Get the betting insights ahead of UFC 303 from Jon Anik, Henry Cejudo and Nick Kalikas brought to you by DraftKings Sportsbook …
well you know the UFC has done what it does to bolster this year UFC 303 welcome in another UFC 33 betting preview presented by DraftKings we got the future Hall of Famer Henry cejudo MMA sharp Nick kikas is with us I’m excited to talk to you boys we already got boots on the ground in Las Vegas quick turn from Saudi Arabia I always enjoy this exercise with you folks and uh Henry you know we were talking a little bit before Nick arrived in terms of just the magnitude of these UFC pay-per-views and you’ve been there and done that and won title fights as far as I’m concerned we have the NFL Super Bowl and then these 13 or 14 UFC pay-per-views like there’s truly nothing like these Pay-Per-View fight weeks for me and I know for fight fans around the world and we got a big one upon us here International fight week 2024 yeah and that’s how you what joh I mean the UFC 303 this is what the UFC tends to do it tends to be like oh they’re probably going to cancel the Pay-Per-View event if anything the Pay-Per-View event gets a little hotter and I love the fact that they they threw in p Pan versus Yuri prahka you know we got to go back and think about this fight and how is it that it actually happened and how is it that pan was able to knock him out and get rid of him but at the same time you have to go back and think of that first round what if Yuri doesn’t make that mistake of holding outside leag a little too much I mean could he have gone through use the Rhythm the patterns of the Distance game to really switch it up on a guy like Yuri uh to switch it up on a guy like Alex P so I’m interested I’m more excited to see this this part two than the initial fight John yeah no and I think fan sentiment would align with that and it’s happening I think more expeditiously than a lot of people would have thought they met for the first time last November uh Nick obviously you’re embedded in this UFC world and you probably weren’t surprised to see them pivot quickly and maybe make this card even deeper than it was Prior even without the presence of one Conor McGregor yeah you know I mean sometimes of course all of us want to see Connor we want to see if he still has it there’s a lot of question marks surrounding Conor McGregor and of course the Superstar him that he brings everything to the table so always awesome to see Conor there but he pulls out this exactly what Henry said this event got better I mean pett versus Yuri the rematch the first fight was so competitive so close questionable stoppage as well so I really believe especially what we’ve seen from Yuri at his last fight dud that guy was a monster I mean he couldn’t be stopped his will to win was unmatched I think and that’s what he’s going to bring to the table here he’s a former Champion he’s hungry this is an awesome fight and the card did get deeper because when you take out Conor McGregor you have to kind of make up for it a little bit right so they did slot in some great fights Diego Lopez versus Ortega holy smokes man that’s going to be a scrap as well yeah we’re going to get into that in short order DraftKings betting preview for UFC 303 brought to you by draftking Sportsbook draftking Sportsbook the official sports betting partner of UFC and right now new customers can get $150 in bonus bets instantly with a $5 minimum deposit download the app use code UFC and claim your1 15 in bonus bets now all right here we go we’re going to pick your brains on this main event for UFC 303 Alex poda minus 162 the betting favorite at present Yuri praska plus 136 seems like the overwhelming majority of the money is coming in on the Brazilian Alex poda 87% of the money in play 83% of the Wagers uh initial thoughts Henry before I get to Nick on Alex poda being the modest 162 or so bet favorite as we sit here during fight week yeah and that’s exactly what it is like I tell you what these fight FS are getting a lot more educated because that’s kind of how I see it even though I do see Alex Pera being a favorite in this fight it’s not by it’s not by a lot in particular obviously getting knocked out and I think Nick and I think Nick hit the n on the head look at Yuri’s last fight I mean talk about a guy that has a willpower a DEA that he’s able he has the and that typically don’t want to compliment people but he has the ability to take pain and then come back and stop people I mean he gets hit left and right I mean do you want to call him chinny I wouldn’t go to that extent I think if anything there’s a certain Willow to him but I am I am not surprised but I’m surprised that the fight fans and the people that who are you know who are placing their BS are seeing it that way so you have to keep in mind though too that Yuri prahka really wants a piece of this guy and at the same time guys Alex Perez got a cut at 20 lbs Alex Perell is the last minute replacement is he going to be ready for a guy that I know pretty much well when Yuri prashka the dude trains year around whether he has a fight or not he’s a real modern day gladiator fight is happening at an interesting time Nick for Alex poda because Alex poda is that guy hardest worker in the gym in the gym all the time but he was seemingly in Australia at the time and maybe there’s a broken toe or two both guys Gamers though right I mean the Lion Share of the credit for stepping up here has gone to Alex poda Yuri prohaska deserves credit too even though he trains year round both competed at UFC 300 not all that long ago big wins and now they align again Nick in your expert opinion without sort of giving away your hand do you feel like the Yuri praska money is GNA show it seems like Henry feels like he’s got a good opportunity to even this series here this weekend yeah I do think it’s going to show and let’s not forget against Jamal hill barera was a favorite similar kind of pricing but then the money