This Saturday, get ready for an action-packed night of mixed martial arts as UFC 274 fight card takes center stage, featuring two thrilling championship bouts.
In Phoenix, both the UFC Lightweight Championship (sort of) and the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship will be on the line.
Michigan sports bettors should be aware of the essential information regarding Saturday’s PPV event.
How to watch UFC 274
- What: UFC 274
- Location: Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
- When: Saturday, May 7
- The Early Prelims will commence at 6 p.m. ET on both ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
- The preliminary matches will commence at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN/ESPN+.
- The main card commences on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET.
The UFC 274 Main Card
The main card on Saturday consists of five fights, which includes the presence of two championship bouts.
Take a glimpse into what awaits you on the upcoming Saturday’s PPV event.
- The Lightweight Championship match will feature Charles Oliveira and the top-ranked fighter Justin Gaethje.
- The highly anticipated Women’s Strawweight Championship bout is set to take place between the reigning champion, Rose Namajunas, and the formidable contender, Carla Esparza, who holds the No. 2 ranking.
- The lightweight bout will feature No. 5 ranked Michael Chandler going up against No. 7 ranked Tony Ferguson.
- The upcoming fight is a Light Heavyweight Bout between Mauricio Rua and Ovince Saint Preux.
- Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon will face off in a lightweight bout.
- Due to failing to meet the required weight, the individual is ineligible to compete for the championship belt.
Oliveira vs. Gaethje Odds
Despite his previous plans to defend his UFC Lightweight Championship for the second time, Charles Oliveira (32-8, 1 NC) faced a setback on Saturday as he fell short of making weight by just half a 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) is Olivera’s challenger, attempting to win the undisputed title for the second time. Gaethje has successfully made weight, allowing him the opportunity to become champion if he secures a victory, as per the UFC regulations.
Since June 2018, Oliveira has achieved an impressive winning streak of 10 fights. What’s even more remarkable is that only one out of those 10 fights reached the full distance. Among his last 10 victories, six were obtained by submission. One particularly notable win was his third-round choke of Dustin Poirier in December, which also marked his inaugural title defense.
On October 24, 2020, Gaethje vied for the UFC title but unfortunately suffered a defeat by submission to Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, a year later, he bounced back with a victorious decision against Michael Chandler, reclaiming his opportunity for another championship bout.
While both men possess knockout power in their striking, Gaethje stands out as the more skilled and precise striker between the two. On the other hand, Oliveira is widely recognized as one of the top submission grapplers in the entire UFC. His exceptional grappling abilities have consistently overwhelmed his opponents and enabled him to dictate the pace of the fight, often resulting in a submission finish or TKO.
Although Oliveira has been on a winning streak and has demonstrated dominance in recent years, oddsmakers do not consider him a significant favorite against Gaethje. DraftKings has designated him as a -160 favorite, while Gaethje’s odds stand at +140.
The round prediction for the fight is set at a mere 1.5, with the under option being offered at an attractive +150 at DraftKings Sportsbook MI. It is evident that the oddsmakers strongly believe that this fight will not last the full distance.
Namajunas vs. Esparza Odds
On Saturday, Rose Namajunas (12-4) aims to successfully defend her championship for the second time, seeking redemption against Carla Esparza (19-6) whom she had previously suffered a defeat to.
On December 14, 2014, these two individuals crossed paths in a historic event to determine the first-ever UFC Women’s Strawweight champion. Esparza emerged victorious through a submission in the third round.
Namajunas has since honed her striking skills and enhanced her abilities in submission grappling. Notably, she has triumphed in her previous three bouts, securing consecutive victories against the former champion Zhang Weili.
Despite never successfully defending her title and experiencing a fluctuating career for several years, Esparza has managed to turn things around and is currently on a five-fight winning streak, positioning herself for another shot at the title. Her most recent fight took place almost a year ago on May 22, 2021, resulting in a second-round TKO victory over Yan Xiaonan.
The upcoming fight between Esparza and Namajunas is not likely to hold many surprises. Esparza, being a dominant grappler, lacks the striking abilities that Namajunas possesses. Esparza’s strategy will revolve around taking the fight to the ground, replicating her approach in their initial encounter. On the other hand, Namajunas will rely on her agility and footwork to systematically dismantle Esparza from a safe distance.
In this rematch, Namajunas is considered the clear favorite according to the oddsmakers. DraftKings has her listed with -225 odds to win, while Esparza’s odds are at +185.
DraftKings has set the over/under for rounds at 4.5 when determining the fight distance. Interestingly, the over option is favored with odds of -185. This indicates 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 has already prompted BetMGM Michigan to introduce two pre-set parlay offers.
The first wager includes Oliveira, Chandler, St. Preux, and Cerrone all emerging victorious in their individual matches. The moneyline for this combination stands at +350. Each of the four fighters is considered the favored bet for their respective fights.
There is a second parlay opportunity for Namajunas, Tracy Cortez, and Fernie Garcia to triumph on Saturday. The odds stand at +300, and it’s worth noting that all three fighters are expected to win in their respective matches.
