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On Saturday, the UFC 274 fight card takes center stage with two championship bouts headlining an eventful night of mixed martial arts action.
In Phoenix, both the UFC Lightweight Championship (somewhat) and UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship will be available for competition.
Saturday’s PPV event holds important information that Michigan sports bettors should be aware of.
How to watch UFC 274
- UFC 274 is scheduled to take place.
- Location: Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Saturday, May 7 is the day.
- The Early Prelims will commence at 6 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
- The preliminary matches will commence at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN/ESPN+.
- The Main Card is scheduled to commence at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN+.
The UFC 274 Main Card
There are five fights scheduled for Saturday’s main card, featuring two championship bouts.
Take a glimpse into what Saturday’s PPV has in store for you.
- The Lightweight Championship bout features Charles Oliveira taking on the top-ranked Justin Gaethje.
- The upcoming match for the Women’s Strawweight Championship will feature the reigning champion, Rose Namajunas, going head-to-head against the second-ranked contender, Carla Esparza.
- The lightweight match between Michael Chandler, ranked fifth, and Tony Ferguson, ranked seventh, is set to take place.
- Mauricio Rua and Ovince Saint Preux to face off in an intense Light Heavyweight Bout.
- Donald Cerrone will face off against Joe Lauzon in a lightweight bout.
- He failed to meet the weight requirement, making him ineligible to compete for the championship title.
Oliveira vs. Gaethje Odds
Despite Charles Oliveira’s (32-8, 1 NC) attempt to defend his UFC Lightweight Championship for the second time on Saturday, he was unable to meet the weight requirement by a mere half-pound. Consequently, he was stripped of his title. Although he continued to compete on Saturday night, he no longer holds the champion status and cannot regain the title even with a victory.
Justin Gaethje (24-3), Olivera’s adversary, is vying for the undisputed title for the second time. As Gaethje successfully made weight, the UFC confirms that he still has the opportunity to claim the championship by securing a victory.
Since June 2018, Oliveira has been on a remarkable winning streak of 10 fights. What’s even more impressive is that out of those 10 fights, only one went the full distance. Among his last 10 victories, six were achieved through submission, including his first title defense against Dustin Poirier in December, where he secured a third-round choke.
On October 24, 2020, Gaethje vied for the UFC title but unfortunately endured a submission defeat against Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, a year later, he rebounded with a triumphant decision victory over Michael Chandler, securing himself another opportunity to contend for the championship.
Both fighters possess knockout power in their striking, with Gaethje displaying more technical skills in his strikes. On the other hand, Oliveira stands out as one of the top submission grapplers in the UFC. Utilizing his grappling expertise, Oliveira dominates his opponents, maintaining an aggressive tempo that often results in either a submission finish or a technical knockout.
Oliveira’s impressive winning streak and dominance in recent years haven’t convinced oddsmakers to consider him a significant favorite against Gaethje. According to DraftKings, Oliveira is listed as a -160 favorite, while Gaethje holds a +140 position.
DraftKings Sportsbook MI has set the over/under for rounds at a mere 1.5, and the under option is quite competitive with a +150 odds. It is clear that the oddsmakers have a strong belief that this fight will not last for long.
Namajunas vs. Esparza Odds
On Saturday, Rose Namajunas (12-4) aims to successfully defend her championship for the second time. Additionally, she seeks to seek redemption for a prior defeat against Carla Esparza (19-6).
On December 14, 2014, these two individuals crossed paths to determine the first-ever UFC Women’s Strawweight champion. Esparza emerged victorious in the third round, securing a submission win.
Namajunas has significantly enhanced her striking skills and made great strides in her submission grappling since then. Notably, she has emerged victorious in her past three fights, securing consecutive wins against former champion Zhang Weili.
Despite failing to defend her title and experiencing a fluctuating career for several years, Esparza has recently made an impressive comeback. Currently, she is on a winning streak of five fights, putting her in the running for another title shot. Her most recent victory took place almost a year ago, on May 22, 2021, when she secured a second-round TKO against Yan Xiaonan.
This fight will lack any surprises. Esparza’s grappling abilities far surpass her striking skills, while Namajunas has the advantage in striking. Esparza will aim to take the fight to the ground, just like in their previous encounter. On the other hand, Namajunas will rely on her speed and footwork to dismantle Esparza from a safe distance.
For this rematch, Namajunas is considered the clear favorite according to oddsmakers. She has been listed at -225 to win on DraftKings, whereas Esparza’s odds stand at +185.
DraftKings sets the over/under for rounds at 4.5 in terms of fight distance. Interestingly, the over option has odds of -185, indicating that oddsmakers anticipate the fight to last the full 25 minutes.
BetMGM parlay offers for UFC 274
As the night of the UFC fights draws near, sportsbooks often unveil odds boosts or promotions.
UFC 274 brings preset parlay offers to BetMGM Michigan.
The initial wager entails Oliveira, Chandler, St. Preux, and Cerrone emerging victorious in their individual matches. This particular combination carries a moneyline of +350. Remarkably, all four fighters have been designated as the favored contenders for their respective fights.
There is another parlay proposal, suggesting that Namajunas, Tracy Cortez, and Fernie Garcia will secure victories on Saturday. The odds for this parlay are set at +300. It’s worth noting that all three fighters are also predicted to be the favorites in their respective matches.
