No rest for the wicked! Following a massive UFC 259 that saw two upsets and an historic title change, we’re back at it for UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Muhammad. The UFC odds has the returning Leon “Rocky” Edwards as the favorite. Find all the betting odds for this event from the BetUS online sportsbook.
- Date: Saturday, Mar. 13, 7:00 p.m.
- Venue: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Watch on: ESPN+
Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad (Welterweight Main Event)
Leon Edwards (18-3-0) returns to action for the first time in nearly 20 months. “Rocky” has been making UFC news for all the wrong reasons since, but now the hard-nosed veteran Belal Muhammad (18-3-0) welcomes him back in place of Khamzat Chimaev.
The 13th-ranked Muhammad has an identical record and is on a four-fight winning streak. He’s fought and won three times since Edwards was last seen in the cage.
Octagon rust aside, this bout favors Edwards by quite a bit. Had he been more active, he would be larger than a 5-2 favorite. Simply put: Muhammad has few paths to victory here. I expect Edwards to win this via an undisputed decision.
Edwards hasn’t lost in over five years. He’s beaten eight opponents during this span. Had he not already lost to Kamaru Usman, he’d have gotten a title shot much earlier. Alas, Edwards has to put his winning streak on the line.
The British-Jamaican fighter is primarily a striker but is also adept in grappling with a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. To beat Edwards, a fighter has to have elite grappling and striking. Anything short would result in failure.
Muhammad is tough and has a high output as shown by his 4.86 significant strikes landed per minute (SLpM) and 2.03 takedowns per fight (15 minutes). But he also absorbs a lot in return (4.03) and has not fought a top-five opponent.
Edwards is very technical, durable, and hits hard despite having only one knockout victory in the UFC. Ring rust aside, I like Edwards to get the better of Muhammad on the feet and win a clear-cut decision or catch him on a counter and knock him out.
Pick: Leon Edwards -260
Odds For This Event
- Belal Muhammad +200
- Leon Edwards -260
* odds are subject to change
Misha Cirkunov vs Ryan Spann (Light Heavyweight)
Both Misha Cirkunov (15-5-0) and Ryan Spann (18-6-0) are light heavyweights on the outside of the top ten looking to make a statement. Just when both fighters appear to “break through”, they get derailed by a devastating loss. Both were knocked out by Johnny Walker on this note.
As for the stylistic matchup, I have to give the edge to the Latvian-Canadian here thanks to being a more solid grappler and having a more proven resume. Both fighters are capable of Performance of the Night finishes, but can also be on the other end of that same category.
Cirkunov has been knocked out in all three of his losses and Spann was elbowed to oblivion not once but twice during his tenure in the octagon. But I’m more comfortable placing money on Cirkunov as he’s only lost to top-five fighters with explosive techniques, both of which do not describe Spann.
Hats off to Spann as he’s worked tremendously to place in the top-15 in the UFC, but Cirkunov should be able to outgrapple him and finish him off with a submission some time in the first two rounds. And on the side, bet for this fight to not reach a decision.
Pick: Misha Cirkunov -120
Odds For This Event
- Ryan Spann -110
- Misha Cirkunov -120
* odds are subject to change
Eryk Anders vs Darren Stewart (Middleweight)
We’ve got an explosive middleweight bout here between Eryk Anders (13-5-0) and Darren Stewart (12-6-0). Both fighters have seen their fair share of ups-and-downs in the UFC where all eleven losses have come from. But I feel the odds are a bit misplaced here and see a path for the underdog.
As far as their stand-up goes, Stewart could make short work of Anders if it stays there. “The Dentist” hits like a truck and Anders is one of the division’s most hittable fighters absorbing a whopping 4.18 significant strikes per minute.
But Anders has the ability to wrestle if necessary. He only has a 34 percent takedown accuracy and Stewart has a 66 percent takedown defense. This is still the same Stewart who surrendered a combined 21 takedowns against three fighters.
If it stays standing, we have to favor Stewart here. But if Anders fights smart and mixes in his wrestling, he can edge Stewart here. I like for him to do the latter and come away with a close victory here.
Pick: Eryk Anders +155
Odds For This Event
- Eryk Anders +155
- Darren Stewart -190
* odds are subject to change