started coming in from sharp action on fight day on the Jamal hill side again I understand it didn’t work out that great look at it the sharp action did not uh end up winning because Hill got knocked out like he did but I’m kind of comparing the two and I think if there’s going to be sharp money on Hill there’s going to be sharp money on for HOSA coming in late as well but the early money will continue to be on the Paretta side I think that’s where all the public betters are going to go and of course you’re going to get some sharp action there look the guy looked amazing I mean to go out there and did do what he did to Jamal Hill and then actually the finish and the way he just kind of you know ended things there that’s fresh in people’s minds yes exactly so this guy is a monster this guy right now the hype around petta is on a different level so I think automatically people see his name and see that short price they’re going to kind of migrate to him at the betting window but it might not be right man look EXA I would actually think it would be higher than it is now according to the public but it’s actually a tight competitive line with all the hype and respect that Pera is getting so that tells you what the betters and odds makers overall think about this fight prohaska definitely has a shot to win this one Henry first meeting Yuri prohaska took round one on all three judges scorecards as you’ve done your Deep dive as you usual usually do on fights of this magnitude you know what are your thoughts on that first meeting and how it might play into this second meeting come this weekend yeah I I do I do believe that With Yuri right now the fact that he’s already been out there and he’s he got knocked out by Alex Pera it was one mistake that he had to do he stayed on that leg a little too much but I feel like the biggest thing that he does is very polymatic I’ve actually I’ve gone with him just kind of messing with With Yuri obviously he’s a lot bigger but it’s his rhythm it’s his rhythm that tends to throw people off he’s he’s uh he’s his irregular striking from from different angles and and alongside with obviously being aggressive so I feel like a lot of the adjustments that really need to take place it’s like I think he continues to fight the way he fights you just cannot hold position if you’re in a position and if you’re not finishing to not stay there and that goes for the clinch that goes for going for takeown because I tell you what guys Yuri is going to go in there he is going to chase the takedown but you cannot stay in those positions no longer than three to five seconds yeah uh Nick you know we love to put you on the spot so I’m not going to do it now but right now uh any action to this point in time and uh what do you think will be your ticket load this weekend when it comes to the main event at UFC 303 for me it’s only one bet to make I got to take the Brasa side of things I mean I’m getting plus money in a competitive fight both these guys are world champions we know that so for me again the sharp money will come in on the prasa side I think you have to Chase the Plus money that’s the only way to bet this fight even though perrero has been amazing it’s hard to lay chalk against two quality Fighters like this so I think it’s a doger pat situation I would wait and see where the line goes cuz I’m telling you there’s probably going to be a little bit of a climb here because the public action will favor perea I know it for a fact so I would wait maybe put a little bit down now see where the line goes and then put the rest down later Sage advice and I absolutely love the conviction especially on the underdog side in the main event we will have more on PO V proska 2 later when we get to Triple C’s three keys potentially to Victory on either side all right co-main event and and man does this not speak to just the UFC’s ability to get Elite athletes to step up and really the fighters deserve the credit but Diego Lopez minus 142 taking on the former World title Challenger Brian Ortega plus 120 fascinating fight Henry I get excited just talking about a t City you know hasn’t been all that active over the last half decade or so right so to get him twice in a year is very exciting Diego Lopez All the Rage with three first round finishes to Al into featherweight title contention not a lot of Preamble leading up to this fight uh you can give us a prediction or not Henry but I’ll start with you your thoughts on what could just be an epic comain event for as long as it lasts no first of all I feel like the UFC really you know they really you know when beyond what El think they’re actually going to do because one it’s a Rocky ball ball story yeah you know Diego Lopez does have a lot of fights but fairly new to the UFC and he F the number three contender in the world and you know and and and Brian Ortega I mean could this kid be in line with the victory over somebody like Brian Ortega could could he be in line the next title shot I mean this kid when you’re beloved by the by the fans and by the UFC and by the people I mean he could potentially be a one fight away from fighting for the title but that being said he’s going up against Brian Ortega somebody that has fought Max holway somebody that has fought you know Alexander volkanovski somebody somebody that has beaten the top contender in y Rodriguez and not just that but obviously his jiujitsu I mean talk about when there’s talk about when you have high level Jitsu versus high Lev jiujitsu it’s really to come down to defeat and it’s it’s going to come down to top control and wrestling but I’m looking at this fight overall and I just feel like right now I I love Diego Lopez but could he get past also the experience and the woodiness of a guy like Brian or TGA but that being said I’m going to have to give the edge to T City Brian Ortega I just feel like his composure the fact that he’s been on you know he’s been on he just beat a high level guy like Gary