UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 Best Bets (Archive)
This weekend at UFC 278, Kamaru Usman will step up to defend his UFC welterweight title in a thrilling rematch against Leon Edwards.
Throughout this entire fight card, there are a lot of valuable and exciting matchups including:
- Miranda Maverick vs. Shanna Young
- José Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Read below for my UFC Best Bets.
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Miranda Maverick vs. Shanna Young
UFC Women’s Flyweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, August 20, 2022 – 08:00 PM EDT at the Vivint Smart Home Arena
Contender Analysis
Who is Miranda Maverick?
Miranda “Fear the” Maverick is an American mixed martial artist with a current professional record of 10 wins (1 T/KO, 6 Submissions, 3 Decisions) and 4 losses (4 Decisions).
Maverick is a very skilled submission artist. Once a fight is brought to the ground, she hunts for her lethal rear-naked choke or armbar.
On the feet, she has improved her jab and her speed. Currently, she is 3-2 in her last five bouts with losses against:
- Maycee Barber
- Erin Blanchfield
Who is Shanna Young?
Shanna “The Shanimal” is an American mixed martial artist with a current professional record of 8 wins (2 T/KO, 3 Submissions, 3 Decisions) and 4 losses (1 T/KO, 1 Submission, 2 Decisions).
Young is a well-rounded martial artist with technical striking and solid footwork. You will often find her wanting to clinch up to pressure her opponent and throw in tight strikes like elbows and hooks.
She is currently 2-3 in her last five contests with losses against:
- Sarah Alpar
- Macy Chiasson
- Stephanie Egger
Maverick vs. Young Betting Prediction
The UFC odds at your top sportsbooks favor Maverick -660 for a reason. Shanna Young did not have a hot start to her UFC career beginning with two losses, but she did redeem herself back in April 2022 against Gina Mazany, winning by T/KO in the second round.
Meanwhile, Maverick is a machine and there is a reason why her opponents should fear her. She is extremely durable and has never been finished in her entire professional career, plus, she has an advantage over Young with her grappling.
The Betting Pick
It is going to be easy for Maverick to bring the fight to the ground and work a nasty RNC or arm bar. Young will try to clinch up like how she normally does to try to rack up points with in-rage strikes, but little will she know she is setting herself up for disaster.
Take the value with Miranda Maverick to finish this one inside the distance.
UFC Pick: Miranda Maverick to Win Inside the Distance (+100) at BetOnline (Visit our BetOnline Review)
Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
UFC Bantamweight Main Card Bout
Saturday, August 20, 2022 - 10:00 PM EDT at the Vivint Smart Home Arena
Contender Analysis
Who is Jose Aldo?
Jose “Junior” is a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a current professional record of 31 wins (17 T/KO, 1 Submission, 13 Decisions) and 7 losses (4 T/KO, 1 Submission, 2 Decisions).
A veteran in the UFC, Aldo is one of the most accurate and powerful strikers in the sport. He holds a solid takedown defense, so getting him on the ground will be very difficult.
Aldo is now sitting 3-3 in his last six contests.
Who is Merab Dvalishvili?
Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili is a Georgian mixed martial artist with a current professional record of 14 wins (3 T/KO, 1 Submission, 10 Decisions) and 4 losses (1 Submission, 3 Decisions).
Dvalishvili is an exceptional grappler with technical striking. Currently, he is 5-0 in his last five contests. His last loss was actually back in 2018 by submission.
Aldo vs. Dvalishvili Betting Prediction
Currently, the oddsmakers hold Dvalishvili as the -135 favorite and the veteran with +115 UFC odds.
I think this is a wonderful opportunity to take the value with Aldo. Although Dvalishvili has not lost a fight since 2018, Aldo is going to be a very tough competitor.
Dvalishvili thrives on the ground and is going to want to switch levels as much as possible. If he succeeds, then this fight is all his.
However, Aldo holds a 90% takedown defense, and his striking and clinch work will dominate Merab’s.
Both men are very durable and patient fighters with sharp fight IQ’s, so I entirely envision this fight ending at the scorecards. Take the value with the veteran.
UFC Pick: Jose Aldo ML (+115) at BetOnline
*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.