UFC 251 Betting Odds Preview

The long-promised Fight Island finally makes its debut this weekend as the UFC heads to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi for UFC 251.

The main event this weekend is a welterweight title bout between champion Kamaru Usman and challenger Jorge Masvidal. It was supposed to be Usman vs Gilbert Burns, but Burns was forced to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19. At Bovada Sportsbook, Usman is a -300 favorite and Masvidal a +230 underdog.

Usman has won 15 straight fights and owns an overall record of 16-1 with seven wins by knockout. He last fought at UFC 245 in December when he defeated Colby Covington by fifth-round TKO as a -220 favorite to defend his title.

Masvidal has won his last three fights to improve to 35-13 with 16 wins by KO. He last fought at UFC 244 in November, defeating Nate Diaz by third-round TKO as a -275 favorite.

Volkanovski, Holloway fight for featherweight title again

The UFC featherweight title will also be on the line this weekend when champion Alexander Volkanovski faces challenger Max Holloway in a rematch. At Bovada, Volkanovski is a -235 favorite and Holloway a +185 underdog.

Volkanovski has won 18 straight fights and owns an overall record of 21-1 with 11 wins by KO. He last fought at UFC 245 when he won the featherweight title by defeating Holloway by unanimous decision as a +150 underdog.

Holloway enters the rematch with a 21-5 record with 10 wins by KO. In his UFC 245 loss against Volkanovski, he was the -200 favorite.

Namajunas favored over Andrade in rematch

Also on the main card this weekend is another rematch between women’s strawweight fighters Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade. At Bovada, Namajunas is a -210 favorite and Andrade a +170 underdog.

Both fighters are former UFC women’s strawweight champions. Namajunas faced Andrade in her last fight at UFC 237 in May 2019. That night Namajunas lost the title to Andrade via second-round KO as a -120 underdog. Andrade was a -155 favorite.

Andrade’s reign as UFC women’s strawweight champion was a short one. In her very next fight at UFC Fight Night 157 in August, she lost to Zhang Weili by first-round TKO as a -210 favorite.

Yan has nine consecutive victories

One other interesting fight on the main card this weekend is a bantamweight fight between Petr Yan and Jose Aldo. At Bovada, Yan is a -235 favorite and Aldo a +185 underdog.

Yan has won nine straight fights and boasts an overall record of 14-1 with six wins by KO. He last fought at UFC 245 where he defeated Urijah Faber by third-round KO as a -555 favorite.

Aldo has lost his last two fights and five of his last eight. His overall record now stands at 28-6 with 17 wins by KO. He last fought at UFC 245, losing to Marlon Moraes by split decision as a +135 underdog.