Rodriguez it seems like he’s it seems like he’s reamped his Spirit to fighting yeah no that’s a good way to put it and by the way we don’t have fence sitters here on the betting preview show right these guys make predictions so Nick as it stands right now just 22% of the betting handles on Brian Ortega on draftking sports book Diego Lopez propagating 72% of the moneyline bets and 78% of the money he’s been an oncoming Force there’s no doubt about it D to know your take on this co-main event brother love what cejudo said I agree completely manad 100% look should Lopez be favored over Orga in this spot no he shouldn’t be favored in this spot look I love Lopez the guy is a stud we see if these finishes that he’s getting is not a fluke the guy continues to get better he’s training at a good camp he’s got everything going for him man the looks the startom everything he’s getting a push right now but it might be too much too soon look at the action look at the handle that you’re talking about right now at DraftKings that’s ridiculous Ortega has been in there with the best of the best of you guys as you guys have said he’s got world class Jiu-Jitsu to the point where he can practically finish anybody anytime with the Jiu-Jitsu game it’s and Lopez has Jiu-Jitsu in his own right so that’s going to be an interesting battle but again you’re telling me with ‘s experience what he’s been through there the confidence right now coming into this fight for him he’s to have a little chip on his shoulder too thinking Lopez is favorite over me okay I’ll see how this one works out again I’m expecting all lot War I just don’t think the Lopez is quite ready for this jump at least to be a favorite in this spot so for me again I agree with cejudo I think it’s Ortega’s fight to win or lose I think if there is top control here it’s probably Ortega I think he does have better wrestling now again not easy to keep a guy like Lopez down with all the scrambling ability all that stuff but yeah you can check off a lot of boxes for a t in this fight you can argue that he should be favored nicely done there I could spend all day on this fight Henry we do have to get to the main card opener in a minute but I just want to say if I could quickly in terms of maybe these four athletes at the top of the card not having what amounts to a total training camp I don’t know how you factor that into the fight or a handicap if you’re a better but we know that none of these guys had a training camp a lot of these guys are the type that live in the gym but for you right taking a high stakes huge fight like this without a full training camp I mean how does that factor in yeah first of all I will never do that John I’m too uh I I love to prepare I believe that you know your preparation is everything so I’ve never really necessarily been in that situations but when you get guys that are last minute Replacements or there’s a big fight coming up I mean typically the reason why sometimes a lot of these late replacement tense tend they tend to win it’s because they take more risk because they know that hey it’s all or nothing this is do or die so we’re looking at two potential men that that may go in there and you know we may see a quick fight you know we we we see a quick fight on Alex’s side or with the guy and not seeing that Alex Pera doesn’t uh uh you know doesn’t train but he does he does a lot of appearances he works with the UFC I mean I I constantly see him at UFC events with a guy like pratka I know Yuri and I know Yuri will eat sleep train like he he literally trains in to sleep so I think more more importantly we’re going to be seeing a guy like Alex per go out and actually take more risk and it seems like Brian Ortega was maybe talking to the UFC about a date in September noce UFC UFC 306 a move up to 155 lbs so uh we’ll see what happens but uh just absolute dogs all four of them a top this card all right Nick kikas I’m going to start with you on the main card opener Ian masado Gary minus 130 Michael Venom Page Plus 110 huge fight at welterweight the price is held steady what do you have for us on this one dude I I almost can’t believe that this fight got matched incredible I mean talk about a Striker’s dream I mean you have two of the best strikers in the world matched up here again for Machado Gary to take this fight is kind of a question mark because a lot of people might not know Venom paig and how good he is and what he brings to the table here but this guy is legit so ultimate test for both sides of it but you know what this is a spot where I think you’re buying short here you got the younger the fighter and Ian Machado Gary the guy looks the part I think he’s a more well-rounded fighter here so if you’re only laying 130 this is a spot where you take the favorite here it’s a favor or pass situation not a doger pass situation because again on the feed it’s going to be very interesting for sure both these guys are capable of Opp pointing each other both these guys are capable of doing damage back and forth but it’s the rest of the game that Machado Gary brings to the table that I think will make an impact in this fight so for me you lay the chalk here it’s Machado Garry’s for me personally Henry Ian Mado Gary undefeated overall 7-0 in the UFC strength of schedule I think he has the advantage oh boy dropping some dust on us what do you got God Nick you’re too good and you know what this is the thing I will say this Michael Venom paage is coming with a whole new style with the whole new theat how likes to call people in but you’re going up against a guy that likes to kick you’re going up against a guy that will literally that’s that’s little younger than you and that’s producing power off of his leg kicks and not just St with Ian Gary is Ian Gary knows that he’s actually got so much better since the first time I saw him fight at MSG from him getting hit a lot to him creating more angles I just feel like he’s he has a proper training partners