UFC 298 is stacked from top to bottom. This creates a plethora of betting opportunities to profit off of. We’ve analyzed the card’s top three bouts and settled on our favorite UFC 298 bets. If you want this expert betting advice, stick with us cause these bets will have you “in the green” come fight night.
- What: UFC 298
- When: Saturday, February 17
- Where: Honda Center in Anaheim, California
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria Betting Pick
This is the featherweight dream match we’ve all been waiting for — Volkanovski vs. Topuria. Volk, the current champion, is arguably the greatest in division history. Topuria is the fastest-rising challenger, who one day might even find himself in that same GOAT conversation alongside Volk and Jose Aldo. This is going to be a classic, and not even the best UFC betting sites know who’s winning. As it stands, the Topuria-Volkanovski moneyline is dead even:
On the surface, this fight deserves that pick ‘em line. Topuria has never lost once in his career, while Volk has never been defeated at featherweight (his two UFC defeats were at lightweight). Both are extremely well-balanced — striking, grappling, extreme cardio, great chins, etc. No one has a size advantage either.
Perhaps the only difference? Age and experience, depending on your perspective. Topuria barely turned 27, while Volk is 35 — an age that’s somewhat cursed for many UFC greats. At the same time, Volk has beaten everyone in the division while Topuria has never fought for a talent quite like Volk.
The elephant in the room is that “Volkanovski is washed” as some bettors believe. He was head-kick KO’d last time out against Islam Makhachev. We’re pushing pause on this narrative, however. Volk took the fight on a week’s notice, had to cut a lot of weight in a short span, and just wasn’t prepared at all to fight the UFC’s best pound-for-pounders. Things will be different against Topuria with Volk getting a full camp and a bout in his weight class.
Our money is on Volk. Topuria’s moment is coming soon, but just not yet. The difference-maker in this court will be Volkanovski’s in-ring IQ. He’s a tactician at the highest level. Tack on his experience against the best of the best, and Volkanovski escapes with a decision win. Bet the champ here.
Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa Betting Pick
This middleweight clash semi-main events a solid card. Both fighters are at a career crossroads of sorts, needing a win. If the oddsmakers are correct, then Whittaker will be beating Costa. Here’s how the fight’s moneyline odds stand:
Why career crossroads? Welp, for Whittaker, he’s fresh off being finished by the new champion, Dricus du Plessis. It marked the first time in nine years that someone other than Israel Adesanya has bested Whittaker in the octagon. Du Plessis battered the 33-year-old Whittaker, which also brought up the same question as Volk, “has he slipped skill-wise?”
Costa is arguably in a worse place. Since losing his first-ever UFC fight to Adesanya in September 2020, he’s fought only twice in a three-and-a-half-year span. Costa keeps having to cancel fights, including one vs. Whittaker before. At this point, no one — not even Costs himself — knows what type of fighter will show up in Anaheim (if it doesn’t get canceled).
We know the Costa of old was a heavy-handed, pressure fighter. He had one one mode of winning and one only — knockout. Eleven of his 14 career wins have been by KO. But the long ring layoff and also being 32 now gives us doubts whether Costa can still slug it out as effectively. Whittaker is the more sure fighter, and also the more skilled one. Cause of that, he’s getting our money in this one.
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo Betting Pick
Another fight, another banger. This time it’s between two bantamweights who could put themselves in a title-shot position with a victory. Currently, Dvalishvili is the odds-on favorite to best ex-champion, Cejudo:
We’ll be dead honest, we think Dvalishvili is the best bantamweight going, including over title-holder Sean O’Malley. We won’t even put stock into the argument that he’s beaten lesser competition because he’s ransacked everyone he’s faced amid this 9-fight-win streak. His grappling is just in another stratosphere.
Ironically, Cejudo is one of the few bantamweights who can at least match up with Dvalishvili. Cejudo’s wrestling could give Dvalishvili fits. Will it though? Our money says no. Maybe it would when Cejudo was in his prime but not now on the cusp of 37 years old. Take Merab to win here.
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