UFC Update & UFC 249 Betting Preview

The UFC has joined the rest of the sports world this week following a mass cancellation of upcoming UFC events.

Ending up on the chopping block were the next three UFC events, which included UFC Fight Night 171 on March 21 in London, England, UFC on ESPN 8 on March 28 in Columbus, Ohio and UFC Fight Night 172 on April 11 in Portland, Oregon. Following the event cull the next scheduled card on the UFC calendar is UFC 249 on April 18. It was supposed to take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but that venue is expected to change.

Nurmagomedov undefeated in his career

If UFC 249 does take place somewhere it will mark the return to the octagon for UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. He’s scheduled to face Tony Ferguson in a UFC lightweight title bout. Right now at the Bovada Sportsbook Nurmagomedov is a -300 favorite in the fight and Ferguson is a +230 underdog.

Nurmagomedov remains undefeated in his MMA career at 28-0 with eight wins by knockout and 10 by submission. He last fought at UFC 242 in September where he successfully defended his title with a win over Dustin Poirier by third-round submission as a -555 favorite.

Ferguson has won his last 12 fights to boast an overall record of 25-3 with 12 wins by KO and eight by submission. He last fought at UFC 238 in June where he defeated Donald Cerrone by second-round TKO as a -240 favorite.

Namajunas the favorite facing Andrade

Also on the main card at UFC 249 is a women’s strawweight rematch between former champions Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade. At the Bovada Sportsbook Namajunas is a -175 favorite and Andrade is a +145 underdog.

Namajunas is 8-4 with one win by KO and five by submission. She faced Andrade in her last fight where she lost the UFC women’s strawweight title. That fight took place at UFC 237 in May where Namajunas lost by second-round KO as a -120 underdog.

Andrade enters the rematch with a 20-7 record with seven wins by KO and seven wins by submission. Her reign as UFC women’s strawweight champion was a short one. In her last fight at UFC Fight Night 157 in August, which was also her first title defense, she lost to Zhang Weili by first-round TKO as a -210 favorite.