UFC Vegas 78 Hot Prospect Betting Pick
Khalil Rountree Jr -155 at BetOnline
We’re back with another hot prospect betting pick. The UFC returns to Vegas for a Fight Night event brimming with prosperous talent, and we’ve located the ideal wager.
Continue reading for our UFC Vegas 78 betting guide and best betting pick, taking a first look at Khalil Rountree and his opponent, Chris Daukaus.
UFC Vegas 78 Information
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 12, 2023 – 04:10 PM EDT
- Location: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Scheduled Fights: 13
- Main Event: Vincente Luque vs. Rafael dos Anjos (UFC Welterweight Bout)
UFC Vegas 78 Hot Prospect Profile: Khalil Rountree
- Pro MMA Record: 11-5-0 (7 KO/TKOs, 4 decisions)
- UFC Record: 7-4 (5 KO/TKOs, 2 decisions)
From a morbidly obese child to a man competing in professional mixed martial arts, the story of Khalil Rountree’s upstart is cute. Still, I wouldn’t use this terminology with him inside the cage because he hits like a truck and has punished elite fighters with his fists for the past nine years.
Rountree obliterated the MMA regional scene opposition before receiving an opportunity to reach the UFC on season 23 of The Ultimate Fighter. He didn’t win the competition but earned a contract in 2016 and has left some notable wins during his stint, such as the top-ranked Paul Craig and, most recently, Dustin Jacoby.
For the first time in his UFC career, Rountree is riding a 3-fight win streak. Moreover, he hasn’t allowed the judges to involve themselves on many occasions, with a 71% KO/TKO rate from seven UFC victories to date.
Rountree vs. Daukaus: The Fight Tape
It’s no secret that Rountree loves to strike, and he notably handed Karl Roberson and Gokhan Saki their first-ever KO/TKO losses as professional MMA competitors. He doesn’t need to rely on a questionable chin, but with Chris Daukaus as an opponent, he’ll receive this advantage on a plate.
Daukaus was dominant upon arriving at the UFC, stopping four consecutive opponents via KO/TKO with his big-frame body and offensive striking. However, this streak came crashing down as confidence in his striking has now cost him three consecutive knockout defeats.
There’s one huge red flag on Daukaus’ durability. Although he could opt to grapple against Rountree, I don’t believe he has the consistency or cardio to achieve this for 15 minutes, and he hasn’t attempted a single takedown in seven UFC bouts to date.
Durability issues for Daukaus combined with a drop from heavyweight to the light heavyweight division could result in another knockout defeat. Furthermore, he’s faced with a heavy-handed brute that’s won 5 of his 7 UFC bouts via KO/TKO.
UFC Vegas 78 Hot Prospect Best Bet
The available UFC odds at the top sportsbooks show an excellent price on Rountree at -155. This line initially opened at -225, and we will fade the betting public that continues to shift the odds.
We’re simply fading a former heavyweight that’s been knocked out in three straight bouts and displayed zero wrestling offense versus one of the light heavyweight division’s hardest hitters.
UFC Pick: Khalil Rountree Jr -155 at BetOnline [1.55u to win 1u]
UFC Vegas 78 Main Card & Odds
- Vicente Luque vs. Rafael dos Anjos [UFC welterweight main event bout]
- Cub Swanson vs. Hakeem Dawodu [UFC co-main featherweight bout]
- Khalil Rountree vs. Chris Daukaus [UFC light heavyweight bout]
- Polyana Viana vs. Iasmin Lucindo [UFC women’s strawweight bout]
- Tafon Nchukwi vs. AJ Dobson [UFC middleweight bout]
- Josh Fremd vs. Jamie Pickett [UFC middleweight bout]
UFC Vegas 78 Preliminary Card & Odds
- Marcus McGhee vs. JP Buys [UFC bantamweight bout]
- Terrance McKinney vs. Mike Breeden [UFC lightweight bout]
- Francis Marshall vs. Isaac Dulgarian [UFC featherweight bout]
- Josh Parisian vs. Martin Buday [UFC heavyweight bout]
- Montserrat Ruiz vs. Jaqueline Amorim [UFC women’s strawweight bout]
- Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Jose Johnson [UFC bantamweight bout]
- Juliana Miller vs. Luana Santos [UFC women’s flyweight bout]
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
Calculators
