I’m baaaaack! And I’m coming off a good showing at UFC 254 so I’m back in the money with my UFC predictions, baby! Let’s talk every matchup on the full fight card and let it ride this Saturday at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Teixeira, aka UFC Vegas 13.
Here are all the winners for all the fights at UFC Vegas 13. Nothing but winning UFC predictions. Promise.
All odds courtesy of MyBookie
UFC Predictions Vegas 13
Thiago Santos (-250) vs Glover Teixeira
Our main event is a top contender’s match (probably a #1 contender match) between two former title challengers – Thiago Santos and Glover Teixeira. An explosive, flamboyant striker in Santos and a grappling wizard in Teixeira. I’ll go with the younger, stronger, crazy striker in Santos to KO his 41-year-old fellow Brazilian.
Tanner Boser (-300) vs Andrei Arlovski
My fellow Canadian, Tanner Boser, is the textbook image of the ‘stereotypical Canadian’ – a big, bearded, friendly dude with missing teeth. And he’s 3-1 in the UFC since debuting last year. He’s too athletic, quick, and hits too hard for the 41-year-old former UFC Heavyweight Champion to handle in this one. ‘Bulldozer’ via KO might be worth a look if you want to increase your payday.
Raoni Barcelos (-370) vs Khalid Taha
Barcelos is taking this fight on only a few week’s notice, which is normally a red flag for me (late replacements have only won 34% of their fights in 2020), but his grappling is going to be too much for Taha, so he’ll be the exception to the rule.
Brendan Allen (-120) vs Ian Heinisch
The 24-year-old Allen has looked like a fantastic middleweight prospect in his 3-0 UFC career, but he’s in for a tough fight against Ian Heinisch on Saturday. However, I’m still going with him to beat the experienced Heinisch, with his grappling carrying the day.
Yan Xiaonan (-155) vs Claudia Gadelha
Yan, who has only lost once in her pro career and that was over a decade ago, has faced a gradually harder level of opponent in each of her UFC fights, like she’s Bruce Lee in the Game of Death. While Gadelha isn’t exactly the “boss level” yet, she is Fury’s toughest task to date. But I think she has both the striking and grappling chops to get the job done, via decision (she doesn’t finish many fights).
Trevin Giles (-115) vs Bevon Lewis
This battle between middleweight upstarts is currently a deadlocked pick ’em on MyBookie, but I’m leaning hard towards Trevin Giles. He’s only lost twice in his pro career, both via submission, and Bevon Lewis has no submission wins to his credit. Plus Giles’s resume is far superior, with much more quality wins than Lewis.
Giga Chikadze (-620) vs Jamey Simmons
While “The Afro Samurai” is a dope nickname, newcomer Jamey Simmons will be out of his depth on Saturday against a stud like Giga Chikadze, hence the huge betting line. While Chikadze is the pick, I’d shy away from any lines as high as -620.
Alexandr Romanov (-425) vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima
“King Kong” is a perfect 12-0 as a pro, with seven submission wins, while “Pezao” has lost four fights via tapout. Plus, get this – since 2014, here is de Lima’s UFC record – win, submission loss, win, submission loss, win, submission loss, win, submission loss, win. So you can see where this is headed – get in on the Romanov via submission prop when you can.
Eduardo Garagorri (+195) vs Darren Elkins
Dogs haven’t fared so well over the past few weeks, I’m riding with one here in Garagorri. While Elkins will have the grappling edge, the Uruguayan will have the advantage on the feet. Add in the fact that “The Damage” has dropped four-straight, while also accumulating lots of, well, damage, and I like the plus line here.
Ramiz Brahimaj (+110) vs Max Griffin
Another live dog in this one. The debuting Brahimaj is a jiu-jitsu wizard, always looking for submissions (read more about him here). While Griffin is a strong, athletic guy, he’s a miserable 3-7 in the UFC. He gets taken down a lot. Brahimaj via submission is a good way to get even better odds.
Anthony Birchak (-120) vs Gustavo Lopez
The curtain jerker is pretty much a toss up on the board. I’m going against my data and taking the returning Birchak, who is taking this fight on short notice. However, he does have the grappling and striking advantage, which hopefully trumps his late replacement status.
UFC Predictions Overall Results
Record: 164-98
Earnings: $110.95
Return on Investment: 0.4%