We are spoiled once again with a card full of awesome matchups in the UFC this weekend at the UFC APEX. The main event bout is a featherweight contender matchup between Sodiq Yusuff and Edson Barboza.
Will the veteran be able to continue his one last push to a UFC title? Or will the newcomer contender step up and prove that he is main event worthy?
Let’s take a closer look at this matchup and break down how this fight might play out. We will come up with the best bet to make for this fight on this weekend’s betting slate.
Sodiq Yusuff – Survey Says…
Yusuff is the one coming into this weekend with a lot of questions. He hasn’t fought in over a year and has been a top-15 contender since. This is his first big test as a legit contender, even though he dropped a fight to Arnold Allen in 2021.
Will he be able to step up in the bright lights as the main event? All the questions make this weekend very important for him and his future as a contender. Barboza is the perfect matchup because he is experienced and elite, but he’s past his prime.
Yusuff is a tough, durable fighter who likes to come forward and use his dynamic athleticism to close the distance fast and land heavy shots. His boxing skills are very solid and sharp; using a stiff jab to fight behind with a big right hand following it. His wrestling is also continuing to get better.
Edson Barboza – Must Win for a Title Run
Barboza is one of the most fun fighters to watch in UFC history. He’s made a career off of devastating kicks and incredible highlight reel finishes over some of the toughest competition. This weekend is a massive test for the veteran.
A win this weekend will propel him and validate his ability to fight against the best. At age 37, this is his last push for a title shot now at featherweight. He is a massive featherweight at 5’11” with a long wingspan as well.
The game plan for Barboza will have to be to use his kicks to control the distance between him and Yusuff. Yusuff becomes a lot less dangerous standing 4 feet away from Barboza and not being able to move out of the way with beat up legs.
Yusuff vs. Barboza Pick and Prediction
The official pick and prediction for this main event bout is Barboza to secure a massive underdog victory. His distance control and fast leg kicks will be too much for Yusuff to handle after being out of the cage for so long.
Unless Yusuff comes in with a totally new wrinkle in his game, Barboza matches up very well with him. Taking Barboza at underdog odds is an awesome bet to make this weekend on this card.
100% up to $3,000 Bonus
Bovada is our most recommended ONLINE CASINO and POKER ROOM for US players with excellent deposit options. Get your 100% signup bonus today.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.