UFC 294 Odds, Picks & Best Bets – Makhachev vs Volkanovski 2

Check out our UFC 294 odds, picks and best bets ahead of Makhachev vs Volkanovski 2 and all the rest of the MMA action this Saturday evening.

How To Watch UFC 294

Start Time: The prelims start at 4 pm GMT ON UFC Fight Pass, and the main card begins at 5 pm on TNT Sports 2

What TV Channel? TNT Sports 2

Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

UFC 294 Main Card

Lightweight: Islam Makhachev (c) vs Alexander Volkanovski

Middleweight: Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev

Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs Johnny Walker

Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov vs Warlley Alves

Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov vs Muin Gafurov

UFC 294 Odds

UFC 294 Picks

Islam Makhachev (c) vs Alexander Volkanovski 

Fighter Records

Islam Makhachev (c) 24-1-0 | Alexander Volkanovski 26-2-0

Form

UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev (31) has been a force in the UFC for eight years now winning all but one of his fourteen bouts, he is currently on a thirteen-fight winning streak and he has asserted himself as one of the most dominant athletes in the company.

This a rematch from his last bout where he defended his title against the UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski on 12 February 2023 at UFC 284 where he earned victory via unanimous decision and the fight won Fight of the Night.

Alexander Volkanovski (35) is the current UFC Featherweight Champion and a former Boxer before he made his UFC debut. Following his defeat to Islam back at UFC 284 he returned to the octagon against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 where he won via TKO (punches) subsequently defending and unifying the UFC Featherweight Championship.

Fighting styles

Makhachev: Combat Sambo | Volkanovski: Kickboxing and Tiger Muay Thai,

Fight Analysis

This fight is a rematch from UFC 284 where the fight went the distance with Makhachev coming out, in the end, winning via a unanimous decision. Makhacev will have a 4-inch advantage in height and a 4.5 advantage in leg reach. He is most likely to employ a ground game with 46% of his victories coming via submission.

Volkanovski has a 71.5-inch reach to his opponent’s 70.5-inch, but expect him to be the more proactive fighter landing 6.25 significant strikes per minute to his opponent’s 2.35.

Prediction: Islam Makhachev By Submission @ 5/2

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Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev

Fighter Records

Kamaru Usman: 20-3-9| Khamzat Chimaev 12-0-0

Form

Kamaru Usman (36) may be one of the best (if not the best) UFC Welterweight in recent years but is getting on in years and is arguably not the force he once was.

Following his hard fought fight against Colby Covington where he won by Unanimous decision at UFC 268 he lost his championship to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 Via KO from a head-kick before losing by decision in their cremation at UFC 286.

New kid on the block Khamzat Chimaev (29) is unbeaten in his fighting career so far including six bouts in the UFC. His most recent fight was over a year ago against Kevin Holland where he won via Submission (brabo choke) at UFC 279, although that fight was over a year ago now.

Fighting styles

Usman: Striker/Freestyle Wrestler | Chimaev: Freestyle Wrestler/Striker

Fight Analysis

Two fighters with a very similar style pitting experience up against youth. Usman has shown himself to be a much more vulnerable fighter in recent bouts following his years of dominance while Chimaev is unbeaten and one of the brightest fighters in the division.

Chimaev wins this one By Submission with Usman’s best chance of success being a decision victory.

Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev By Submission @ 29/10

Magomed Ankalaev vs Johnny Walker

Fighter Records

Magomed Ankalaev 18-1-1 | Johnny Walker: 21-7-0

Form

Ankalev (31) last bout was at UFC 282 where he fought Jan Błachowicz (40) for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. The fight finished in a Draw which also ended his nine-fight winning streak before the bout.

Walker (31) is on a three-fight winning streak with his most recent victory coming against Anthony Smith where he won by unanimous decision. Walker has been fighting out of SBG Ireland since 2020, a gym most famous for being the home of Conor McGregor.

Fighting styles

Ankalaev: Striker| Walker: Striker

Fight Analysis

This fight puts two strikers against one another Ankalaev has won all eighteen of his bouts through his stiking with ten victories by knockout and eight by decision.

Walker is the slightly more rounded of the two fighters, eighteen of his twenty-one wins have come through his striking sixteen by knockout, three by decision. However, he also has three victories via submission.

Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev by KO, TKO or Disqualification @ 23/20

*Prices subject to fluctuation

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