UFC 298: Three Best Prop Bets

UFC 298: THREE BEST PROP BETS – The UFC is in Anaheim, California, for an anticipated title match between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria.

Paulo Costa returns to the octagon to face Robert Whittaker in an exciting matchup between two of the best middleweights alive. Former champion Henry Cejudo is also back in a matchup against Merab Dvalishvili, who could earn a title shot with a win.

The night should be action-packed, with several fantastic matchups.

Danny Barlow to Win by KO/TKO +130

The first prop I like is in the opening fight on the prelims. Danny Barlow will fight Josh Quinlan in a matchup between two young, heavy-handed prospects. Quinlan is 6-1 (1 NC) as a professional, while Barlow is 7-0 and earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. Both men have several amateur fights, so they have more experience than it seems.

Barlow is a southpaw with a 79-inch reach, which is long for a welterweight. He has a pistol of a left hand and speed that is uncommon for most welterweights.

Quinlan fights out of the orthodox stance and could have trouble going up against a southpaw. He will be at a seven-inch reach disadvantage, which may force him to try and take the fight to the mat. Quinlan has two submission victories in his career but has struggled to land takedowns in the UFC. He lands 12% of his attempts and absorbs 5.97 strikes per minute. Barlow is going to land early and often. It will only be a matter of time before he finds a home for his left hand.

Hey, while you’re at it, click here to check out our Godzilla Wins Daily Staff Picks!

Amanda Lemos to Win by Decision +350

My favorite side in any fight this weekend is Amanda Lemos. She faces Mackenzie Dern, who took this fight on short notice, the first time she has done so in her career. Dern resides in Huntington Beach, so this is a home game for her. The matchup could be a problem, however.

Lemos is a skilled striker and perhaps one of the most explosive fighters in the strawweight division. She was preparing for Tatiana Suarez, the second-ranked fighter in the division. She is also a tremendous grappler, and Lemos was undoubtedly preparing to defend takedowns.

That should help her in this matchup with Dern, a dominant submission artist. Dern lacks the wrestling needed to take fights to the mat, though. Lemos should be ready to fend off the takedown attempts of Dern, who only converts 14% of her takedown attempts.

Dern is getting better as a striker but still has a ways to go. She can be effective on her feet but gets sloppy at times. Lemos is not the opponent to get sloppy against, as she has serious knockout power.

Dern is coming off a knockout loss to Jessica Andrade in November, the first of her career. Lemos can knock her out, but Dern is as tough as they come. Dern can survive until the judges get involved but will lose a striking battle with the technical Lemos.

Alexander Volkanovsi to Win by KO/TKO +250

The highly-anticipated main event that fans have been waiting for is almost here. Ilia Topuria has been on the radar of many fans for a couple of years now and will get a chance at the strap.

He is 14-0 as a professional, with wins over Josh Emmett and Bryce Mitchell. Topuria is the third-ranked fighter in the division but got the shot at the title partly because of Volkanovski’s dominance. He has already beaten three of the top four guys, and the UFC brass wanted a fresh face for Volk, who failed when trying to gain the lightweight belt from Islam Makhachev.

Volkanovski has achieved more than many fighters throughout the history of the UFC but may have more motivation than ever. He was knocked out by Makhachev when he tried to step in for Charles Oliveira on short notice and become double champ. Volkanovski undoubtedly earned a pretty penny for taking the fight on short notice and inking a new contract before that fight.

Volkanovski will be the shorter man in the octagon but has a two-inch reach advantage over Topuria. Topuria is known as a dominant grappler but could struggle to land takedowns against Volkanovski.

Topuria could get taken down himself. Volkanovski is deceptively strong for his size, beginning his career at welterweight. He trains with decorated jiu-jitsu champion Craig Jones and will not get submitted by Topuria. He can dictate where the fight takes place, which is the key to beating Topuria, who is well-rounded.

Topuria has been knocked down in his UFC career, and Volkanovski is in play for a knockout, which is the prop I am targeting for the main event.