UFC Vegas 96 Prop Picks: Cash in on TUF 33 Finale Special!

· Aug 23 - 8 minutes read

We have two Ultimate Fighter finales for Saturday’s UFC card, coached by Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso.
The middleweight and featherweight divisions will see two new stars receive a UFC contract via the TUF finale, and we expect violence!
We have two props for the TUF finales, and you can find the best UFC prop odds at our sportsbook.

I know we’re all excited about the college football season, but don’t forget that another week of octagon violence also awaits, and those fight night festivities don’t feel the same without some prop bets to line our pockets, am I right?

UFC Vegas 96 Prop Picks: Cash in on TUF 33 Finale Special! — Caio Borralho - Thiago Ribeiro/AGIF

Don’t worry yourself… I’m back again to share my expert MMA opinion on this weekend’s UFC Vegas 96 lineup, headlined by middleweight brute Jared Cannonier and Brazil’s rising star Caio Borrlaho.

Continue reading to discover the perfect prop predictions for Saturday’s UFC card, including the latest UFC odds presented by BetUS Sportsbook.

THE #TUF32 FINALS ARE SET! 👊

👊 Grasso 🆚 Shevchenko: Sept. 14 at #NocheUFC
👊 Santos 🆚 Ofli: Aug. 24 at #UFCVegas96
👊 Valentin 🆚 Loder: Aug. 24 at #UFCVegas96 pic.twitter.com/sqLaxuuKko

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 21, 2024

UFC Vegas 96 Information

Date & Time: Saturday, August. 24, 2024 – 07:00 p.m. ET
Location: UFC Apex, Las Vegas
How to Watch: UFC Fight Pass & ESPN+
Main Event Bout: Jared Cannonier vs Caio Borralho
Co-Main Event Bout: Angela Hill vs. Tabatha Ricci
Scheduled Fights: 13
Biggest UFC Vegas 96 Betting Favorite: Cong Wang @ -1200
Biggest UFC Vegas 96 Betting Underdog: Victoria Leonardo @ +650

2 Best Prop Bets for UFC Vegas 96

1. Ryan Loder vs Robert Valentin: The Ultimate Fighter Finale

I’ve been an avid fan of The Ultimate Fighter since its birth in 2005. This UFC-produced show has created a long list of talent over the years, but sadly, the show isn’t what it used to be. With the Dana White Contender Series taking the spotlight, the format of TUF is difficult to sell when a tournament structure is now in the shadow of DWCS, where one win can gift prospects a UFC contract without needing a drawn-out television show.

And sure, the best talent might be found elsewhere in this day and age. Still, this weekend’s TUF middleweight finale presents an intriguing middleweight bout between Robert Valentin and Ryan Loder.

Loder is an All-American freestyle wrestler who reached the TUF finale by one submission and one decision, and yes, he’s all about the wrestling that’s helped him collect a 6-1 pro record (minus the two TUF wins).

Valentin is the polar opposite. He’s all about those hands, and this Swiss kickboxer punched his ticket into the final by finishing both opponents on the show… fast and aggressively in the first round!

Ryan Loder 🇺🇸 is headed to the #TUF32 semifinals!

He made quick work to secure an arm triangle in the first round 😤 pic.twitter.com/jk5wtgwE4n

— The Ultimate Fighter (@UltimateFighter) July 10, 2024

Loder, Valentin Under 2 ½ Rounds [-150]

Just Hit the Under

The UFC betting odds support Valentin by placing him as the favorite, and considering he has a significant experience advantage, one-punch KO power, and a sneaky BJJ offense with scrambling ability that can counter Loder’s wrestling, I’m not surprised.

While I’m picking Valentin for the dub, I’m much more comfortable supporting this fight to end inside the distance. Valentin’s lone career losses on the regional scene came in the later rounds, placing a cause for concern on his cardio across 15 minutes.

With Loder prime for a KO/TKO in late round two or three alongside Valentin’s nasty striking threat early on, I only see this fight going one of two ways… and it doesn’t involve the judges.