and particularly going out to shoot box and out in Sal Paulo and I’m sure there’s a lot of mimicking going on but the keys for a guy like Ian Gary is going to be kicking that lead Lan you know we saw we saw we saw Michael Venom page in the past the way he’s lost to to you know to Lio back in the day was from from getting leg kick and eventually bringing things in and I you I do feel like the youth side of Ian gar going to be very problematic so I’m favoring Ian Gary all right Michael Venom P I thought he was gonna go with Venom pige yeah it’s gonna be interesting even even though John I love I love doing this John I’m like uh that’s good good we go a little cball for a second you know it’s scary it’s scary looking it’s what you gonna do hey there’s a reason in our three wide triple box here that you’re in the middle Henry okay there’s a reason you’re in the middle all right UFC 303 betting preview presented by DraftKings John anic alongside Nic kikas and the future UFC Hall of Famer Henry cejudo so I would like to Circle back to the main event if I could and get Triple C’s three keys to Victory or otherwise Henry and then Nick I’m going to stall here for you a minute because I’m going to see on the back end Nick if you have anything resembling a best bet for us so just want you to be able to marinate on that for a little bit without further delay Henry cejudo UFC 303 Championship rematch for the light heavyweight title your three keys the three keys to Yuri prashka is going to be his movement his movement his distance recognition like him being problematic Yuri be being Yuri number two is going to have to be him really closing the distance you’re going to have to stay away from that from that from that hook and you have you’re going to have to stay away from that leg kid so I just feel like if Yuri is able to hit him with the movements be take away the space and eventually bring in and use the takedowns Yuri pahas has great timing on the takedowns but he cannot stay in these positions no longer than maybe 3 seconds 3 four seconds whether it’s the clinch or trying to take this guy down because Alex per there’s one thing that he does produce and it’s called crazy fris nanu power but I’m talking about Alex pero right now Alex perero he needs to be himself he needs to be himself he needs to be sha he needs to he needs to he needs to what he needs to really cut Yuri off CU Yuri’s Yuri’s bringing the movement how can I do a really good job of cutting Yuri off and eventually finding those kicks and finding eventually that that beautiful La hook of his so number one is going to be uh covering distance really cutting him off four for Alex Pereira and then two could I defend him off to take take downs and then three if I can defend them off to takedowns then you know what I’m going to have to be conditioned how good is his condition how good is he for five rounds John adic I guess we’ll find out the questions give way to answers as we close out international flight week 2024 with UFC 303 all right Nick kikus somebody gives you $1,000 they allow you to place one straight wager for UFC 303 where you putting your coin man that’s not ever easy for one bet but you know what we’ll go outside the box do whatever you want I mean you’re the resident expert in the in the building you do whatever you goddamn well please we’ll go outside the box a little bit let’s go to the prelips with Waton versus Robertson that fight I mean that it’s going to be an interesting scrap Jillian Robertson right now is the favorite she’s around a buck 70 or so I think the Michelle Waton Gomez side of things she’s the better Striker her grappling can hang even though Jillian Roberson has outstanding grappling she gets the fight to the ground more times than not she wins the fight well here it’s an interesting problem because Wat is not a fish out of water on the ground she’s getting physically stronger she’s the more experienced fighter here so I think if you’re getting around plus 140ish which that’s a price right now at DraftKings you got to take a stab at the underdog so go with Michelle Waterson Gomez the karate hottie gets it done I think this weekend at the plus money price all right Nick we appreciate you hitting the curveball there and uh Henry cejudo I’m going off script here but because we have you in 30 seconds when are we going to see you back in the Octagon as they’re a desired opponent you know you can call a lot of shots with a resume like you have of course of course man everybody now now that I’m now that I’m 0 and2 John everybody wants a piece of the triple everybody feels like you know what he’s on his way out but that being said I would love to fight Peter Jon I think I think there’s two there’s two former B uh banoy champions of the world at one point we were supposed to meet prior to me retiring prior to me getting sick of the sport but I just feel like the best fight for me right now that the UFC fans would really want is name Peter the ugly potato yarn I want a piece of you sucker makes a lot of sense a lot of sense that is like joh you like it John I hope I get the assignment that’s all I can say and it sounds like a fight of that magnitude Joe Rogan would be there so uh that’s a good sign for me all right thank you all for indulging Us in being here for these betting previews especially for one as explosive and just High magnitude is UFC 303 don’t forget to check out the DK Sportsbook social tab on the way out you can create groups with friends see who is having the best night at UFC 303 in real time maybe talk a little Trash along the way if you are so inclined thank you to our producer Cody merrow thanks to Jeff gayes and everybody at DraftKings Amanda on the UFC side for Triple C Henry cejudo and all the cuteness there and Nick kikas John anx signing off from Las Vegas we thank you all for watching we’ll see you in advance of the next pay-per-view enjoy UFC 303 this week [Music] [Applause] [Music] a [Music]