With the Nevada State Athletic Commission announcing on Wednesday that boxing and mixed martial arts can make its return to the state, the UFC will be back in action in Las Vegas on Saturday night – without fans – thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
No. 1-ranked welterweight Tyron Woodley will take on No. 6 contender Gilbert Burns in the headline bout while the co-headline bout features two heavyweights looking to get in the title mix in contenders Blagoy Ivanov and Augusto Sakai. Now, let’s take a look at every bout on the main card and their UFC odds.
UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs Burns
UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Burns will get underway on Saturday, May 30 at the brand new UFC Apex facility. The value-packed card will take place inside a 25-foot Octagon that is five feet smaller than the standard 30-foot cage. The loaded 11-bout UFC Fight Night card kicks off with prelims at 6:00 PM ET with the main card beginning at 9:00 PM ET.
Women’s Strawweight
MacKenzie Dern (7-1) vs. Hannah Cifers (10-4)
The 27-year-old Dern had her unbeaten record snapped the last time out by suffering a unanimous decision loss against Amanda Ribas in October. 27-year-old Hannah Cifers has dropped two of her last four fights, including a second round TKO (elbows and punches) at the hands of Angela Hill in January. To put it succinctly, I’ll be completely stunned of Dern doesn’t finish off the overmatched Cifers before the end of the second round.
UFC Odds
Pick: MacKenzie Dern
Lightweight
Roosevelt Roberts (9-1) vs. Brok Weaver (14-4)
The 26-year-old Roberts bounced back from his only career loss by getting past Alexander Yakovlev via unanimous decision in November. 28-year-old Brok Weaver has won four straight including a first round win on an illegal knee against Rodrigo Vargas in February. While Brok weaver has looked rock-solid lately, Roosevelt Roberts is the pick in this lightweight matchup.
UFC Odds
Pick: Roosevelt Roberts
Catchweight
Billy Quarantillo (13-2) vs. Spike Carlyle (9-1)
31-year-old Billy Quarantillo has won six straight fights including a second round submission win (triangle choke) over Jacob Kilburn in December. 27-year-old Spike Carlyle has won five straight bouts including a first round KO (elbows to ground and pound) win over Aalon Cruz in February. I’ll get right to my pick on this bout by saying that Billy Quarantillo is the pick to extend his five-fight winning streak.
UFC Odds
Pick: Billy Quarantillo
Heavyweight
Blagoy Ivanov (18-3) vs. Augusto Sakai (14-1-1)
The 33-year-old Ivanov has split his last four fights and comes into this bout off a narrow split decision loss against Derrick Lewis in November that snapped a two-fight winning streak. The 29-year-old Sakai has won five straight and comes into this affair off a stunning first round KO (punches) win over Marcin Tybura in September. I’m going with the slightly favored Sakai to get the win to extend his impressive winning streak.
UFC Odds
Pick: Augusto Sakai
Welterweight
Tyron Woodley (19-5-1) vs. Gilbert Burns (18-3)
The 38-year-old Woodley was on a fantastic 6-0-1 roll before getting stopped by Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision in their UFC welterweight championship showdown on March 2. Woodley knocked out Robbie Lawler in the first round of their welterweight championship bout in July of 2016 and made four successful title defenses before falling to Usman in an absolute thriller. The 33-year-old Burns comes into this bout riding the wave of a five-fight winning streak that includes a stunning first round TKO (punches) win over veteran Demian Maia on March 14.
Prediction
Gilbert Burns might be on a red-hot roll coming into this bout, but Tyron Woodley is the more athletic and experienced fighter in this matchup, not to mention he’s going to almost certainly get another shot at Kamaru Usman for the title if he wins this bout. Woodley gets it done via a third round KO.
UFC Odds
Pick: Tyron Woodley
