UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs Harris betting predictions

UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Harris Latest Odds & Fight Info
Main Event betting	Overeem +135 at Bovada | Harris -175.44 at Bovada
When	Saturday, May 16 – prelims from 6pm EDT
Where	VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena – Jacksonville, Florida
Watch Live	ESPN, UFC Fight Pass, UFC.com

After having their UFC Fight Night 172 headline event on April 11, 2020 canceled due to the spread of the coronavirus, Walt Harris and Alistair Overeem will instead clash in the main event of this Saturday’s UFC on ESPN. Let’s take a look at the matchups on the main card and the best bets on offer at BP’s top-ranked UFC betting sites.

Heavyweight: Walt Harris (-155) vs Alistair Overeem (+135)

Walt Harris (13-7-0) has picked up victories in each of his last four fights, even though his split-decision win over Andrei Arlovski was later overturned to a no contest due to a failed drug test. Harris returned from a four-month doping ban with wins in each of his last two fights, both by knockout in under a minute. He has been out of action since last July due to the tragic loss of his stepdaughter last October; his return to the octagon on Saturday is sure to be an emotional one.

Alistair Overeem (45-18-0) was four seconds away from picking up a third straight win when he suffered a gruesome knockout loss in the closing seconds of the fifth round at the hands of Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Overeem was leading all four judges’ cards 4-0 before having his lip busted open by Rozenstruik. The veteran believes that the fight should not have been called and will come into this one with a chip on his shoulder.

An early knockout by Harris wouldn’t surprise anyone, but Overeem looks like a good value at this price. He’s a smart enough fighter to try to stay out of trouble early, and if he succeeds in doing so he should have the endurance edge to take over the fight in the middle and late rounds.

Women’s Strawweight: Claudia Gadelha (-185) vs Angela Hill (+160)

This will be a classic grappler versus striker matchup as striker Angela Hill (12-7-0) looks to continue her recent hot streak with an upset over grappler Claudia Gadelha (17-4-0). Hill has won three straight fights and this will already be her third bout in 2020; she’s got momentum and confidence on her side coming into this one. But she’ll face a significantly tougher test than she has in recent months in Gadelha, who should take this fight to the mat and come away with the win.

Featherweight: Edson Barboza (-130) vs Dan Ige (+110)

With losses in four of his last five fights in the lightweight division where he has spent his whole career, Edson Barboza (20-8-0) is set to make his featherweight debut against Dan Ige (13-2-0). If Barboza isn’t negatively affected by the weight drop, he should have the tools to win this fight, but his fitness is anyone’s guess until the fight starts. We’ll bet on a successful start in his new division.

Middleweight: Krzystof Jotko (-160) vs Eryk Anders (+140)

Both Krzystof Jotko (21-4-0) and Eryk Anders (13-4) have won each of their last two fights after losing their previous three. This will be an interesting matchup between the more polished Jotko and the more athletic Anders. Jotko may have the slight edge here, but at this price Anders is just too tempting to pass up on.

Featherweight: Song Yadong (-175) vs Marlon Vera (+155)

Song Yadong (15-4-1) is undefeated in the UFC with a 4-0-1 record and Marlon Vera (17-5-1) has won each of his last five fights; two by submission and three by knockout. This is yet another fight on this card that looks closer on paper than it does on the betting board, enticing us yet again into taking the value pick on the underdog.

UFC on ESPN 8 preliminary card

Welterweight: Miguel Baeza (-200) vs Matt Brown (+170)

Middleweight: Kevin Holland (-115) vs Anthony Hernandez (-105)

Featherweight: Mike Davis (-210) vs Giga Chikadze (+175)

Women’s Flyweight: Cortney Casey (-165) vs Mara Romero Borella (+145)

Featherweight: Darren Elkins (-115) vs Nate Landwehr (-105)

Heavyweight: Don’Tale Mayes (-125) vs Rodrigo Nascimento (+105)