When in Paris, Profit Off These UFC Props From the Main Events
Banking on a Thug and a Polar Bear To Yield Some Loot
The UFC returns to Paris with two main events that could lead to big upsets. Ciryl Gane and Manon Fiorot are the homeland heroes. But it could be Serghei Spivac and Rose Namajunas coming out with the victories, respectively. Both are worth betting on the UFC lines straight given their odds. And we take to the UFC props for even bigger returns.
UFC Fight Night Information
- Date: Saturday, September 2, 4:50 p.m. ET
- Venue: Accor Stadium, Paris, France
- Live Stream: UFC Fight Pass
Namajunas Brings Out the “Thug” Against Fiorot
“Thug” Rose is back and as an underdog. The last two times she was one, she head-kicked Zhang Weili and beat Joanna Jedrzejczyk twice. Those are only the two greatest strawweights. Now, she moves up to 125 pounds against Manon Fiorot and this should be a great transition for her.
Namajunas doesn’t need to cut that much weight. She also looks better at 125 and at just 31 years of age, she’s still in her prime. Talks of her being “washed up” are overstated. The two-time 115-pound champion is an underdog worth betting online. And we’re going a step further to say she finishes Fiorot.
Thug Rose returns SATURDAY @RoseNamajunas is officially back in our #UFCParis co-main!
[ 3pmET / 12pmPT Main Card | Live on ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/EHrBNbmRwl— UFC (@ufc) August 28, 2023
Whether it’s via a head kick or a submission, Namajunas has several advantages here: speed, Jiu-Jitsu, and big fight experience. Fiorot is also fighting in her home country for the first time and is on the cusp of a title shot. This is a lot of pressure on her. She may not fight like how she does in smaller stages. Any mistake she makes here could be her undoing.
Additionally, a first-round finish is Namajunas’s most likely chance of finishing Fiorot here. Six of her 10 submission victories (counting The Ultimate Fighter’s bouts) came within the first round. She can wrap up Fiorot when both are still dry. This is also when Namajunas could catch Fiorot with a swift kick or counter when the Frenchwoman gets too aggressive.
Alternatively, those who are more conservative can bet online on the “Either Winner” prop in the sportsbook instead. This one covers both a Round 1 win for Namajunas and Fiorot. We don’t want to entirely discount Fiorot here. She’s bigger and stronger and could just bully Namajunas if the underdog is as faded as many believe.
Spivac Exploits Gane’s Weakness
Fiorot is not the only French fighter facing immense pressure. Ciryl Gane faces more as he needs to rebound coming from being on the wrong end of humiliating UFC news. Unfortunately, the UFC decided to pit him against the worst type of opponent: a pure grappler. Gane’s last two losses came by way of his lack of grappling experience.
Thus, Spivac is not only our UFC pick as an underdog but we like for him to even finish Gane. The favorite’s only way of winning here is to keep the fight standing. If he does, he may even knock Spivac out. But there are too many opportunities for the “Polar Bear” to get on top of Gane at some point.
Gane might get emotional fighting in France as he did last year. He got into a war with Tai Tuivasa and even got hurt. That was uncharacteristic of the typically stoic fighter. Like Fiorot, Gane could make that lapse in judgement and end up on the ground. There, Spivac will take over and submit him.
