UFC heads to the “Land Down Under” for its next pay-per-view card. Perth, Australia plays hosts on February 12 to a card that features the top two pound-for-pound fighters going at it. Of course, we’re talking about Makhachev vs. Volkanovski, which we break down in this article. Keep reading to get expert advice for betting UFC 284.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Islam Makhachev Betting Pick
What a banger of a main event at UFC 284. Volkanovski — who hails from Australia — is moving up from featherweight to challenge for Makhachev’s lightweight championship. And while Volkanovski is the No. 1-rated pound-for-pounder, that means little to the best betting sites for UFC because Makhachev is the clear-cut favorite to win:
| Fighter |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islam Makhachev | -350 | -350 | -350 |
| Alexander Volkanovski | +250 | +250 | +250 |
You can’t discuss this matchup without mentioning the big disadvantages Volkanovski is fighting with. Yes, the crowd might be on his side, but it’s going to take more than that to overcome his size disparity with Makhachev. We mean, Volkanovski is a meager 5-foot-6. Even at featherweight — a division he’s dominated en route to 11-straight victories — Volkanovski is undersized, little less now against the 5-foot-10 Makhachev.
The size mismatch was on full display during the announcement press conference which featured both fighters. Once the two did the classic face-off, Makhachev absolutely TOWERED over Volkanovski. The latter is also the one that needs to pack on weight in fight camp to be ready. While Volkanovski did spend time early in his career at lightweight, it’s just not his natural division at this stage of the game.
Size is always a big variable to account for in any UFC fight, but perhaps more so in one that features wrestlers. And not just any wrestler, but perhaps the best in the entire promotion. Of course, we’re talking about Makhachev, who fights out of Dagestan. Makhachev is amid an 11-fight streak, one punctuated by a masterclass against Charles Oliviera. Being the bigger fighter only magnifies Makhachev’s wrestling ability, which is already as perfect as it gets.
We hate to discredit Volkanowski so easily. After all, he’s arguably one of the best UFC fighters since his 2016 debut (having never lost in that span). However, this is an awful matchup for the featherweight champion. Credit to him for taking this fight and challenging himself, but he’s “taking off more than he can chew” with this one. Simple as that. We anticipate Makhachev to win and win quite easily at that.
Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett Betting Pick
With Volkanovski going for the double title, an interim featherweight match has been set and that will semi-main event UFC 284. The matchup pits two fighters getting their first shots at gold. The Rogriguez vs. Emmett moneyline is much closer than the main event, as seen below:
| Fighter | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yair Rodriguez | -160 | -160 | -160 |
| Josh Emmett | +130 | +130 | +130 |
Stylistically, both fighters match up closely. Each can crack with their fists that possess one-punch power. Though, Emmett does have the superior ground game if the fight goes there. When analyzing the fight, however, we just can’t look past Emmett’s age. He is turning 38 years old. And sure, he’s gotten a “second wind” this late in his career with five wins in a row, but we can’t pick him to win — not with the best days of his career well past him. Rodriguez should win this, which sets up another mega-fight against Volkanovski to unify the belts.
Jack Della Maddalena vs. Randy Brown Betting Pick
Upon first look at the Della Maddalena-Brown odds, we’re actually a little surprised. Not that Della Maddalena, who is also getting the home-crowd advantage as he’s Aussie, is the favorite, but by how much he is favored. Oddsmakers aren’t giving Brown much of a shot, just look at these betting lines:
| Fighter | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Della Maddalena | -310 | -310 | -310 |
| Randy Brown | +220 | +220 | +220 |
To be fair, Della Maddalena has impressed mightily since joining the UFC. He’s won all three of his UFC bouts via first-round knockouts. But it’s not like Brown doesn’t have momentum of his own, with wins in six of his last seven bouts.
Here’s what we view as the matchup’s X-factor: Brown’s lengthy reach. Della Maddalena will likely be the in-ring aggressor, as he was in his previous bouts to success. However, that same aggression could get him caught by Brown’s long reach. An upset via Brown is very possible. At his long odds, it’s worth taking a flyer bet on him.
How To Bet On UFC 284
You can get the full gamut of UFC 284 betting odds by visiting one of the bookmakers listed underneath. The full card will have more than a dozen of fights to bet on once you account for prelims. Each of these bouts will have all types of UFC bets available — whether that be moneyline, over/under bets, or props.
If you need help picking the best sportsbook for you, use our table below. We’ve listed up-to-date sportsbook reviews and details on free-play promotions currently up for grabs. Both those should factor into your decision-making process since you'll likely be using these books for future UFC cards too.
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