by drinking beer from his own shoe, famously known as a “shoey.” He even goes the extra mile by taking sips from fans’ shoes as he makes his way back to the locker room.
The Australian contender enters this fight with an impressive record of four consecutive knockout victories. Nevertheless, he faces a significant challenge against a higher-caliber opponent. A victory in this bout would propel him rapidly towards a potential title shot.
At present, Tuivasa is receiving 71% of the tickets and accounting for 62% of the handle at BetMGM Michigan for this bout.
Regardless of the outcome, this fight promises to be just as captivating as any other on the card. DraftKings has given it odds of +380 to last the entire duration.
FanDuel offering up UFC parlay insurance
On Saturday, FanDuel Sportsbook MI is providing parlay insurance of up to $25.
Place a parlay bet with at least 4 legs, each having final odds of +300 or higher. In the unfortunate event that only one leg loses, you will receive a refund in site credit up to $25.
Placing bets on the UFC or MMA in general goes beyond simply selecting a winning fighter. Sports bettors have a multitude of options at their disposal.
The moneyline is the most frequently used betting option, allowing you to select your fighter and their corresponding odds for victory. For the upcoming main event on Saturday, a moneyline bet on Adesanya with odds of -280 would require a wager of $280 to potentially win $100. Conversely, if you bet on Whittaker with odds of +225, a $100 wager could yield winnings of $225.
There are additional betting options available for MMA matches, such as:
You have two options for your bets on the total rounds in the fight. First, you can choose whether the fight will go the full distance or not. Second, you can wager on the specific round in which the fight will conclude. Additionally, there are over/under propositions available for each fight, allowing you to bet on the number of rounds that will take place.
Revised: Strategy for Victory: Place bets on the method of victory in a fight, such as KO/TKO, submission, or decision. For higher potential winnings, consider specifying the round or specific timing of the finish.
Parlays in MMA: Similar to other sports, MMA also offers parlay options. If you have a preference for certain favorites but don’t see much value in betting on them individually, you can combine them in a parlay bet to improve the odds and potentially receive a higher payout.
Live-Betting: An MMA fight is full of potential momentum shifts, offering great opportunities to capitalize on rapidly changing odds from one round to another.
Additionally, make sure to explore all your top choices. Although DraftKings is affiliated with the UFC, FanDuel Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook MI, and Fox Bet Sportsbook all provide a diverse range of MMA betting opportunities. Fox Bet is currently presenting numerous enhanced odds and boosted parlays for the upcoming event.
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