UFC 290: Volkanovski vs Rodriguez Odds Littered With Wide Favorites

Odds Significantly Favor Volkanovski To Unify Belts

It will be shock and awe regardless of the result of UFC 290 this Saturday. The Volkanovski vs Rodriguez odds is a preview of what the oddsmakers feel the event will be; one dominated by the favorites. UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski is listed at -400 to win, which makes him a large favorite but just the sixth largest per the UFC 290 betting lines.

Rodriguez Is Volkanovski’s Match Despite the Odds

Currently listed at +300, the Volkanovski vs Rodriguez odds imply a smaller than 24% chance for the latter to prevail. But any UFC fan can tell you that Rodriguez may be Volkanovski’s most dangerous opponent. The Mexican is a perfect foil for the UFC’s pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. 

Rodriguez is long, unpredictable, and steadily getting better. He may lack the wrestling acumen to keep Volkanovski from abusing him in that regard, but he is dangerous even as he is being grappled. The 30-year-old has a few submission wins on his resume. 

And when he’s on his feet, Rodriguez is dynamic and can hurt Volkanovski in ways no other fighter has. “El Pantera” owns knockout wins via a variety of unorthodox methods: a jumping high kick and an upward elbow among them.

The key for Rodriguez is to find a way to keep Volkanovski off of him. That’s easier said than done as the longtime 145-pound champion even held his own against Islam Makhachev, the 155-pound champion and a grappling juggernaut.

While Rodriguez’s best path to success is to finish Volkanovski, the favorite could be the one doing the finishing. The total is set at 4.5 rounds though it’s nearly at a pick’em with the undergoing for -105. Either way, this main event will not lack action.

Big Faves Could Dominate Even With or Without Bo Nickal

Bo Nickal, the UFC’s most hyped prospect, could be out of UFC 290 due to his opponent dropping out. The multiple-time wrestling champion was as large as a -1600 favorite at one point. If the UFC finds anyone brave enough to fight him on a few days’ notice, expect his betting line to stay ridiculously short.

Also featured with Nickal on the UFC card are former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and Japanese phenom Tatsuro Taira. Whittaker is lined at -410 to defeat Dricus du Plessis while Taira is the largest favorite now at -900 per the UFC 290: Volkanovski vs Rodriguez odds.

Whittaker is 12-2 as a 185-pound fighter with his only losses coming against Israel Adesanya, the current champion. Du Plessis (+310) is 5-0 with four victories coming via finish. But Whittaker is a sizable step up in competition. 

Taira, on the other hand, is 13-0 and made short work of both of his UFC opponents. Edgar Chairez (+550) is a UFC newcomer and is expected to be outmatched here. 

Another sizable favorite is Du Plessis’ compatriot, Cameron Saaiman at -550 against Terrence Mitchell (+375). The South African is a polished striker expected to be a contender at 135 pounds while Mitchell is another UFC debutant.

Co-Main Event Will Be the Most Competitive Bout

Opposite to these lopsided matchups is the co-main event between UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja. The lines favor Moreno slightly at -190 with Pantoja at +155 even though the challenger owns two wins (one via an exhibition bout) over Moreno. They last fought in 2018, which Pantoja won via unanimous decision.

Since then, Moreno went 6-1-1 in the UFC with two title reigns while Pantoja had a nearly identical record at 6-2. They each lost to Deiveson Figueiredo, the former champion. 

The total is listed at 3.5 rounds and even if the public is betting it to go ‘over’ at -170 (+140 on the ‘under’), this back-and-forth bout could be tough to call. Should Moreno win a close fight, another rematch could be in the works in the future list of UFC events. 

For more UFC betting news, fighters stats and odds visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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