UFC 265 Betting Picks
The UFC is in for a loaded summer 2021 slate, and while everyone continues to wait for the results at UFC 264, it's hardly too early to start looking toward what awaits us during UFC 265. Granted, the entire card hasn't been finalized yet. Nor is the complete list of gambling lines available. But we do have enough information to deliver UFC 265 betting odds and picks for Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Penna.
On top of that, a couple of other fights have been officially added to the undercard for us to analyze. Some don't yet have concrete betting lines, but we'll be dropping predictions for them anyway to give you a head start.
Let's begin with the current UFC 265 betting odds and the portion of the UFC 265 fight card we have at our disposal, courtesy of the folks over at BetOnline:
| Favorite |  | | Underdog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amanda Nunes | -700 | +450 | Julianna Pena |
| Ciryl Gane | -315 | +265 | Derrick Lewis |
| Jessica Penne | TBA | TBA | Karolina Kowalkiewicz |
| Casey Kenney | TBA | TBA | Song Yadong |
Make sure, as always, to double-check these lines before deciding on a wager. These UFC odds will move—and more fights will be added—before the opening bell. Also, whenever gambling on mixed martial arts events, we highly recommend checking out the top UFC betting apps for new user and fight specials.
UFC 265 Betting Breakdown
- When: Saturday, August 7, 2021
- Time: 8 p.m. EST
- Where: Toyota Center in Houston, Texas
MAIN EVENT: Amanda Nunes (-700) vs. Julianna Pena (+450)
The odds on this fight say it all.
Amanda Nunes is largely considered the greatest female UFC fighter of all time, and although GOAT conversations usually include plenty of debates, her case is pretty much a universal consensus. It isn't hard to see why, either.
Nunes is a two-weight-class champion and set to put her women's bantamweight title on the line vs. Julianna Penna. However, Penna's title shot is mostly considered a formality. Nunes has held this belt since 2016 and since successfully defended it five times.
What's more, Nunes picked up her second weight-class title in December 2018, when she defeated Cris Justino for the 145-pound featherweight belt. She has since defended that championship two times while making the 145-pound weight class her primary home.
The latter point is, as of now, Pena's greatest hope. Nunes must get down to 135 pounds to participate in this class and hasn't fought at the said level since beating Germaine de Randamie back in December 2019. Nearly two years will have passed by the time she gets into the Octagon opposite Penna.
Still, a 10-pound difference shouldn't much affect the way Nunes fights. Her success is predicated more on technique and position. She will continue to land her combos, and there's no one better at defending against takedowns.
Kudos to Pena for requesting a crack at Nunes. We just don't believe she has a shot.
OSB Prediction: Amanda Nunes (-700)
Ciryl Gane (-315) vs. Derrick Lewis (+265)
We were wrong to pick against Ciryl Gane when he squared off against Alexander Volkov at the most recent UFC fight night. We won't make that mistake again.
Gane is landing 5.13 significant strikes per minute and has yet to lose a match at the UFC level. Derrick Lewis brings solid size and power but is neither quick enough nor adept enough at deflecting strikes to hang vs. the 31-year-old. This is a fight that shouldn't be much of competition even if it makes it to a decision.
OSB Prediction: Ciryl Gane (-315)
Jessica Penne (TBA) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (TBA)
On the surface, Jessica Penne seems like she could be overmatched in this one. Karolina Kowalkiewicz is a quicker and more powerful hitter.
And yet, Kowalkiewicz has now lost four of her last five fights, two of which came by TKOs. Penne has dropped two of three matches herself, but she's working off a promising win over Loopy Godinez.
In the end, we think her strike defense will be good enough to fend off Kowalkiewicz. Given the way the past few reps in the octagon have gone for Kowalkiewicz, she might even get a chance to end this matchup early.
OSB Prediction: Jessica Penne (TBA)
Casey Kenney (TBA) vs. Song Yadong (TBA)
Give us Casey Kenney in this showdown by a hair. He has slightly better fundamentals when fighting vertically and plays better all-around defense.
To be sure, though, the 23-year-old Song Yadong is among UFC's most tantalizing up-and-comers. He has proven to be a whiz at getting opponents down to the mat and took Marlon Vera by decision in a recent UFC fight night, once again proving he has the stamina to tussle with the most technical foes.
This fight feels like a coin toss as a result. We're merely defaulting to Kenney's 16-3 record.
OSB Prediction: Casey Kenney (TBA)
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