Anything can happen inside the octagon. Thankfully, UFC betting isn’t limited to just straight-up picks or round totals. You can reward yourself by calling the exact outcome of a fight. UFC 266 seems pre-destined to be a straightforward event, but it could be setting up for plenty of upsets and unforeseen finishes.
Inspired by the UFC’s post-fight bonus system, we highlight four fights that could lead to some lucrative rewards when we nail the proper props.
- Date: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- Watch on: ESPN+, ESPN, Pay-per-view
UFC 266 Props: Betting Performance Bonuses
Knockout of the Night: Chris Daukaus
It’s obvious how Sean Shelby and the UFC are matching up heavyweight fighters: Pit the hot prospect in Chris Daukaus (11-3-0) against the middling veteran in Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-5-0). Daukaus is a -210 favorite and has a speed advantage over Abdurakhimov, who also has not fought in two years.
While not exactly a power puncher, 10 of Daukaus’ wins have come via knockout. Abdurakhimov is one tough sod, but the accumulation of punches will ultimately force the referee to step in. Instead of betting Daukaus to win by T/KO at +110, bet online for him to win via a late finish either in round 2 or (+1200) or round 3 (+1800).
Pick: Daukaus To Win in Round 3 (+1800)
Submission of the Night: Marlon Moraes
We go from a late finish to an early one as the former title challenger, Marlon Moraes (23-8-1), will need to get to work quickly against the overeager grinder Merab Dvalishvili (13-4-0). Moraes went from a -110 pick ’em to a +200 underdog thanks to his notoriously short gas tank.
But Moraes may be the best one-round fighter in the division as evidenced by his three straight first-round finishes. He will need to pull some magic here and get Dvalishvili out early. He has a vicious guillotine and could finish off Dvalishvili this way after he hurts him on their feet. At +1000 on the sportsbook, it’s worth a dart throw.
Pick: Moraes To Win in Round 1 (+1000)
Upset of the Night: Jairzinho Rozenstruik
The heavy-handed ex-kickboxer faces some steep odds (+250) against brutish wrestler Curtis Blaydes (14-3-0) here. But the fight script has this ending in one of two ways: Blaydes winning via a decision or Rozenstruik knocking him out cold (+350).
ROZENSTRUIK WITH ANOTHER BUZZER BEATING KO 🤯pic.twitter.com/XpOXRxReJ8
— The MMA Dude™ (@philthemmadude) June 6, 2021
Blaydes’s three losses have all come via KO and against Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis, the division’s two hardest hitters. Rozenstruik could be that third hard hitter in the division and does possess a “death touch.” One clean shot early in the fight could be all it takes to get Rozenstruik an upset win here.
Pick: Rozenstruik To Win By KO, TKO, DQ or Submission (+350)
Fight of the Night: Robbie Lawler vs Nick Diaz
This fight has Five Rounds written all over it. Sure, a lot can happen over 25 minutes, such as a cut prematurely stopping the fight or Diaz planking Lawler like he did 17 years ago. But both of these fan favorites are a shell of themselves and should be slower than in their heyday.
Still, Lawler and Diaz should combine to make a fan-friendly affair with plenty of boxing and trash-talking. But despite Lawler being shopworn, he’s still durable and Diaz himself owns one of the toughest chins in MMA. It’s unlikely the other puts the other way even at 185 pounds.
Pick: Will The Fight Go The Distance – Yes (-150)
