UFC 251: Volkanovski vs Holloway betting tips & odds

UFC 251 fight preview: Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway

Alexander Volkanovski (21-1-0) ended Max Holloway’s three-year UFC Featherweight Championship run the last time these two fighters met at UFC 245 in December. Holloway will look to reclaim his title this Saturday in a championship rematch in the co-main event of UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi. 

Volkanovski entered his title fight against Holloway last year as a +150 underdog. He cashed in on that championship fight with a unanimous decision victory, improving to 18-0-0 in his last 18 fights and to a perfect 8-0-0 in the UFC. Volkanovski controlled the tempo of that fight by keeping Holloway at a distance all night with an effective low-leg kick. He’ll likely try to do the same in this one.

Max Holloway (21-5-0) has suddenly lost two of his last three fights after winning each of his previous 13 bouts. He went up in weight to fight Dustin Poirier for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 236. Holloway bounced back from that loss with a win over Frankie Edgar before having his 14-fight winning streak at featherweight snapped by Volkanovski. Can he avenge that loss with a win on Saturday?

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There was a passing of the torch in the featherweight division in 2017 when Holloway defeated former dominant champion Jose Aldo twice in a row at UFC 212 and UFC 218. Volkanovski is hoping to see the same happen at UFC 251 as another win over Holloway would cement his status as the top dog in the featherweight division.

This is going to be a fantastic fight. It is an extremely important one for both men’s legacies. Holloway is still only 28-years-old; a win over Volkanovski would set up an eventual third fight between these two combatants, but it would also make the last loss look like just a blip on his dominant featherweight resume. Volkanovski, on the other hand, could ascend to UFC superstardom with another win over Holloway. 

The bout figures to be a chess match. Holloway has undoubtedly worked on defending against the low-leg kick, while Volkanovski’s camp has likely drawn up new strategies to attack. The Australian was certainly the better fighter last time around, but we can’t pass on a highly motivated Holloway at such a nice price in what should be a very close one.