UFC 287 features one of the most exciting sagas in the sport — Alex Pereira vs. Adesanya 2 (4 if you count the two kickboxing fights). This combat sports rivalry that stretches two sports is truly one-of-a-kind and it goes into overdrive on April 8 in Miami, Florida. Before you even think about UFC 287 betting, you need to read this guide that includes multiple free picks on the night! Keep reading if you want to make money!
Pereira vs. Adesanya Betting Pick
It was only four months again that Pereira defeated Adesanya with a fifth-round TKO to claim the middleweight title. He is now 3-0 against the “Last Stylebender.” Adesanya might be the first-ever guy to get a fourth fight with someone he’s never beaten, and not only that but be the betting pick favorite. Across all the top-used betting sites for UFC, Adesanya is the marginal favorite to win. Here’s a look at the current moneyline odds:
| Fighter |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Israel Adesanya | -150 | -150 | -150 |
| Alex Pereira | +120 | +120 | +120 |
To be fair, Adesanya was on his way to a unanimous decision before the TKO. On all three scorecards, he held a 39-37 advantage. Adesanya was a constant moving target the whole fight until that ill-fated moment in the fifth when Pereira finally landed a blow that staggered Izzy. From there, Pereira unloaded shot after shot before the stoppage sealed his title win in only his fourth UFC fight.
Honestly, a knockout is the only real path to victory Pereira has in this UFC rematch. However, with his hands, it’s a very real possibility — one that’s proven to be Adesanya’s biggest nightmare. Izzy has only been KO’d twice in his career which spans kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Both times came courtesy of Pereira. The kickboxing KO came in 2017 and even required Adesanya to get oxygen to regain consciousness.
Outside of that, Adesanya is a more well-rounded fighter. With his lengthy limbs, he can land hits almost at will — to the body, leg kicks, and the occasional knockout. But that’s the thing, Adesanya appeared hesitant at times in the prior match. Perhaps it was fearing Pereira’s power, but Izzy failed to go “for the kill” when he had Pereira hurt. That might’ve cost him the win.
To us, it feels like Pereira is in Izzy’s head — we mean, he should be after being the kryptonite to Adesanya’s otherwise brilliant fight career. We think Pereira adds a fourth win to his repertoire come April 8. Getting him at plus-money odds only makes this pick more worthwhile.
But on that note, if Pereira wins, it likely means the under 4.5 rounds also hits. That’s why we’d encourage you to take that wager separately. You could always parlay the two together if you want to add risk and up the potential payout. You decide that, but our final prediction is Pereira wins via finish again.
Jorge Masvidal vs. Gilbert Burns Betting Pick
You had to know Masvidal was going to be on the bill when Miami was announced as UFC 287's location. "Gamebred" is indeed here, and will have a cult-like audience to support him. But even then, the oddsmakers are giving him a slim to none chance of beating Burns in this welterweight clash. We mean, just look at how lopsided the Burns-Masvidal moneyline odds are at the moment:
| Fighter | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert Burns | -450 | -450 | -450 |
| Jorge Masvidal | +325 | +325 | +325 |
The question every bettor needs to ask themselves when analyzing this fight is pretty simple: is Masvidal washed? Since winning the "BMF title" against Nate Diaz in 2019, Masvidal hasn't won a fight. He's now lost three in a row — all in convincing fashion, albeit against top-tier fighters like Kamru Usman (twice) and Colby Covington. Burns isn't at that level, but he's sure no chopped liver either.
Ever since taking Khamzat Chimaev to the absolute limit in 2022, Burns' stock has risen in the sport despite losing that fight. He next went on to submit Neil Magny and is now the sixth-ranked fighter in the division (Masvidal is No. 15 for comparison's sake).
Honestly, this should be a pretty easy win for Burns. We do, in fact, believe the 38-year-old Masvidal is washed, further enhanced by the KO he received from Usman. With a kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu background, Burns should be able to stop Masvidal before the judges have to make a decision. Taking a prop bet on the exact finish is a more value-rich bet than just taking Burns' moneyline too.
How To Bet On UFC 287
You'll want to hit one of the underneath betting sites for all things UFC 287 betting. Our picks concentrated on the night's top two fights, but of course, there are about a dozen other bouts you can wager on too. For a complete list of UFC 287 bets, visit one of the trusted bookmakers below (we've listed only the top-rated ones in our latest sportsbook reviews).
We should mention that any one of these sites could effectively become your go-to place for UFC betting (and mixed martial arts at large). UFC 287 is stacked, but there are plenty more big cards on the way in 2023 and the years that follow. Every type of UFC bet you can think of will be offered year-round at these sites so no need to use another bookmaker.
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