Yan vs Sterling UFC 259 betting predictions – Saturday 6/3/2021

Yan vs Sterling UFC betting preview

On an absolutely loaded fight card from top to bottom, the UFC Bantamweight Championship bout between Petr Yan (15-1-0) and Aljamain Sterling (19-3-0) is considered by many to be the best-looking matchup at UFC 259. That is reflected by the betting odds at online bookmakers, which list this title fight as a pick’em. Here is our breakdown of this exciting showdown.

Yan extended his winning streak to 10 fights and improved to a perfect 7-0 in the promotion with a convincing knockout win over Jose Aldo at UFC 251. The Russian has looked the part of a dominant force ever since entering the UFC, but each of his last two wins have come against fighters past their prime in Urijah Faber and Aldo. In Sterling, Yan will face his biggest test in the UFC to date and have the opportunity to establish himself as a superstar at just 28 years old.

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Sterling produced a statement win against Cory Sandhagen in their bantamweight title eliminator at UFC 250, stopping him with a rear-naked choke in just 88 seconds. The win was Sterling’s fifth straight and the eighth submission victory of his professional career. That five-fight winning streak has come against some of the division’s best in Sandhagen, Pedro Munhoz, Jimmie Rivera, Cody Stamann, and Brett Johns. This title fight is well-deserved.

The only loss of Yan’s career so far was by split decision. Two of Sterling’s three career losses were by split decision as well. These two fighters are so tough and so difficult to beat that you can see why so many people are expecting an instant classic. The conflicting styles between Yan and Sterling make for an interesting chess match, too; Yan is one of the best strikers and boxers in the UFC, while Sterling is an excellent wrestler and submission specialist. With that said, both are well-rounded and it won’t necessarily be easy for Sterling to get the edge on the ground or for Yan to have it when standing up striking.

Sterling opened as a +125 underdogs with UFC betting sites in this one, and that price would have been too tempting to pass on in such an evenly matched fight. But with the odds now having leveled out, we are leaning towards Yan. This one could so easily go either way, but Yan’s heavy striking should take its toll over a 25-minute fight and give the champion a slight edge.

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