UFC 256 Main Card Betting Preview And Top Predictions

UFC 256: Main Card Betting Preview

The main card of UFC 256 this Saturday in Las Vegas is loaded with competitive, interesting matchups. Here’s a look at the four fights leading into the main event of Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno this weekend.

UFC Lightweight Bout: Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira

Tony Ferguson (25-4-0) had a 12-fight winning streak snapped in his last bout against Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. At 36 years old and coming off of a fight in which he was beaten up badly for five rounds, this fight will tell UFC fans a lot about whether Ferguson’s career is starting to dwindle or if it was just one bad night.

Charles Oliveira (29-8-0) has had a long and checkered career in the UFC. After entering the promotion as a super-prospect in 2010, Oliveira has had his shares of ups and downs. But since going 2-4 in his previous six fights, the 31-year-old has strung together seven straight wins over the last three years. A win over Ferguson would highlight his impressive rise back up through the division and put him in the conversation for a title shot.

This figures to be an absolute war. We’ll take Ferguson to get off to a slow start before eventually flipping the script to earn a knockout win; but this one could go any which way.

UFC 256 Ferguson vs Oliveira Prediction

UFC Strawweight Bout: Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba

Mackenzie Dern (9-1-0) isn’t a particularly strong wrestler or striker, but she’s a deadly submission specialist as indicated by her two consecutive first-round submission wins over Hannah Cifers and Randa Markos in 2020. Virna Jandiroba (16-1-0) lost her UFC debut to Carla Esparza but has since bounced back with two straight submission wins over Mallory Martin and Felice Herrig. Jandiroba has earned 13 of her 16 professional wins by submission; but going for a submission in this one plays right into Dern’s strengths. Who will solve who first? This should be a fun one, but in a fight destined to go to the mat, Dern is the pick.

UFC 256 Dern vs Jandiroba Prediction

UFC Middleweight Bout: Kevin Holland vs. Ronaldo Souza

Kevin Holland (20-5-0) has been a breakout star in 2020 with four straight wins all coming since May 16. He is 7-1 in his last eight UFC fights overall and will get his biggest test to date on Saturday against Ronaldo Souza (26-8-0). Souza’s best days are clearly behind him at 41-years-old and with a 2-4 record over his last six fights. But with eight knockout wins and 14 submission wins under his belt, the danger is still there. Holland is the popular pick here and should win this fight if he keeps it off the mat and keeps Souza at a distance; but we see the wily veteran catching the 28-year-old off guard with a submission to spoil his perfect 2020.

UFC 256 Holland vs Souza Prediction

UFC Heavyweight Bout: Ciryl Gane vs Junior dos Santos

Ciryl Gane (6-0-0) has kicked off his UFC career with a perfect 3-0 record and is being thrown into the deep end in this fight against Junior dos Santos. While dos Santos (21-8-0) has lost each of his last three fights, those all came against Francis Ngannou, Curtis Blaydes, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik; three of the top heavyweights in the world. He was 3-0 in his previous three fights and will be Gane’s toughest opponent to date. But on paper, Gane should be up to the task; he has advantages in reach, speed, and stamina. He should pass this test with a win.

UFC 256 Gane vs dos Santos Prediction