UFC249 Betting Tips & Preview: Main Event Title Bouts

The main event of UFC 249 was originally slated to be a highly-anticipated clash between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC Lightweight Championship. Travel restrictions and concerns about COVID-19 led to Nurmagomedov pulling out of the fight however, which paved the way for what should be a banger of a main event this Saturday when Ferguson takes on Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title instead.

With almost all major US sports betting suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UFC249 promises to be one of the most watched MMA fight cards for a long time. Betting interest in the event has been hugae accoring to US sportsbooks

UFC 249 Lightweight Interim Title: Tony Ferguson v Justin Gaethje

Tony Ferguson (25-3-0) has been one of the best in the fight game for nearly a decade. His last loss came all the way back in May of 2012 at UFC on Fox 3. Since then, Ferguson has gone a perfect 12-0-0 over this last 12 fights including back-to-back TKO wins over Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis in his last two bouts. Five of Ferguson’s last six fights have been graded the Fight of the Night.

Justin Gaethje (21-2-0) is no stranger to Fight of the Night honors either as four of his last six fights have earned that post-fight award. Gaethje has bounced back from back-to-back losses to Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier to win each of his last three fights. The former WSOF Lightweight Champion took this fight on short notice to give himself the chance to fight Nurmagomedov for the UFC Lightweight strap if he is able to pull off the upset in this one.

Each of Justin Gaethje’s last 10 fights have ended by way of knockout with the lightweight on the receiving end of two of those knockouts and on the delivering end of 10 of them. These two fighters are both fan favorites due to their aggressiveness and their ability to put on a show. Pairing them up in the octagon should produce an electrifying main event.

UFC 249 Ferguson versus Gaethje Prediction

Tony Ferguson to win the UFC Lightweight Interim Title by submission.

UFC 249 Bantamweight Title: Henry Cejudo vs Dominic Cruz

Henry Cejudo’s rise to stardom came out of nowhere. The career flyweight stunned the world with a win over Demetrious Johnson that ended Johnson’s streak of 11 straight UFC Flyweight Championship defenses at UFC 227. Cejudo (15-2-0) followed that up with a successful title defense against T.J. Dillahaw before moving up in weight to defeat Marlon Moraes for the vacant UFC Bantamweight Championship. The two-division champion will make his first defense of his new strap against former champion Dominic Cruz.

Multiple injuries have kept Cruz (22-2) out of the octagon since he lost the UFC Bantamweight Championship to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207 all the way back in December of 2016. Cruz had won 13 straight professional fights including a 5-0 record in the UFC before suffering that loss. Dominic Cruz would likely be the clear UFC betting favorite in this fight back in his prime, but with so much ring rust it will be tough to top the red-hot Cejudo.

Bantamweights like Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan have earned title shots with their recent form in the division, but Cruz’s long-awaited return and the intrigue around it made for a much more compelling story for this PPV. Can Cruz cash in on what could be the last title shot of his career?

UFC 249 Cejudo versus Cruz Prediction

Henry Cejudo to win the UFC Bantamweight Title on points decision.