This week Opinion Octagon has a few locks for you, let alone picks. We're taking four fights for this week's fight night. As always, we are going over the DraftKings odds. The first fight we're taking is Said Nurmagomedov (-225) vs Jonathan Martinez (+190). Rule number one, always throw a Nurmagomedov in the parlay. I like Said via decision (+130). I wouldn't be shocked if Nurmagomedov was able to get the finish, but most of his fights go to a decision as have several of Jonathan Martinez's fights. Martinez is tough and may be tough to finish, but I don't see Said losing.
Nikita Krylov (-170) vs Ryan Spann (+145) is a really hard fight to predict the outcome. I couldn't two weeks ago either when they were originally scheduled to fight. That being said, I am taking the under. The over/under was set at 1.5 rounds and I said two weeks ago there was no way this fight is going the distance. Not only do I believe it's not making the distance, but it won't go 1.5 rounds either. Under 1.5 rounds (-175) feels like a lock. This is the first lock of the night. If you wanted to get crazy and pick how the fight ends the lines are KO/TKO/DQ (+100) and Submission (+120). Five of Ryan Spann's last five fights have been finished in the first round whether it was a knockout or submission. Krylov definitely likes his fights to last a little longer, but win or lose Ryan Spann likes to get in and out of the octagon.
For the co-main event, we have Alexander Volkov (+125) vs Alexandr Romanov (-145). This one is going to be a banger with don't-blink action. Both men lost in their last bout. Volkov's loss was a vicious TKO from Rozenstruik which at the end of the day was just another loss on his recent roller-coaster resume. For Romanov, the decision loss to Tybura was his first career loss and many will argue he won. Romanov usually finishes most of his fights when he wins. He has knockout power but is quite the submission specialist as well with two submission victories in the UFC. Volkov is 2-2 in his last four. I like Romanov via KO/TKO/DQ or submission (+130). I'm throwing a lock on this one, I believe Romanov is gonna wanna return with a strong finish coming off of his first loss.
Petr Yan (-260) vs Merab Dvalishvili (+220) is another tough fight to pick. Merab is on an eight-fight win streak whereas Yan is on a two-fight losing streak. Yet, Yan is a decently heavy favorite. It is really hard to see Yan lose a third fight in a row, but if he lets it go to the judges you really never know with him lately. The world is still divided on if both Sean O'Malley and Aljamain Sterling actually defeated Yan or if the judges made a mistake. The other thing is Merab wins most of his fights via decision. Seven of Merab's last eight wins are via decision. That doesn't play well for Yan. That said I have to take Yan via KO/TKO/DQ or submission (+215). I just don't see a world right now where Yan beats Merab in a decision. The only reason I'm not taking Merab via decision (+330) is that I can't see Yan falling into a three-fight losing streak. Merab is a tank, but Petr is the better striker. Their grappling abilities are probably even, so it should come down to who is the better striker and that's why I like Yan inside the distance.
If you parlay all of our picks you would have (+2518) parlay odds! Good luck this weekend, let's win together and if you take our picks remember to tweet us win or lose!
Ok so you’re picking Yan. I still think Merab.