UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Allen Odds, Prediction and Fight Preview
Former UFC featherweight champion and current No. 2 contender Max Holloway fights No. 4 Arnold Allen in a matchup that could decide the next title contender at UFC’s return to Kansas City, Missouri after nearly four years away. Additionally, the No. 14 ranked featherweight Edson Barboza takes on the unbeaten Billy Quarantillo in a fight that promises to be exciting, and much more.
In a battle between two of the best featherweights in the world, Max Holloway takes on Arnold Allen. The Hawaiian king is back for the first time since losing a trilogy to Alexander Volkanovski in July of last year. It remains to be seen if the 31-year-old “Blessed,” who has often demonstrated his superiority to the competition in the 145-pound weight class, can keep his lead through the weekend.
Since joining the UFC, Allen has been unstoppable, amassing a perfect 10-0 record and propelling himself into title contention. The 29-year-old Brit won a first-round stoppage over Dan Hooker in London in March of last year, and in October, he defeated Calvin Kattar in two rounds thanks to a knee injury sustained by the New England Cartel member in the first.
Some were taken aback when Allen was not included in the interim championship battle in Perth in February, but now he has a chance to establish himself as the clear frontrunner going into the second half of the year. Holloway may need a change at the top of the division before he can compete for a championship again, but he seems content to dash the hopes of up-and-comers like Allen in the meantime.
Odds: Max Holloway (-190) vs. Arnold Allen (+160)
Our Prediction: While Holloway didn’t look good in his last outing, he still remains the second-best featherweight on planet in the opinion of many. Besides, Allen hasn’t faced the level of competition Holloway has, which lives us with the pick that Holloway will emerge victorious via decision or late TKO.
On Saturday, featherweights will be heavily represented, as both the main event and co-main event will feature a matchup between featherweights (Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo).
Barboza, who is now 37 years old, has been on a two-fight losing streak since dropping down to the 145-pound weight class and hopes to end it this weekend. He’s been in the UFC long enough to have faced a veritable Murderers Row, and he plans to use it to his advantage when he faces Quarantillo this weekend.
Since joining the UFC, “Billy Q” has posted a 5-2 record, and he comes into Saturday’s bout on the heels of a second-round TKO victory over Alexander Hernandez in December. The graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) has an allergy to dull fights and hopes to continue progressing by securing the biggest win of his career before the end of this business trip to Kansas City.
In another interesting clash, the light heavyweight class takes centre stage, as undefeated Russian Azamat Murzakanov faces off against Dustin Jacoby in the Octagon.
By winning his first seven fights upon his return to the UFC, Jacoby has become one of the most inspiring figures to come out of DWCS. His last fight ended in a hotly contested split decision loss to Khalil Rountree Jr., and he’ll be looking to avoid losing back-to-back bouts inside the Octagon for the first time since his debut and sophomore outings over a decade ago.
Murzakanov, 33, has a perfect 12-0 record after two stoppage victories in the third round in his first year in the UFC. Although though it’s been over two years since “The Professional’s” last appearance on the regional circuit, his performance two years ago in Las Vegas earned him a contract, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down now.
Both fighters are experienced veterans in the light heavyweight division wanting to make a name for themselves in the uncontested division.
UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Allen Odds
Max Holloway (-190) vs. Arnold Allen (+160)
Billy Quarantillo (-180) vs. Edson Barboza (+155)
Dustin Jacoby (-150) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (+125)
Ion Cutelaba (-125) vs. Tanner Boser (+105)
Chris Gutierrez (-210) vs. Pedro Munhoz (+175)
Rafa Garcia (-270) vs. Clay Guida (+220)
Billy Algeo (-200) vs. TJ Brown (+170)
Matheus Nicolau (-200) vs. Brandon Royval (+160)
Zak Cummings (-225) vs. Ed Herman (+185)
Gillian Robertson (-120) vs. Piera Rodriguez (+100)
Daniel Zellhuber (-125) vs. Lando Vannata (+105)
Bruna Brasil (-155) vs. Denise Gomes (+130)
Gaston Bolanos (-190) vs. Aaron Phillips (+160)
Lucie Pudilova (-135) vs. Joselyne Edwards (+115)
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