The UFC is in Singapore this weekend for a stacked card of action headlined by Featherweight veterans Max Holloway -833 and Chan Sung Jung +500, also known as The Korean Zombie, going head-to-head. This card also features a huge matchup for the Women's Flyweight division as surging prospect Erin Blanchfield -156 takes on top contender Taila Santos +122. I went over every fight on the main card and gave my picks and best bets, so let's get into it.
Odds Provided by Stake.com Accurate as of 8/25/2023 12:45 AM EST
Two legends collide in our Featherweight main event. Max Holloway has a signature style of crazy volume and insane durability that has made him one of the most fun to watch fighters in the sport; he genuinely drowns opponents with punches like very few others in the sports can, making him a difficult matchup for anyone. Chan Sung Jung returns here off his title loss to Alexander Volkanovski, where he looked a step behind a prime version of himself; he has power and a slick submission game, but there are more questions off this layoff.
I'm picking Holloway, but the large number makes him unplayable here. I think this fight reaches the later stages, and he likely gets a decision or possibly a late stoppage, but the prices aren't good enough for me to bet it.
Pick: Holloway O/U: Over 2.5 -217
Rematch here at Light Heavyweight between two established vets. Anthony Smith has been to the top of the division, showing a well-rounded game and his toughness despite recent struggles. Ryan Spann is a powerful puncher, although he has major flaws in his defense, and his chin is not great.
I'll take Smith here as an underdog after what he did in the first fight, as I don't think he has regressed or Spann has progressed enough to justify this number.
Pick: Smith O/U: Under 1.5 -189
Classic striker vs. grappler matchup here at Featherweight. Giga Chikadze is a tremendous kickboxer with crazy power in his kicks, especially his signature "Giga kick" to the liver, which has stopped several opponents. Alex Caceres is a veteran with a very slick ground game and tricky standup that has served him well at times, like his highlight knockout of Julian Erosa.
At this price, I will lean with the grappler here in Caceres; if he can get this one to the ground, he can negate much of the danger across from him and possibly even get a finish with his submission skills.
Pick: Caceres O/U: Under 2.5 +160
This is a showcase spot for a very bright and fun-to-watch prospect at Bantamweight. Rinya Nakamura has quickly become a name to watch with his incredible wrestling credentials and powerful striking that he showed off in his debut earlier this year, knocking out Toshiomi Kazama in under a minute. Fernie Garcia looks to pick up his first UFC win here after several disappointing showings against Journey Newson and Brady Hiestand; he has decent boxing but has not impressed me much.
Nakamura should dominate here as he is one of the most explosive and dangerous prospects in the sport; however, with him being such an early finisher and Garcia having never been finished, I encourage everyone to exercise caution when looking into the props for this matchup.
Pick: Nakamura O/U: Over 1.5 +122
Likely title eliminator between two very talented young Flyweights. Erin Blanchfield has quickly become one of the hottest prospects in the sport with her dominant grappling game that has rendered several opponents helpless, along with an improving striking game. Taila Santos returns here off a very close loss to Valentina Shevchenko that many believe she won; she kept that fight close using a very high-level ground attack and earning several dominant positions early.
I've got Santos in this one, as her game is much more proven, and she has the best grappling game of any Blanfield opponent by a very wide margin.
Pick: Santos O/U: Over 2.5 -263
Heavyweight scrap opens the main card. Junior Tafa is a very good kickboxer who lost his last fight with Muhammad Usman because he was outwrestled despite hurting Usman several times with his big power. Parker Porter has been a good test for young fighters over his career, with his solid ground game and decent hands being enough to find a path against lower-level guys.
I like Tafa to be able to defend against any grappling attacks from Porter here and find a knockout early in the fight, as he has serious power that I am not sure Porter can take.
Pick: Tafa O/U: Under 1.5 -112
Anthony Smith +105
Taila Santos +122