UFC 302 main card preview & top betting picks | Saturday, June 1

The main card for UFC 302 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, features a long-simmering grudge match between middleweight strikers Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa. Other highlights include the enigmatic Kevin Holland squaring off against Michal Oleksiejczuk, and heavyweights Jailton Almeida and Alexandr Romanov clashing in what looks like a fun matchup. Read on to see our analysis and betting picks for every fight on the UFC 302 main card.

Islam Makhachev v Dustin Poirier

Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier

Can Dustin Poirier spring one of the all-time upsets and snatch the lightweight crown from Islam Makhachev? See our UFC 302 main event preview here.

Sean Strickland v Paulo Costa

Sean Strickland vs Paulo Costa

Sean Strickland (28-6-0) claimed the middleweight belt in 2023 with an upset win over Israel Adesanya but was immediately dethroned by Dricus du Plessis in a controversial split decision. The 33-year-old is among the most talented strikers on the UFC roster, and he will be looking to bounce back with a decisive win over an opponent he does not like. Strickland is an entertainer, both inside and outside of the cage, and this fight should be a banger.

Paulo Costa (14-3-0) has produced a patchy record of late with just one win from his last four appearances. The Brazilian can be a little lackadaisical in the ring, opting for moments of brilliance rather than output that will impress the judges. The 33-year-old has only been stopped once during his career, a freak KO at the hands of Israel Adesanya, and this bout appears set to last the distance and bring the crowd to its feet.

Kevin Holland v Michal Oleksiejczuk

Kevin Holland vs Michal Oleksiejczuk

Kevin Holland (25-11-0) is coming off successive decision defeats due to his cavalier approach to striking volume. The American is always a betting risk, especially if his fights go the distance. Supporters can only hope he hunts for a stoppage victory rather than entrust his fate to the judging panel, where he has returned just four wins and seven losses.

Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-7-0) has two wins and two losses since December 2022, with both defeats coming via submission. The Pole will be keen to keep the action upright and avoid another rear-naked choke. The 29-year-old is a talented striker with 14 KO wins as a professional but will need to overcome a significant height and reach disadvantage in Newark.

Jailton Almeida v Alexandr Romanov

Jailton Almeida vs Alexandr Romanov

Jailton Almeida (20-3-0) was brutally knocked out with downward elbows by Curtis Blaydes during his most recent appearance. Still, the 32-year-old is one of the most credentialled BJJ fighters in the UFC and boasts 12 professional wins via submission. He is faced with a talented wrestler here and will need to be at his technical best.

Alexandr Romanov (17-2-0) made his UFC debut in 2020. The Moldovan has since won six fights and lost two and looks likely to break into the top 10 in the heavyweight division with a win here. An experienced freestyle wrestler with some Muay Thai skills, he will be unafraid of Almeida’s grappling and may hold a slight advantage in the striking portion of this bout.

Randy Brown v Elizeu Zaleski

Randy Brown vs Elizeu Zaleski

Randy Brown (18-5-0) is a tall and rangy welterweight who has won six of his last seven UFC outings. The 33-year-old was choked out by surging prospect Jack Della Maddalena in February 2023 but bounced back with a pair of impressive wins over Wellington Turman and Muslim Salikhov. Brown will enjoy a five-inch reach advantage and can patiently work from long range and remain out of danger if he plays this fight smart.

Elizeu Zaleski (24-7-1) has been inconsistent in recent years, with three wins, two losses, and one draw since 2019. The Brazilian relies on a low centre of gravity to land heavy strikes and has 14 wins via knockout to his credit. At his best, Zaleski can produce the type of volume that will earn a decision victory, but overcoming Brown’s height and range advantage may prove a difficult task for the 37-year-old.

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