The Ultimate Fighting Championship is back in action for the fourth straight week. The UFC returns to the UFC Apex for the second consecutive event on Saturday. A light heavyweight bout between Nikita Krylov and former LFA lightweight heavyweight champion Ryan Spann headlines the 13-card event.
The following is the best best for the entire card. The preliminaries start at 4 p.m. (ET), and the main card begins at 7 p.m. Odds are courtesy of DraftKings.
Nikita Krylov vs. Ryan Spann
I expect this light heavyweight tangle to be spectacular and highly entertaining. Both fighters are ranked in the division and enter in good form. Each combatant also possesses excellent power and fantastic grappling skills.
Krylov (29-9), ranked as the No. 6 light heavyweight, is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Volkan Oezdemir for his second straight win to improve to 4-4 with the UFC. The 30-year-old Ukrainian is an outstanding striker and improved wrestler. He earned Performance of the Night with a knockout of Alexander Gustafsson on July 22.
Spann (21-7), No. 8 in the division, has strung together two spectacular performances. He earned Performance of the Night with a first-round submission of Ion Cutebala and followed that up with a knockout of Dominik Reyes in his last outing on Nov. 12. The 31-year-old Memphis native has a 7-2 record with the UFC, is a hard hitter with cardio issues.
I like Krylov here. He is a more efficient fighter and has excellent footwork. While Krylov has to stay away from Spann’s powerful swipes, he is a little more mobile and is a bit better in takedown defense.
There is also huge potential for one of the fighters to win via a finish. Just nine of the combatants’ 66 bouts have gone to the judges.
Krylov has been finished seven times, and five of Spann’s seven losses have been before the fights going to the judges. Krylov’s average fight time is a little over seven minutes, while Spann is just in the octagon for over four minutes.
Prediction/Best Bet: Nikita Krylov (-170) to win
Other Bets: Nikita Krylov to win by submission or Ryan Spann to win via TKO/KO/DQ (-140)
Tatiana Suarez vs. Montana De La Rosa
Suarez (9-0, 4-0 UFC) returns to the octagon for the first time over three and one-half years to face De La Rosa (12-7-1, 3-3 UFC). De La Rosa is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Maycee Barber on April 23.
Take Suarez to remain undefeated. The 32-year former jiu-Jitsu champion is a beast, and her relentlessness should help avoid looking rusty from her time off..
Known for her wrestling, Suarez has two victories via knockout and four by submission. While I believe Suarez will win this fight handily, her moneyline odds of -750 have no value. So, I will use her via parlay or to win by finish..
There is excellent value in this match fight props. Under 2.5 rounds, the fight does not go the distance, and Suarez to win via finish is all even money or better.
Prediction: Tatiana Suarez to win
Best Bet: Suarez to win via TKO/KO/Submission or DQ (+130)
Under 2.5 Rounds: +120
Fight Does Not Go Distance +100
