UFC 290 Prelims betting picks and predictions | July 8 Preview

The UFC 290 prelims from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas are stacked with emerging talent and a retiring champion who bids farewell to a long and successful career.

Surging Australian star Jack Della Maddalena will get another chance to impress the UFC world, while Robbie Lawler will bid farewell following a decade spent fighting at the UFC’s highest level.

Read on for all UFC 290 prelims tips and analysis.

Robbie Lawler v Niko Price fight preview

Robbie Lawler vs Niko Price

Robbie Lawler (29-16-0) is one of the hardest men to lace a four-ounce MMA glove. He entered the UFC in 2013, captured the welterweight belt in 2014, defended the title twice, and will retire as one of the most respected warriors of all time. Lawler is a stand-and-trade fighter who rarely takes a backward step and just keeps pressing his opponent until he cracks. Lawler participated in one of the greatest contests ever staged versus Rory McDonald in 2015 and will exit the sport with all the possible accolades. Fans will be willing him to victory here against a younger and favoured opponent and can be sure the former champ will leave the octagon on his shield.

Niko Price (15-6-0) has endured a rocky career patch since 2018 with three wins, five losses, and one no contest. Four of the losses have come via KO/TKO and the Floridian will be wary of copping one of Lawler’s trademark power shots, either a left hook or overhand right. Price’s career has been handicapped by periods of lacklustre efforts and positive drug tests for THC, and he might have otherwise been a force at 170 pounds. Die-hard MMA fans will probably be rooting against him here, but Price has the skills to trade blows with anyone, including Lawler. Robbie Lawler is the sentimental tip at +205 with top online betting sites.

Jack Della Maddalena v Josiah Harrell

Jack Della Maddalena vs Josiah Harrell

Jack Della Maddalena (14-2-0) holds a perfect 4-0 UFC record, the longest of those contests lasting a mere three and a half minutes. The hard-hitting Australian was set to face Sean Brady before the American was forced to withdraw with an infected elbow, leaving matchmakers scrambling to find a worthy replacement. The Brady match-up would have provided an enthralling spectacle and a stern test for the surging Della Maddalena, but he is expected to make short work of the unheralded replacement Josiah Harrell.

Not much is known about Josiah Harrell (7-0-0), who has been thrust into the spotlight on one of the biggest UFC cards of the year. He has an unbeaten record on the minor circuit and all his wins have come inside the distance with four knockouts and three submissions. The American will face a height and reach disadvantage and will need to be something very special to match skills with the more experienced, seasoned, and confident Australian. Sporting miracles do occur, and it might take such an outcome for Harrell to prove competitive here.

Yazmin Jauregui v Denise Gomes

Yazmin Jauregui vs Denise Gomes

Yazmin Jauregui (10-0-0) is an unbeaten fighter with a perfect 2-0 UFC record. The Mexican women’s strawweight throws heavy punches and has seven KO finishes in her record. She will enjoy a slight height and reach advantage here and will be looking to establish her stiff jab from the outset and uncork power shots once range has been established. Another win should see Jauregui break into the top 15 at 115 pounds.

Denise Gomes (7-2-0) broke into the UFC with a tidy decision win on Dana White’s Contender Series. She is 1-1 at UFC level and like Jauregui, throws heavy punches in combinations. She has stopped five of her nine opponents before the final bell, and this fight shapes as a stand-up war between willing and capable strikers. Neither athlete should be inclined to attempt take-downs and this contest might produce a performance bonus if it plays out as expected.

Alonzo Menifield v Jimmy Crute

Alonzo Menifield vs Jimmy Crute

Alonzo Menifield (13-3-1) will run it back with Jimmy Crute after they fought a majority draw in February 2023. The American was deducted a point for grabbing the cage in the third round to cost himself victory. Prior to the draw, Menifield had a nice run going with four wins from five appearances including three TKO stoppages and one submission. The former American football star will be out to correct his mistake and get back on the winning track.

After making his UFC debut in 2018, Jimmy Crute (12-3-1) wrapped up successive stoppage wins to boast an unbeaten 10-0 professional record. The Aussie was considered a future title contender who combined heavy punches with a strong submission game. Since 2019 Crute has fallen from the hype wagon with two wins, three losses, and one draw to show for his efforts. He suffered round one knockouts to Anthony Smith and current champ Jamahal Hill in 2021 and Crute needs to regain his old form or face pressure to hold onto his contract.

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