Early Look at UFC Next Fight: UFC 302 Makhachev vs. Poirier Odds and Free Picks

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UFC next Fight returns on Saturday, we could end up watching one of the UFC’s most popular fighters in his final meaningful bout.

Dustin Poirier gives it a shot versus one of the world’s top mixed martial artists, Islam Makhachev, in the main event at UFC 302. Makhachev is a huge favorite to beat Poirier.

Before Poirier and Makhachev step into the Octagon, Sean Strickland takes on Paulo Costa in an intriguing co-main event. Before you place your bets, though, let’s dive into a deep analysis of this intriguing lightweight showdown.

Now that we’ve sized up both fighters’ strengths and weaknesses, it’s time to translate that analysis into UFC 302 free picks for Makhachev and Poirier plus undercard bouts happen, including Paul Costa versus Sean Strickland.

UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier: Get the Lines for the All Bouts | MyBookie MMA Betting Preview for Main Fight Card

UFC 302 Makhachev vs Poirier
Headliner: UFC Lightweight Championship bout between current champion Islam Makhachev and former interim champion Dustin Poirier

June 1st, 2024 at 4:00 pm ET | ESPN+ / PPV
Prudential Center | in Newark, New Jersey, United States

UFC 302 Makhachev vs Poirier Main Card

Randy Brown vs Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

Underdog Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos is in decent form. Zaleski dos Santos has won 3 of his last 5 with a draw versus Rinat Fakhretdinov in his last and a split decision loss to Muslim Salikhov in 2020.

Favored Randy Brown beat Salikhov in his last. Overall, Brown has won 4-of-5. Randy boasts a 4 inches height advantage over Zaleski dos Santos, which is one of the reasons to like him in this bout.

The odds haven’t changed much since an opening line of Randy Brown -170 and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at +140. The odds won’t change much when these two square off on Saturday night.

But although the odds suggest dos Santos hangs with Brown, it’s difficult to see the dog getting it done. Brown has a huge 5 inches reach advantage. Randy is also 4 inches taller and 4 years younger. The favorite prevails.

The favorite prevails.

Jailton Almeida vs Alexandr Romanov

Alexandr Romanov bounced back in his last after 2 straight losses to Marcin Tybura and Alexander Volkov by beating Blagoy Ivanov via unanimous decision.

Romanov is 6-1 via TKO/KO and 9-0 via submissions. His overall record is an impressive 17-2.

The -245 favorite is 20-3. Almeida had won 15 straight before his last, a second round knockout loss to Curtis Blaydes.

No doubt, Almeida gets back on the winning track in this.

Kevin Holland vs Michael Oleksiejczuk

Since handicapping this bout in the early UFC 302 blog, the odds Kevin Holland have taken a significant hit. Holland has moved from a -250 chalk to -310.

Although Oleksiejczuk is a decent mixed martial artist, he’s not attracting any action. Michael Oleksiejczuk goes into this with a couple disadvantages. Oleksiejczuk has also gone 1-2 straight up in his last 3.

The reason could be because Holland is 3 inches taller and has a massive 7 inches reach advantage. Look for a prop on the favorite to end the underdog’s night early.

Holland is on a 2-match losing streak. The favorite in this lost the first match via split decision versus Jack Della Maddalena. Then in his last match, Holland lost via unanimous decision to Michael Page.

Although Holland isn’t fighting well, he’s lost both via decision while Oleksiejczuk’s losses came via submission.

Give the favorite the nod.

Sean Strickland vs Paulo Costa

In our earlier blog, we backed Costa to get it done. Since then, money has flown to Strickland, which is a -275 favorite as opposed to being -220. Costa is a decent play if you want to take shot.

14-3 Paulo Costa has lost 3 of his last 4. In Costa’s last, Robert Whittaker beat the underdog in this via unanimous decision.

The loss to Whitaker was Costa’s first fight since a loss to Luke Rockhold in 2022.

However, the money suggests that Strickland gets it done. It’s hard to argue against Sean’s backers considering he lost a split decision to Dricus Du Plessis in a championship bout in his last. Back the favorite to cash.

Before losing to Du Plessis, Strickland had won the title from Israel Adesanya.

The chalk should win this. However, Costa will be much better than he was versus Whittaker.

Give the dog a chance to bite.

Niko Price vs Alex Morono

Up until a few days ago, Jailton Almeida versus Alexandr Romanov was on the main card.

UFC decided to relegate Almeida versus Romanov to the prelims after seeing all the money that landed on Almeida.

Price against Morono should be a more even bout than Almeida versus Romanov.

Niko has lost 3-of-4 but every loss, including the last against Rob Lawler, was versus top competition.

Morono has won 3-of-5. Alex is 7-0 via submission victories. Price has lost 2 of his last 3 via knockout.

Don’t be surprised that when Morono gets this the mat, he either grounds and pounds or forces Niko tap out.

Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier

In less than a week, Makhachev has gone from -550 to -650. The reason for the enthusiasm is because this is a massive, humongous step in class for Poirier.

The +425 underdog faces a fighter that is 25-1, 5-1 via TKO/KO, and a ridiculous 11-0 via submissions.

In his last bout, Dustin Poirier handed Benoit Saint Denis his second loss. Poirier looked great when knocking out Saint Denis in the second round.

Dustin is taking a massive step up in class on June 1. Islam Makhachev, the champion, is 25-1. Makhachev’s lone loss came in 2015.

Poirier remains a dangerous fighter, but he doesn’t have much shot against one of the top mixed martial artists in the world.

Makhachev is all business. His wrestling and sambo combo style makes him almost impossible to beat. Islam rolls to an easy win.

Islam wins this for sure. Expect a submission or knockout victory.

Spotted in Newark 👀#UFC302 | @MAKHACHEVMMA pic.twitter.com/OyFLoM2d83

— UFC (@ufc) May 22, 2024

UFC 302 Fight card

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