UFC Des Moines Perfect Prop Picks for May 3rd: Bet on Bo Nickal and Jackson vs Marcos
- Bet on Bo Nickal to win by KO or decision (-190)
- Bet on Montel Jackson vs Daniel Marcos to go the distance (-180)
- Make bank with our UFC picks! Join with our promo code HUDDLE125.
It’s been 25 years since the UFC last visited Iowa, and although the wait has been long for the Buckeye State, Saturday’s Fight Night card is loaded with a plethora of intriguing matchups to give Midwestern US fight fans a night they’ll remember!
Yes, I’m the resident UFC expert here at BetUS, and yes, I’m here for one reason: It’s time to share my best UFC props on this weekend’s UFC Des Moines card, headlined by bantamweights Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo.
Strike a pose 📸 #UFCDesMoines pic.twitter.com/6TQLRvZd8h
— UFC (@ufc) April 30, 2025
Top 2 UFC Fight Night Prop Bets
1. Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal: Nickal by KO or Decision (-190)
Reinier de Ridder, with a 19-2 pro-MMA record and accomplishments that include being a two-division ONE Championship titleholder, is undoubtedly a force on the ground, as witnessed by the back-to-back wins by submission over Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland in his lone UFC appearances thus far.
But, and this is a huge but… getting GM3 and Holland to the ground is an entirely different story compared to Ridder’s UFC Des Moines opponent. Why? Because we’re looking at Bo Nickal, the single most accomplished collegiate wrestler in the UFC today!
This is the guy we are relying on to beat Bo Nickal this weekend 💔
— Elonov 🇦🇺 (@ElonovMMA) April 30, 2025
Nickal However He Wants!
So, we have an incredibly talented wrestler versus a jiu-jitsu whizz… Where does this fight take place?
Honestly, I don’t believe it matters. Neither man has striking skills to run home about, but the sheer athleticism of Nickal will provide the more damaging strikes of the two. Then, on the ground, we know Ridder isn’t landing a takedown, and Nickal can take him down at will. I’m not overly impressed with Ridder’s BJJ off his back, and the top pressure of Nickal could easily give him a path to dominating this fight grounded for all three rounds.
Another red flag for Ridder is his gas tank. He’s looked spent at times during the latter rounds, and if he’s gasping for air in the third with Bo Nickal on top of him, it could spell trouble. Either way, Bo gets this done on the feet or opts for a top-control approach, and while I don’t envision a ground-and-pound situation being wise for defending jiu-jitsu early in the fight, I can envision a tired Ridder getting stopped late in the fight.
For my official UFC predictions, let’s attack the Nickal by knockout or decision prop market, thus ensuring we get a much greater price (-190) than the juiced moneyline available.
De Ridder vs. Nickal Betting Trends
Here are some UFC betting trends to consider:
- Both of Ridder’s pro-MMA losses were inside the distance
- Nickal has finished 4 of his 7 pro career fights by KO/TKO
- Nickal defeated a submission specialist (Paul Craig) by decision last time out
Why did the Bo Nickal hype die down? pic.twitter.com/XzBUTMxSHA
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) April 29, 2025
2. Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos: Fight Goes the Distance
In a featherweight showdown, Montel Jackson is set to face off against Daniel Marcos! This could be an exciting showdown, with Jackson sitting at No.15 in the division, even though he hasn’t stepped into the ring since last summer!
With a nickname like ‘Quik’, it’s no surprise that Jackson’s standout feature is his lightning speed! His hands are a blur, as demonstrated in his jaw-dropping knockouts of Da’Mon Blackshear and Rani Yahya.
Marcos, on the other hand, seems like quite the thrilling challenge! He’s got a sparkling 4-0 record in the octagon, with one No Contest thrown in for fun, and he really flexed his toughness with a solid victory over Adrian Yanez last year!
Bet This Pick: Jackson vs Marcos Goes the Distance – Yes (-180)
“One step at a time; one fight at a time.”
Montel Jackson (@Montello135) is letting his work speak for itself as he seeks his sixth win in a row.#UFCDesMoines
Fight by Fight Preview ➡️: https://t.co/bSJBR6C3Fc
— UFC News (@UFCNews) April 30, 2025
No Quit!
Revaluating the Yanez fight will give some cause for concern regarding Marcos’ continued climb through the rankings. Despite winning, he looked like the worst version of himself we’ve seen to date, and this slow and plodding performance had many of us wondering whether the judges picked the right side.
On the bright side, Marcos ate Yanez’s shots and once again proved that South Americans have chins made of steel. I love this because Jackson, with 16 fights overall and 10 UFC appearances, has never been knocked out.
As I side with Jackson edging this fight, nothing gives me more confidence than the durability of these men. There is no quit between these two; therefore, backing the UFC lines for this fight to go the distance at a relatively decent price makes sense!
Jackson vs. Marcos Betting Trends
- Jackson has gone the distance in 6 of his 10 UFC bouts
- Jackson has never been stopped by KO/TKO or submission
- Marcos has gone the distance in 3 of his 4 UFC bouts
- Marcos has never been stopped by KO/TKO or submission
Daniel Marcos is looking to make history for his country of Peru #UFCDesMoines
🎥🎙️: @brett_cagle pic.twitter.com/K9IkFjcQUb
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) April 30, 2025
UFC Des Moines How To Watch
- Date and Time: Saturday, May 3, 2025 – 07:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa
- How to Watch: UFC Fight Pass
- Main Event Bout: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo
- Co-Main Event Bout: De Ridder vs. Nickal
- Scheduled Fights: 12
- Biggest UFC Des Moines Betting Favorite: Mason Jones @ -550
- Biggest UFC Des Moines Betting Underdog: Jeremy Stephens @ +399
Get the latest UFC betting news here.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
Question of the Day
Who’s the biggest UFC underdog this weekend?
In his long-awaited UFC return, a 40-year-old Jeremy Stephens enters UFC Des Moines as the biggest betting underdog on the UFC fight night odds [+399]. His opponent, Mason Jones, is also making his UFC return, priced at a whopping -550.
