On paper, Perth, Australia, is getting the literal best MMA fight in the world this Saturday night at UFC 284. Two great champions will collide in the main event, but before it takes place, prelims kick off at 6 p.m. EST with the main card starting at 7 p.m. PST/10 p.m. EST.
Featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski will make his return to the 155-pound lightweight division with the intention of becoming a double champ. Standing in his way will be the seemingly unstoppable Islam Makhachev, who claimed gold this past October. Directly before that champions clash, Volkanovski will find out who awaits him next at featherweight when Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett vie for the interim strap.
In this betting preview, we’ll take a look at the full five-fight main card plus one of the more notable preliminary bouts:
- Main Event: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski
- Co-Main Event: Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett
- Jack Della Maddalena vs. Randy Brown
- Justin Tafa vs. Parker Porter
- Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield
- Prelim highlight: Tyson Pedro vs. Modestas Bukauskas
Assuming you are in a legal sports betting state, UFC 284 offers some playable wagers to add to the entertainment of watching high-stakes mixed martial arts.
Let’s see what this exciting UFC 284 card has on tap for sports bettors.
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook are current at the time of publishing and subject to change.
Lightweight: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski
- Moneyline: Makhachev (-400), Volkanovski (+285)
- Prediction: Volkanovski by KO/TKO
- Best Bet: Makhachev by Submission (+155)
We’re making a gut prediction on this one. I’ve just got a feeling.
Volkanovski has been consistently doubted by the community (myself included) throughout his UFC run and championship tenure. It wasn’t until he trounced Brian Ortega that he officially lived up to his hype as “The Great.”
The Australian has started earning comparisons to fellow all-time great Demetrious Johnson. Both fighters are perhaps the most well-rounded that MMA has ever seen. They do every aspect of fighting at the highest level. Makhachev is also a legitimate talent and threat in all areas of the sport, but it’s no secret that his phenomenal wrestling is where he is above and beyond the rest.
Makhachev barely gets touched, and his one loss – a knockout against Adriano Martins – was arguably just a case of him getting caught. Can Volkanovski catch him? Yes, as he should have a slight speed advantage. Will Volkanovski have more power with 10 extra pounds on his frame? One would imagine. He needs to avoid getting controlled by the superior grappler and things lean toward him heavily.
That’s been undeniably much easier said than done and perhaps impossible for Makhachev’s opponents thus far. Therefore, the best play here is a Makhachev submission, as 25 minutes is a long time to evade the pressuring Dagestani. It’s time to stop underestimating Volkanovski because he’s proven us wrong many times.
Featherweight: Rodriguez vs. Emmett
- Moneyline: Rodriguez (-196), Emmett (+152)
- Prediction: Rodriguez by KO/TKO
- Best Bet: Rodriguez by KO/TKO (+300)
In a way, there’s a slight similarity between this matchup and the main event. Emmett is the more well-rounded of the two, but instead of better grappling, Rodriguez has the striking edge.
Both have proven capable of finding knockouts in very different ways. Emmett has the power advantage, but toolbox versatility favors Rodriguez, who will throw just about any strike imaginable. Just ask Chan Sung Jung.
A wrestling-heavy approach will be Emmett’s best strategy in this one, but he’s seemingly fallen more in love with his striking in recent outings. In another five-round affair, that will cost him against the always unpredictable Rodriguez.
Welterweight: Della Maddalena vs. Brown
- Moneyline: Della Maddalena (-350), Brown (+255)
- Prediction: Della Maddalena by KO/TKO
- Best Bet: Della Maddalena by KO/TKO (-110)
Della Maddalena and Brown are both riding high and have impressed on their current stretches. The rising Aussie has just been more impressive.
The hometown kid will receive a considerable reaction when making his walk. Already a finisher through and through, Della Maddalena will be fueled and motivated to perform more than usual. Brown must expect a heavy dose of pressure and tight boxing combinations early. If he can weather the storm, he can wear on the 26-year-old and drag him into deep waters.
Brown will have a significant reach advantage with 78 inches to 73 inches, but Della Maddalena will close the distance at every opportunity and find the chin of “Rude Boy.”
Heavyweight: Tafa vs. Porter
- Moneyline: Tafa (-128), Porter (+100)
- Prediction: Tafa by KO/TKO
- Best Bet: Tafa by KO/TKO (+170)
The moneyline on this fight is interesting. Looking at both fighters’ records and UFC runs, Porter has lost to who he should lose to, and Tafa isn’t necessarily one of those names.
Porter’s setbacks in the octagon came against recent divisional contender Chris Daukaus and rising talent Jailton Almeida. Sandwiched in between was a three-fight winning streak over some of the more middling heavyweights on the roster.
Every win in Tafa’s career has come via strikes, and he makes his intentions clear each time. The New Zealand native, like Della Maddalena, will have a little extra to fight for competing back near his home and hopes of getting back on a streak. Porter’s best hope is to make the fight ugly and put Tafa on his back. In the process of trying to do so, he’ll get clipped and be put away.
Despite all that, I’d advise avoiding placing any wagers on this one.
Light Heavyweight: Crute vs. Menifield
- Moneyline: Crute (-200), Menifield (+154)
- Prediction: Crute by KO/TKO
- Best Bet: Crute by KO/TKO (+240)
Crute is back.
December 2021 was Crute’s last appearance, where he lost a second consecutive fight when tasked with the now-champion Jamahal Hill. A reconstructive knee surgery followed the loss, sidelining the Aussie for all of 2022.
In most of these matchups, there’s a lot that the environment will provide. Crute is in a back-against-the-wall type of position with his two-fight skid. Menifield, on the other hand, has scored two impressive knockouts in his recent fights.
Defensively sound with his head strike blocking, Crute should be able to avoid any big shots as long as he’s not lulled into traps from Menifield’s wrestling threats. From there, he can chip away at Menifield en route to a big return victory.
Prelim: Light Heavyweight: Pedro vs. Bukauskas
- Moneyline: Pedro (-280), Bukauskas (+210)
- Prediction: Pedro by KO/TKO
- Best Bet: Pedro by KO/TKO (+180)
Speaking of returns, welcome back to the UFC, Bukauskas.
The last time we saw “The Baltic Gladiator” in the octagon, Khalil Rountree Jr. took him out with one of the nastiest oblique kicks. That marked three losses in a row and some ligament damage, sending Bukauskas back to Cage Warriors, where he held gold.
Pedro has also returned from a lengthy absence in the meantime, defeating Ike Villanueva and Harry Hunsucker in stellar fashion. Pedro has always had untapped potential at 205 pounds and is finding a scary rhythm. Every strike contains bad intentions, whether with his kicks to the body or punches upstairs.
A firefight is a guarantee when Pedro is involved, and more often than not, Bukauskas hasn’t survived going through the fire as often. Expect another big highlight-reel finish for the Australian faithful in this one.
