UFC 252: Miocic vs Cormier 3 Betting Preview

The third fight in an epic heavyweight trilogy headlines the main fight card this weekend as the UFC sets up the Octagon in its Las Vegas Apex Facility for UFC 252: Miocic vs Cormier 3.

The main event is a UFC heavyweight championship bout between reigning champ Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. At Bovada Sportsbook, this fight is being listed as nearly a pick’em with Miocic a slim -120 favorite and Cormier down as a -110 underdog.

This will be the third time that Miocic and Cormier have fought with the UFC heavyweight title on the line. They first fought at UFC 226 in July 2018 when Cormier defeated Miocic via first-round knockout to win the title as a +130 underdog.

The rematch took place just over a year later at UFC 241 in August 2019. That night, Miocic reclaimed the title by defeating Cormier via fourth-round TKO as a +105 underdog.

Miocic enters the rubber match with a 19-3 record with 15 wins by KO. Cormier is 22-2 and one no contest with 10 wins by KO and five by submission. Before losing to Miocic at UFC 241, Cormier had been undefeated in his previous eight fights.

O’Malley undefeated in first dozen fights in MMA

Also on the main card this weekend is a bantamweight bout between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera. At Bovada, O’Malley is a -310 favorite and Vera a +240 underdog.

O’Malley is undefeated in his MMA career at 12-0 with eight wins by KO. He last fought at UFC 250 in June, defeating Eddie Wineland by first-round KO as a -715 favorite.

Vera is 5-1 in his last six fights and his overall record stands at 15-6-1 with five wins by KO and seven by submission. He last fought at UFC on ESPN 8 in May and lost to Song Yadong by unanimous decision as a +160 underdog.

Dos Santos, Rozenstruik both coming off losses

One other notable fight on the main card this weekend is a heavyweight bout between Junior dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. At Bovada, Rozenstruik is a -155 favorite and dos Santos a +125 underdog.

Rozenstruik is coming off his first career loss, which dropped his record to 10-1 with nine wins by KO. He last fought at UFC 249 in May, falling to Francis Ngannou by first-round KO as a +190 underdog.

Dos Santos has dropped his last two fights and his record is 21-7 with 15 wins by KO. He last fought at UFC Fight Night 166 in January when he lost to Curtis Blaydes by second-round TKO as a +200 underdog.