Veteran middleweight contender Jared Cannonier guarantees one other thrilling efficiency Saturday when he meets rising prospect Nassourdine Imavov in the primary occasion of UFC Combat Evening: Cannonier vs. Imavov. Their five-round showdown, which carries title-shot implications, will anchor the primary UFC struggle card (8 p.m. ET) from the KFC Yum! Middle in Louisville. Cannonier, who’s a former title challenger, has obtained criticism previously for a low work charge within the cage. However he turned the tables on that narrative in his final struggle towards fellow contender Marvon Vettori as he landed 241 vital strikes to set the middleweight report in a five-round struggle. Cannonier can acquire leverage towards one other title shot by beating the No. 7-ranked Imavov, who’s looking for his first profession victory towards a top-five opponent.
Imavov is a -125 favourite (threat $125 to win 100), whereas Cannonier is priced at +105 within the newest UFC Combat Evening: Cannonier vs. Imavov odds. Within the co-main occasion, veteran mild heavyweight sluggers sq. off when Dustin Jacoby (-220) takes on Dominick Reyes (+180). Earlier than locking in any UFC Combat Evening: Cannonier vs. Imavov picks, ensure you see the MMA predictions and betting recommendation from SportsLine professional Daniel Vithlani.
From breaking down movie and following fighters and their camps carefully, to monitoring sharp motion and betting market indicators, Vithlani covers the breadth of the MMA betting panorama high to backside. He additionally trains newbie boxers and speaks commonly with MMA fighters to know the game’s nuances.
Vithlani made his SportsLine debut in January 2023 and swept the primary card for UFC 283 with a 5-0 report and has been a constant winner ever since. Over the previous 12 UFC pay-per-view occasions, Vithlani has gone 8-4 on main-event picks and his main-card choices in that span have netted his followers a revenue of greater than $1,500.
His highlights embrace predicting an upset for Sean O’Malley (+210) towards Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292 as a part of a 4-1 essential card and his UFC 299 winners included underdog choices on Poirier (+190) towards Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Web page (+110) towards Kevin Holland (-130). Anybody who has adopted him has seen huge returns.
Now, with UFC Combat Evening: Cannonier vs. Imavov on deck, Vithlani has studied the cardboard from high to backside and launched his high choices. You may solely see his picks and evaluation at SportsLine.
UFC Combat Evening: Cannonier vs. Imavov preview
Cannonier (17-6) is a late bloomer by MMA requirements. He did not make his skilled debut till age 27 and likewise made quite a few profession changes earlier than rising as a title challenger at middleweight. Cannonier began his UFC profession at heavyweight earlier than he moved right down to mild heavyweight. He went 2-3 at mild heavyweight and appeared to have a ceiling of a journeyman at greatest earlier than selecting to maneuver down yet one more division to middleweight.
The Dallas native’s dedication to disciplined coaching and vitamin paid off. Now 40, he’s 7-2 at middleweight, along with his solely losses coming to former champions Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. He additionally has a split-decision win over Sean Strickland, who went on to win the title after their struggle.
Sadly for Cannonier, his listless efficiency towards Adesanya for the title at UFC 276 in July 2022 hampered his possibilities for instantly rejoining the title image. Nonetheless, a dominant efficiency Saturday would put him on the quick listing of viable title contenders behind Adesanya, Whittaker and Strickland.
Imavov (13-4-1) is a slick athlete with a sophisticated skillset who gained 4 of his first 5 appearances. The UFC brass appeared excessive on him as a prospect and booked him in a Combat Evening essential occasion towards Strickland in January final 12 months. Strickland dominated the struggle from wire to wire to win a unanimous determination earlier than beating Adesanya for the belt final September.
Nonetheless, following a no-contest towards veteran Chris Curtis, Imavov obtained again on observe with a majority-decision win towards fellow prospect Roman Dolidze in February. You may solely see who to again at UFC Combat Evening right here.
UFC Combat Evening predictions
We’ll share considered one of Vithlani’s UFC Combat Evening choices right here: He’s supporting Raul Rosas Jr. to get previous Ricky Turcios (+190) in a matchup of bantamweight prospects on the primary card.
Rosas (8-1) memorably made his debut in December 2022 because the youngest fighter in UFC historical past at age 18 and a pair of months. He defeated low-level journeyman Jay Perrin that evening however was dominated in his subsequent matchup by fellow prospect Christian Rodriguez. What’s extra, Rosas, who’s now 19, noticed his once-soaring inventory take successful in February when he withdrew from a struggle in Mexico towards Turcios about 5 minutes earlier than the combatants had been scheduled to enter the cage.
Turcios (12-3) is a flexible prospect who has gone 2-1 in three UFC appearances following a powerful run within the Fury FC promotion. The 31-year-old Texan is coming off a choice win towards fading journeyman Kevin Natividad in his final look.
“Turcios can scramble on the bottom, but when he’s glad attempting to struggle off his again, he’s going to remain there. Rosas will out-grapple him to a win,” Vithlani advised SportsLine. See who else to again right here.
make UFC Combat Evening picks
Vithlani has robust picks for Cannonier vs. Imavov and different bouts on the UFC Combat Evening card. He is additionally backing a fighter who “is a extremely technical kickboxer” to emerge with a dominant victory. His picks and evaluation are solely out there at SportsLine.
Who wins UFC Combat Evening: Cannonier vs. Imavov, and the way precisely does every struggle finish? Go to SportsLine now to get detailed picks on UFC Combat Evening, all from the MMA professional who profited greater than $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks in 2023, and discover out.
UFC Combat Evening odds, struggle card
See full UFC Combat Evening picks, predictions, and greatest bets right here.
Jared Cannonier (+105) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (-125)
Dominick Reyes (+180) vs. Dustin Jacoby (-220)
Raul Rosas (-230) vs. Ricky Turcios (+190)
Bruno Ferreira (-270) vs. Dustin Stolzfus (+220)
Julian Marquez (-130) vs. Zach Reese (+110)
Punahale Soriano (+160) vs. Miguel Baeza (-190)
Thiago Moises (+105) vs. Ludovit Klein (-125)
Carlos Prates (-230) vs. Charles Radtke (+190)
Brad Katona (-600) vs. Jesse Butler (+400)
Daniel Marcos (-115) vs. John Castaneda (-105)
Eduarda Moura (-160) vs. Denise Gomes (+130)
Cody Stamann (+220) vs. Taylor Lapilus (-270)