3 UFC 302 Undercard Bets Worth Putting Money On

There’s some star power on the UFC 302 fight card, but the undercard has some hidden-gem bets. We’ve hand-picked three UFC 302 undercard bouts worth putting money on. Keep reading to get our free picks!

What: UFC 302
When: Saturday, May 18
Where: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey

Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk Betting Pick

This middleweight clash opens up the UFC 302 main card, and features a fan favorite in Holland. Across the best UFC betting sites, Holland is favored on the moneyline over Oleksiejczuk. Here’s the current odds:

Fighter
Kevin Holland	-230	-230	-230
Michal Oleksiejczuk	+190	+190	+190

This fight was thrown together last minute, announced only two weeks ago. This isn’t a short-notice injury replacement so neither were in a proper fight camp before this, thus canceling out any disadvantages.

Both guys are coming off losses on the same night, back in UFC 299. Oleksiejczuk was stopped out by Michel Pereira, whereas Holland lost a decision to the debuting Michael “Venom” Page. Holland also lost the fight before that so the 31-year-old is at a crossroads in his career. Neither fighter is ranked at middleweight (though Holland is No. 15 at welterweight).

This fight is going to be fought on the feet, no questions asked, as both fighters are strikers. Holland does his damage thanks to his range (he’s 6-foot-3) and precision striking. Takedown defense is a problem for Holland, but the good thing is, that’s not Oleksiejczuk’s forte. On the feet, Oleksiejczuk isn’t as dangerous as Holland. If anything, he’s on the slow side.

We like Holland to win this fight. The odds aren’t the best, but over/under lines have yet to be released for most of the card. If they do, and the line is pegged at 1.5 rounds, you might want to look into the over. Holland is a finisher, but typically starts slow so we wouldn’t bank on a quick stoppage.

Kevin Holland to beat Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302

-230

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Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki Betting Pick

We’ll be honest, this lightweight fight probably won’t excite most fans. The wrestler Dawson has a reputation for being boring, and Solecki is a grappler himself. Still, we see an opportunity in betting the Dawson-Solecki moneyline. Here’s how the odds shake out:

Fighter
Grant Dawson	-345	-345	-345
Joe Solecki	+275	+275	+275

Dawson is the more than 3-to-1 favorite to win, as he should be because he’s mostly dominated during his UFC career. He had won nine fights in a row inside the octagon, but last time out, Dawson was first-round KO’d by Bobby Green. It was an embarrassing loss because of how it happened — 33 seconds in and with a simple jab punch. More on that soon.

When it comes to this matchup, Dawson is the better wrestler. He averages 3.68 takedowns per fight to Solecki’s 2.65. Dawson also has the size advantage, which matters when on the ground. Solecki is also fresh off his own embarrassing KO when he was stopped by a WWE-style slam.

Look, Dawson should win this fight, and probably does by decision. His wrestling is that much superior. However, we don’t think it’s a bad idea to throw a prayer bet on Solecki. His odds are just too lopsided, especially given how weak of a chin Dawson has. Solecki, to his credit, is a so-so striker. We wouldn’t put it past Solecki to channel Green and finish Dawson out of nowhere.

Joe Solecki to beat Grant Dawson at UFC 302

+275

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Phil Rowe vs. Jake Matthews Betting Pick

Most of the UFC 302 card, including the main event, lacks competitive odds. This prelim bout is one exception. Rowe vs. Matthews is one of the closest betting lines of the night, as seen below:

Fighter
Jake Matthews	-155	-155	-155
Phil Rowe	+130	+130	+130

Both welterweights are opposites in the octagon. Matthews has a wrestling background and he averages 1.59 per fight. The 29-year-old is the definition of hot and cold, as he’s exchanged wins and losses his past six times in the octagon. If the pattern holds, he’s due for a win since he lost in his last UFC appearance.

Rowe is more of a striker, and honestly, he has some talents there. He’s 6-foot-3, which offers him a lot of range. Rowe’s footwork is also sneaky good, which can help him piece up Matthews. The thing is Rowe’s fight IQ isn’t very high, and that negates some of his natural talents.

When it’s this close of a fight, we often like going with the wrestler. They can score points for takedowns and wear out opponents on the ground, however, Matthews is a lot smaller than Rowe. We sense he might have problems controlling him on the ground and if this fight mostly stays standing up, then Rowe should win. That’s how we’re betting it — Rowe is our underdog play of the night.

Phil Rowe to beat Jake Matthews at UFC 302

+130

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How To Bet On UFC 302?

Every type of bet you need for UFC 302 is being offered at one of the below bookies. Moneylines, props, over/unders — it will all be there for the taking! With this card alone, the UFC 302 bet opportunities reach in the hundreds so there’s even more value besides the three bets we covered here.

Best of all, there are big-money promotional bonuses that can bankroll your UFC 302 betting. See the table for a list of our favorite deals going right now — deals that can top out in the thousand-dollar range. All it takes is redeeming one promo for free bets this weekend so get on it!