Loder vs Valentin Betting Trends

Valentin has gone the distance in just 2 of his 15 pro bouts (including TUF)
Valentin has seen under 2 ½ rounds in seven consecutive fights
5 of Loder’s 7 MMA victories (including TUF) ended within the first two rounds

Robert Valentin is through to the next round of The Ultimate Fighter as he is able to get be stoppage victory over Giannis Bachar in the first round #MMATwitter #TUF32

pic.twitter.com/kGdg47fxXE

— Scott (@ScottishProbl) June 12, 2024

2. Kaan Ofli vs Marlon Santos: Bet on KO or Decision

In the Ultimate Fighter Season 33 featherweight showings, two fighters, Bekhzod Usmonov and Edwin Cooper Jr., were held in high regard by bettors and UFC News outlets. Both hype trains were derailed, and Brazil’s Marion Santos, one of the TUF 145lb finalists this weekend, surprisingly got through Cooper on the show to instantly raise his stock.

Worryingly, visa complications prevented Santos from making his UFC debut against Sean Woodson in the past. So, the promotion offered him an opportunity on TUF, and thus far, this striking ace has excelled. With a 13-1 pro record (15-1, if you include TUF bouts), he’s a proven winner, and with one foot in the door before the tournament, overlooking his potential would be foolish.

His opponent, Kaan Ofli, has fought a much lower level of competition throughout his pro-MMA tenure, and his route to the TUF finale also involved mediocre opponents. That said, behind a BJJ black belt, he’s a serious threat on the ground, and that’ll be his primary path to victory in Vegas this Saturday.

Santos by KO or Decision [ +200]

Estamos na final!
Sábado no UFC me acompanhe nessa jornada em busca de ser o campeão do TUF, vamos!!!!!

Heading to the Finals!!!
Saturday on the UFC Fight Night follow me on this journey trying to be The Ultimate Fighter! pic.twitter.com/GSZRM4KTj4

— Mairon “The Legend” Santos (@Maironsantoss) August 21, 2024

Striker vs Grappler

Well, the MMA odds are slightly juiced in favor of Santos, and I’m not surprised. Aside from the positive aforementioned factors we discussed above, Santos, albeit marginal, has fought and defeated opponents with greater records and more diverse skill sets.

Ofli isn’t terrible on the feet, but he will use his striking to drag this fight to the floor. Unfortunately for him, he’s struggled to close the distance in the past, and attempting this against Santos, who is a nasty striker at range or in the pocket with fluid footwork and fight-ending power, won’t be easy.

I think the deal-breaker in this striker versus grappler matchup relies on which fighter is more talented in their weaker area, and it has to be Santos. Yes, he’s known for his striking prowess, but he’s Brazilian; of course, he knows how to grapple. In fact, he’s no stranger to competing in grappling tournaments, and while he isn’t on the level of Ofli in this regard, he certainly has the talent to scramble, defend takedowns, and keep this fight a striking battle.

Santos’ only career loss was against Dan Argueta, a current UFC roster member. He’s never lost via submission, even when competing in BJJ tournaments. When a kickboxing battle ensues as I expect it to, Ofli won’t have the answers to overcome this young 24-year-old prospect that will prove why his previous opportunity to receive a UFC contract was warranted by out-striking his foe for 15 minutes or catching a sneaky knockout stoppage.

Ofli vs Santos Betting Trends

All 13 of Santos’ pro-MMA bouts and TUF appearances were won by KO/TKO or decision
45% of Ofli’s career wins came by submission

“He has a really bright future ahead of him.”

Alexa Grasso (@AlexaGrasso) discusses Mairon Santos’ semifinal victory that advanced him to the #TUF32 featherweight finale.

Full Episode 12 Recap ➡️: https://t.co/GlfwOkCqVM

— UFC News (@UFCNews) August 21, 2024

My Favorite UFC Vegas 96 Prop Bets

Loder/Valentin Under 2 ½ Round [-150]

Santos Win by KO or Decision [TBD]

Bet On UFC Vegas 96 Prop Bets Here!

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.

Take A Look At These Other 2 UFC Special Articles

Questions of the Day

Where can I watch the TUF 33: Shevchenko vs. Grasso Finale?

This season’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter presents a middleweight and featherweight bracket, and the respective finales—Ryan Loder vs. Robert Valentin @ 185 lbs and Mairon Santos vs. Kaan Ofli @ 145 lbs—will take place on ESPN this weekend at UFC Vegas 96.