The UFC returns to our screens for another action-filled fight card from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Top-ranked middleweight contenders Jack Hermansson and Sean Strickland will meet in the center of the octagon for next weekend’s main event.
Read on for our complete betting guide taking a first look at Hermansson and Strickland, including updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC betting picks, predictions, and analysis.
Jack Hermansson vs. Sean Strickland
UFC Middleweight Main Event Bout
Saturday, February 5, 2022 – 07:00 PM EST at UFC Apex
Jack Hermansson (22-6-0)
“The Joker” Jack Hermansson returns to the UFC octagon following an extensive 7-month resting period from when he last competed and defeated Edmen Shahbazyan. Despite the layoff, Hermansson has been one of the most active middleweights since joining the UFC in 2016, with an impressive 9-4 promotional record to his name.
The Swedish-born fighter has competed professionally for over a decade and currently occupies the 6th-ranked position in the UFC middleweight rankings.
Stemming from a Greco-Roman wrestling background has assisted Hermanson’s ability to deliver a diverse offense inside the cage. While a title opportunity has evaded him in the UFC, he’s a small winning streak away from achieving this feat.
Jack Hermansson MMA Accomplishments
- UFC Fight of the Night (One time)
- UFC Performance of the Night (One time)
- Most significant strikes landed in a 5-round middleweight bout (148)
- Cage Warriors Middleweight Champion (One time. two defenses)
Jack Hermansson Best Available Odds: +180 at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Sean Strickland (24-3-0)
Since returning to the UFC octagon from a near life-ending motorcycle accident, Sean Strickland has reasserted his dominance behind a 4-fight consecutive win streak against some of the middleweight division's brightest talent.
A turbulent childhood led Strickland into an MMA gym, where he subsequently turned professional at the tender age of sixteen. Whilst battling his mental demons inside the cage and emotionally driven relentlessness in competition saw the California-born martial artist remain undefeated until his arrival to the UFC 2014.
Despite the long layoff following his life-threatening injuries, Strickland has maintained an 11-3 UFC record, with his only losses coming against elite-level welterweights such as Kamaru Usman and Santiago Ponzinibbio.
Sean Strickland MMA Accomplishments
- UFC Performance of the Night (One time)
- King of the Cage Middleweight Champion (One time, five defenses)
- Sherdog and MMAjunkie 2020 comeback fighter of the year
Sean Strickland Available Odds: -205 at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Hermansson Fight Style and How Can He Defeat Strickland?
Hermansson owns a well-diversified skillset; in the striking realm, he’s light-footed and enjoys a sticking and move style of offense. Probing jabs will be utilized of his back foot, 1-2’s at distance, and uppercuts come into play, but almost every strike is thrown down the middle, which can become readable. Inside low kicks to keep range whilst moving backwards and body kicks will be used, his biggest flaw would be the lack of defense he owns and a glaring lead leg that’s just waiting to be kicked.
Hermansson should own the grappling advantage in this bout, but the defensive attributes of Strickland’s grappling could undoubtedly be the decider. Hermansson has great upper-body takedowns with his Greco-Roman background, something he may rely on with the offensive pressure of Strickland.
Strickland Fight Style and How Can He Defeat Hermansson?
Strickland is all about his striking prowess; a walk-down style will always force the opposition to lose positional control. With a boxing style used, Strickland has excellent fundamentals in this area and will unquestionably own the power advantage in this matchup.
Volume, pace, takedown defense, and remarkable cardio should be the critical advantages for Strickland. The fight becomes significantly more winnable if he can avoid the clinch/grappling exchanges with Hermansson.
Hermansson vs. Strickland Betting Prediction and UFC in Vegas 47 Odds
The available odds at Bookmakers Review favor Strickland despite Hermansson being the complete martial artist.
While I agree Strickland owns the crucial advantages to assist him in walking away in victory, the durability of both men can give us a greater piece of betting value. I like the over, and should a knockout or submission finish occur, I wouldn’t expect it to happen until the later rounds.
UFC Pick: Over 3 ½ Rounds (-155) [1.55u returns 1u profit] at Heritage Sports
*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.
