Makhachev vs Moises betting picks – UFC Vegas 31 main event

Islam Makhachev will attempt to continue to his climb up the UFC Lightweight rankings this Saturday night in the main event of UFC Vegas 31 when he squares off against Thiago Moises. BettingPlanet brings you the best bets and fight insights for the bout, with top odds from Bovada.

Makhachev vs Moises main event preview – UFC Vegas 31

Islam Makhachev (19-1-0) has not dropped a bout since his only career loss back in 2015 to Adriano Martins by knockout. Makhachev has improved by leaps and bounds since then and has compiled a 7-0 record over his last seven fights with two submission wins and one knockout win over that stretch. The 29-year-old has a very similar style to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who he trains with alongside former Nurmagomedov trainer Javier Mendez.

Thiago Moises (15-4-0) has bounced back from a disappointing 1-2 start in the UFC with three straight wins over Michael Johnson, Bobby Green, and Alexander Hernandez. Both of Moises’s losses have aged well, as Beneil Dariush is 7-0 in his last seven UFC fights and Damir Ismagulov is 15-0 over his last 15 fights with a 4-0 record in the UFC. Moises has proven his toughness throughout his career, as he has never been knocked out or submitted across 19 professional bouts.

Makhachev vs Moises betting predictions – UFC Vegas 31

Both fans and critics alike feel like it is only a matter of time before Islam Makhachev is fighting for the UFC Lightweight Championship. He is a clear rising star in the division and with each fight looks more and more like Khabib Nurmagomedov, an elite wrestler that simply smothers his opponent on the mat from start to finish. Squaring off against a tough and durable opponent like Thiago Moises in a primetime main event will give Makhachev the chance to shine for multiple rounds.

With Makhachev going off at such a chalky price with the top UFC bookies, some bettors might be tempted to take a shot on Moises getting these big underdog odds. The issue is that it’s difficult to find any path to victory for him. Moises has only three professional knockouts in his career, and none have come in the UFC. Without the power or style to catch Makhachev off guard with a well-timed strike, Moises will be stuck trying to out-wrestle or out-point him, and that just isn’t going to work.

Bettors looking for a less expensive price on Makhachev might prefer the odds on him to win by decision at -120. There could be some scary moments over a 25-minute fight, however, and more adventurous bettors might take a stab on the KO/TKO result (+350) or the submission win (+575). There’s some value on the submission prop, but we expect a dominant decision win.