Now we have some sports.
Another PGA tournament is underway. The Belmont Stakes, the first major horse race of the season, is running on Saturday. And UFC betting is back. The UFC is staging another big event Saturday night with a 12-fight card featuring Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov in the main event.
The UFC has been perhaps the sporting world’s top performer during the pandemic, with six fight cards in just over a month heading into Saturday’s action. And the sports betting response has been strong as well. Last month’s UFC 249 drew more betting handle than any single NFL regular season game.
And according to a news release by Rush Street Interactive, last weekend’s UFC Fight Night: Eye vs. Calvillo generated nearly 1.5 times the total handle of an average UFC pay-per-view with a championship fight.
Saturday night’s card is likely to draw similar action. We’ll get you ready for all of it by covering all the corresponding odds at the best Pennsylvania betting apps.
Blaydes is a heavy betting favorite in the main event
Like most of the recent events, UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov will be held at the UFC’s Apex Facility in Las Vegas. The preliminary fights start at 5 p.m. on ESPN+, with the main card moving to ESPN Pay-Per -View at 8 p.m.
In the heavyweight main event, Curtis Blaydes is a heavy favorite (-400) at BetRivers/PlaySugarHouse and DraftKings Sportsbook. As noted in a preview on CBS Sportsline, Blaydes was a champion collegiate wrestler but has finished 10 of his 13 fights by KO or TKO.
The challenger, Volkov (31-7), is a seasoned fighter who is currently the UFC’s 7th-ranked heavyweight. BetRivers/PlaySugarHouse have him as +300.
Burgos favored in featherweight co-main event
In the co-main event, a pair of accomplished featherweights will meet when Shane Burgos (13-1) faces Josh Emmett (15-2) in the octagon. DraftKings Sportsbook has Burgos at -137, while Emmett is +110.
FanDuel Sportsbook has Burgos at -136 and Emmett at +116. FOX Bet, which has boosted some odds on all 12 bouts, has Burgos at -143 and Emmett at +105. As with most MMA events, bettors are wise to shop around to secure the best pricing.
The rest of the fights and their moneyline odds at BetRivers/PlaySugarHouse are as follows:
- Raquel Pennington (-152) vs. Marion Reneau (+120)
- Belal Muhammad (-125) vs. Lyman Good (+100)
- Jim Miller (+185) vs. Roosevelt Roberts (-240)
- Bobby Green (-240) vs. Clay Guida (+185)
- Tecia Torres (+165) vs. Brianna Van Buren (-210)
- Marc-Andre Barriault (+103) vs. Oskar Piechota (-129)
- Cortney Casey (-106) vs. Gillian Robertson (-118)
- Frank Camacho (-106) vs. Matt Frevola (-118)
- Roxanne Modafferi (-124) vs. Lauren Murphy (+100)
- Austin Hubbard (+150) vs. Max Rohskopf (-195)
More UFC betting and DFS action to get in on
Most sportsbooks also have many available bets beyond the moneyline, with wagers available on total rounds, method of victory and whether or not the fight will go the distance.
Daily fantasy sports players can also find a number of contests on both FanDuel and DraftKings, where a $15 entry could earn a top prize of $150K.
Almost every week is bringing new sports to the landscape, but the UFC keeps chugging along, churning out fights to the delight of fans and sports bettors alike. Saturday night marks the next one.
And there will be plenty more in the weeks ahead, with four more events scheduled in the next month. It’s the UFC way, a philosophy that came into clear view during the craziness of the last few months.
No matter what, the fights will go on.
