UFC Brawl Preview: Whittaker vs De Ridder Forecasts
On July 26, 2023, the UFC Fight Night main event will see Robert Whittaker take on Reinier de Ridder at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Whittaker, a former middleweight champion with over 15 years of experience, is the favored fighter in this bout, with odds approximately -155 to -162[1][4][5]. This is largely due to his extensive experience and his reputation for adjusting well during fights[2].
However, de Ridder, with a record of 20-2, should not be underestimated. The Dutch middleweight MMA fighter has won all three of his fights in the UFC by finish[6]. His strong grappling skills could potentially lead to an upset or at least a competitive fight[4].
Despite Whittaker's favored status, some betting advice suggests that de Ridder, who is in better recent form, could be a valuable pick due to the decent payout[4]. This implies that de Ridder could pose a significant threat to Whittaker's title hopes.
In another notable bout on the same UFC event, Nikita Krylov (30-11) is scheduled to fight Bogdan Guskov (17-4) in the light heavyweight division. Guskov, who has climbed to No. 13 in the light heavyweight rankings with three straight victories, is favored by odds of 1.85[3]. Analysts predict a decision win for Asu Almabayev (21-4) in his flyweight division fight against Jose Ochoa (8-1)[1].
Meanwhile, Petr Yan, a bantamweight MMA fighter with a record of 18-5, is scheduled to fight Marcus McGhee in the co-main event of a different UFC card. Shara Magomedov (15-2) is also scheduled to fight Marc-Andre Barriault (17-10) in the middleweight division on the main card of the same UFC event. Barriault is coming off a first-round knockout win over Bruno Silva in Montreal.
Magomedov, who is looking to bounce back from his first professional loss to Michael Page, is expected to win by knockout[7]. This is due to his speed and crispness, which are expected to lead to a decisive finish[7].
These details combine to give a picture of a highly anticipated UFC Fight Night, with a mix of favored and underdog fighters, promising bouts, and potential upsets.
[1] Sportsbook A [2] Analyst A [3] Sportsbook B [4] Betting Advice A [5] Sportsbook C [6] UFC Record [7] Prediction A
It's worth noting that while Whittaker may be a favorite in his UFC Fight Night match against de Ridder, some betting advice suggests that de Ridder's recent form and strong grappling skills could make him a valuable pick for those interested in sports predictions. On a different note, in another highly anticipated bout, Nikita Krylov is scheduled to face Bogdan Guskov in the light heavyweight division, with Guskov being the favored fighter according to Sportsbook B.
