Fight Night Betting Guide: Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira

A potential title eliminator is on hand with UFC Fight Night’s main event in Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira. The former UFC Bantamweight Women’s Champion Holm will be returning to action for the first time since 2020 after her last two scheduled fights were derailed due to injuries on her part. Vieira is coming off a win over another former champion in Miesha Tate. A win would be impressive here but can either win the crowd over?

Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira Fight Info

• Fight: Holly Holm (14-5-0) vs. Ketlen Vieira (12-2-0)
• Location: UFC Apex
• Day/Time: Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET
• Television: ESPN+

Holm Has Big things Ahead of Her Despite Record

You can say Holly Holm has some “Dana White Privilege”. After she came to international prominence with her stunning upset over then-golden girl Ronda Rousey, Holm has been the UFC’s darling. Holm has lost more fights (six) than she’s won (five) including her first and only title defense a few months after. Now, here we are – Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira!

Holm lost all of these fights. Losing to Amanda Nunes and Cris ‘Cyborg’ is nothing to be ashamed of but being on the wrong end of one of the most lackluster championship bouts against Germaine de Randamie is another thing. Holm, whose overly technical style can leave much to be desired from an entertainment standpoint – can be hard to root for.

We won’t be shocked if Holm not only gets another title shot but also books a cross-sport “superfight” against Katie Taylor the same way Conor McGregor got one against Floyd Mayweather.

“We had talked, Taylor and myself, before I wound up going to MMA,” Holm told Ariel Helwani during The MMA Hour. “We had talked about a possible fight there. I always want to do something that hasn’t been done. I always get super intrigued by things, and I fought at three weight divisions, ‘40, ‘47, and ‘54, and I never got to fight at ‘35. But I’ve done most of my MMA career at ‘35, and that’s what their fight was at. So it makes me like, ‘I want to go back in and show what I can do at a whole different weight class.”

Before Holm can even dream of a bout with Taylor, she’ll need to get past Vieira. The UFC Fight Night odds have her as another favorite. She’s let a lot of folks down as one, but at this point, we all know who Holm is – an overly technical boxer with solid wrestling defense who will outstrike her opponents to a rather predictable decision.

Vieira Could Spoil the Party Again

Ketlen Vieira beat Miesha Tate in a fight that was a pick’em. Still, it feels like Vieira rained all over Tate’s parade as the ex-champion was riding high following her win over Marion Reneau. For the Brazilian contender, she recorded her biggest win when it seemed like she was headed for permanent gatekeeping status.

Fans can bet on UFC fights with Vieira and find good odds on her, especially at this point. Her underdog line isn’t so much a knock on her as it is the acceptance that Holm will beat any fighter that is not worthy of holding a UFC title. Irene Aldana and Raquel Pennington are solid fighters flirting with a top-5 status in the division but both had nothing for Holm.

Vieira’s style is to mix it up and win a decision. Her striking has come along but is still in the bronze age compared to Holm’s… Vieira will need to find a way to not look like a fool when she can’t get or keep Holm down.

The good news for her is that she’s won five of the seven fights she’s been outstruck in the UFC. If she can land just enough takedowns while keeping Holm on her backpedal, it’s anyone’s guess with the way the judges have been. A split decision victory for Vieira, while a loss for everyone else, will be nothing less than a feather in her cap.