Best UFC Bets: Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy Picks

Here are three bets on the upcoming UFC Fight Night you should be making right now. We’ve analyzed the entire card and we’re most confident in these three hitting for wins!

What: UFC Fight Noght
When: Saturday, May 18
Where: UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada

Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy Betting Pick

A pair of featherweights headline UFC Fight Night in what should be a close fight if the betting odds are to be believed. Right now at the best UFC betting sites, Murphy is the favorite to win, but not by much. Here’s the latest Barboza-Murphy odds:

Fighter
Lerone Murphy	-145	-145	-145
Edson Barboza	+115	+115	+115

Murphy is flying a little under the radar despite a 13-0 career record. We’d stop short of calling him a prospect because he’s 32 years old, but Murphy is a rising star in the weight class. For those unaware of Murphy’s skills, he’s an excellent striker. The movement is there and so is the power. He doesn’t really have a signature win on his resume, but here’s a shot against a veteran like Barboza.

Barboza is 38 years old, but honestly, he doesn’t fight like it. He last beat Sodiq Yusuff, another rising star who was a good striker. The thing about Barboza is he’s more well-rounded than Murphy. Maybe he’s not as crisp of a striker as the younger Murphy, but Barboza has a far better ground game. In other words, Murphy can beat you in more ways than one.

We really like Barboza’s chances in this one — especially with plus-money odds. He’s fought the best of the best over his long UFC career including the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dan Hooker, Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson, and more. Murphy hasn’t fought anywhere Barboza’s skill level and that very well might get him exposed. Take the underdog fighter to win straight up here!

Edson Barboza to beat Lerone Murphy

+115

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Khaos Williams vs. Carlston Harris Betting Pick

Here’s an even closer fight on the moneyline. This bout between Williams and Harris is almost at pick ‘em. The odds are as follows:

Fighter
Khaos Williams	-130	-130	-130
Carlston Harris	+100	+100	+100

Both are pretty darn good at striking, however, Williams has the advantage standing up. The 30-year-old averages an impressive 5.77 significant strikes per minute. By comparison, Harris is only at 2.93. But it’s the power and dangerousness where Williams has the advantage. He can finish a fight at any moment and that threat makes him a compelling fighter at welterweight.

The thing is Williams is one-sided compared to Harris. See, Harris has complimentary grappling and takedown ability. Harris averages 2.05 takedowns per fight in the UFC, while Williams has exactly zero over his UFC career. If this fight goes to the ground, Williams is in trouble.

Ultimately, that’s what this fight comes down to — can Harris takedown Williams? We’re betting he can’t consistently. We mean, Harris’ takedown accuracy is an appalling 29 percent. On the flip side, Williams is 80 percent on takedown defense. This should swing the win in Williams’ direction.

Khaos Williams to beat Carlston Harris

-130

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Adrian Yanez vs. Vinicius Salvador Betting Pick

We round out our betting picks with this featherweight clash. As it stands, Yanez is a comfortable -360 favorite to win. We’re not in love with that lopsided line, therefore, our money is going on the over/under between Yanez and Salvador. Here’s how that bet is being pegged:

Outcome
Over 1.5 Rounds	-160	-160	-160
Under 1.5 Rounds	+130	+130	+130

Yanez doesn’t know how to have a boring fight. Get this, five of his eight UFC fights have resulted in Performance of the Night bonuses. This is because Yanez is almost all striking. He has exactly zero takedowns but that’s countered by 6.15 strikes per minutes. What makes a Yanez striking so regarded is speed. This guy is cat-like quick with his fists.

The issue is, Yanez has been KO’d in back-to-back fights. His defense can get sloppy because he’s so offensive-minded. That could get him in trouble against Salvador, who is also a striker through and through. Salvador is a southpaw boxer that has both speed and power in his fists. What’s funny though is Salvador has also lost two straight fights by KO.

So does that mean someone is getting knocked out in this fight? We think it’s a real possibility given how both are trending. Put money on the under and grab the popcorn. Heck, if you’re feeling risky, maybe even throw spare money at Salvador’s moneyline. It feels a little too mispriced given how chiny Yanez has been as of late. A knockout upset is not out of the question.

Under 1.5 rounds in Salvador vs. Yanez fight

+130

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How To Bet On UFC Fight Night?

UFC Fight Night bets are available in the hundreds once you factor in all the props available. If you want every type of bet, hit one of the bookmakers below. Any one of the featured bookies has a full list of wagers for Saturday, beyond the three we covered here.

Best of all, there are even lucrative promotional bonuses being offered. Bonuses, that if leveraged, can bankroll your UFC betting for free. That’s guaranteed money before the bell ever rings. The table underneath lists our favorite offers. Pick one and away you go with free UFC bets!