UFC Predictions: Preview, Picks & Props for UFC 332 - Silva vs. Wang
The UFC heads to Utah for a numbered card stuffed with 14 fights. We'll take a look at each bout across three platforms, with picks including a veteran looking to end his career on a high note and a flyweight with the power to stop a hype train. Our betting lines this week come from the RotoWire MMA betting page and are accurate as of the post date of this article.
UFC Predictions to Consider on DraftKings
Payton Talbott ($9,600)
I would be warning against most fighters returning value at this salary in a three-round fight, but Talbott has so many advantages over Deiveson Figueiredo that I expect him to put on a show here. Look for Talbot to use his speed, striking, and power to set the tone early, while throwing in some wrestling for good measure.
Court McGee ($7,200)
Interestingly, McGee has only increased his commitment to wrestling down the stretch of his career, as we saw when he took down and submitted Tim Means in the first round of their fight. Eric Nolan may have youth on his side, but it's difficult to forget that he was submitted in his first UFC fight and got taken down an astonishing 17 times by Farman Hasanov in June. It goes without saying that Farman is infinitely more explosive than McGee was even in his prime, but it worries me that Nolan had an exhausted fighter in front of him from the middle of the second round and was never close to swinging the bout in his favor. "The Crusher" has always been a cardio machine, and I've seen nothing that suggests Nolan will be a consistent finisher at this level.
Ismail Naurdiev ($8,300)
Marvin Vettori is as durable as ever, but what's notable about his four-fight losing skid is his inability (or unwillingness) to get on his front foot and dictate terms. This was a hallmark of the Italian fighter during his run to title contention, and without it, Naurdiev should be able to control this fight with his jab while mixing in his wrestling game.
Alexander Hernandez ($9,000)
It was widely expected that Geoff Neal would knock out Rafael dos Anjos before an ACL tear ended their bout in 2024. Now set to make his return for the first time in over two years, I'm not sure what to expect from the former lightweight champion, who is 41 years old and has always been susceptible to strong wrestlers. This should be a green light for Hernandez, who struggles when fighters put him on the back foot, but draws an opponent who is far too comfortable putting his back to the fence.
King Green ($7,300)
Esteban Ribovics loves to take the fight to his opponents, drowning them with pressure and volume. This is seldom the recipe to beat Green, who wants nothing more than his opponents to come after him so he can slip and counter. Much has been made about Green's durability, but he stood up to four minutes of an absolute onslaught before finishing Terrance McKinney and should be able to use his wrestling against an opponent who was most recently taken down four times and held for almost seven minutes by Mateusz Gamrot.
Roman Kopylov ($7,400)
Ateba Gautier has been the monster of middleweight since his debut last March, finishing five of six opponents by knockout. I've noticed a troubling trend in his last two bouts, however, as the Cameroonian fighter has had trouble creating openings, which has resulted in longer fights with less volume. There is no doubt he has the power to hurt Kopylov, but the former kickboxing champion thrives when he can get his kicks working in space, and Gautier seems willing to give him the room he needs. We have also seen Kopylov wrestle quite a bit in his last two fights, notching three takedowns over that span.
Anthony Wint ($9,300)
Wint's speed, power, and wrestling ability should continue to play at heavyweight, but his lack of pure size is enough to raise eyebrows. The former New York Jets linebacker will cede three inches of height to Lucas Armand, who is a decent boxer for the weight class with some nice footwork. Still, Wint's ability to control and submit on the ground should be the equalizer here, as he won't be afraid to aggressively chase takedowns.
Marcus McGhee ($8,500)
McGhee becomes a must-play according to the theory of line value, as he became a (-480) favorite against newcomer Anthony Romero after Benardo Sopaj was removed from the fight. "The Bully" tries to live up to his nickname by holding the center of the cage and throwing big shots. However, he is hittable, and I've never seen him win a fight against an opponent who offered real resistance. McGhee will give Romero all he can handle, mixing targets with power and agility.
Jacobe Smith ($9,800)
Smith looks to have another fight he will be able to power through, as he will have tremendous athleticism and wrestling advantages over Bruce Whitehead. Whitehead is a crafty striker who will set up combinations and can counter well, but I don't expect him to be able to stand up to the sheer firepower of Smith.
Try out these recommended fighters with different lineup combinations on our DraftKings UFC Lineup Optimizer.
UFC Predictions to Consider on PrizePicks
Natalia Silva OVER 79.5 Significant Strikes, and Johnny Walker OVER 34.5 Strikes
This seems like a great setup for Silva to use her speed and in-and-out movement over five rounds, as Cong Wang likes to plant her feet and try to land combinations. Neither woman has shown themselves to be much of a finisher in the UFC, so I expect the strikes to pile up.
I'm intrigued by Walker's move up to heavyweight, as he still has height and reach advantages against Michael Parkin. Walker's late career has been defined by keeping range and scoring with long-range weapons, and I expect him to land enough volume to get past this total.
Interested in backing these or other selections on sites like PrizePicks? Check out the Best MMA Picks & Prop Bets by comparing lines to our projections using the RotoWire Picks & Props tool
UFC Bets to Consider
Damian Pinas Wins in Round 1 (+130)
Pinas marries technique, athleticism, and power in a way rarely seen at middleweight. Andrey Pulyaev can be a tricky striker when he has time to work, but his upright stance and lack of athleticism will put him right in the firing line of "The Baby Yaga's" strikes. Pulayev's claim to fame in the UFC to this point was taking the aforementioned Gautier to a decision, but he'll face a fighter in Pinas who has shown devastating one-strike power.
Alden Coria Wins via KO/TKO (+750)
Imanol Rodriguez was a ball of energy en route to his knockout of Kevin Borjas, but sloppy striking and a disregard for defense got him dropped in Round 1 before storming back for the finish. Coria should be the much more polished striker here and has shown the ability to counter strike with power. Rodriguez certainly has the ability to swarm and overwhelm, but the dynamics line up too well to pass on a line this juicy.
Roberto Soldic wins via KO/TKO (-129)
Soldic made his bones as a punishing striker in organizations like KSW, where he would hold the center of the cage and light opponents up with fast hands, body work, and combination punching. Khaos Williams is a dangerous opponent, but we've seen how wild he gets when forced to cede ground, and Soldic uses angles and footwork to keep himself safe.
For more UFC wagers to consider, check out our MMA Best Bets for 332. For the latest in UFC odds, head to the RotoWire MMA Betting section.
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