UFC 243: Adesanya Looks To Stay Perfect Against Whittaker
Australian history is expected to be made as Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya clash in Whittaker’s adopted homeland in the main event at UFC 243. Let’s have a look at UFC 243 odds:
- Bovada lists Robert Whittaker as the -135 favorite to defeat Israel Adesanya in their middleweight title unification bout at UFC 243
- Al Iaquinta is the -137 chalk to down Dan Hooker in their lightweight co-main event bout
- Holly Holm is given -200 odds to defeat Raquel Pennington in their women’s bantamweight bout
The record crowd for a UFC event in Australia was the 56,214 that attended UFC 193 in 2015. That night, Holly Holm dethroned world champ and UFC mega star Ronda Rousey with a stunning knockout.
With its local connections, this bout figures to be an even bigger sensation in the UFC odds, and that’s why attendance records are expected to be shattered. Whittaker and Adesanya are the top fighters in the 185-pound weight division.
An ailment derailed Whittaker’s previous scheduled appearance in Australia. He was forced to withdraw from his UFC 234 bout with American Kevin Gastelum after being rushed to hospital with a collapsed and twisted bowel.
While Whittaker recovered, Adesanya beat Gastelum at UFC 236 to take possession of the interim middeweight title belt.
Adesanya (17-0) is unbeaten in his MMA career. Whittaker (24-4) is 5-0 in his career when fighting on Australian soil.
- 1Robert Whittaker (-135) vs Israel Adesnanya (+105)
- 2Al Iaquinta (-137) vs Dan Hooker (+112)
- 3Holly Holm (-200) vs Raquel Pennington (+163)
- 4UFC 243 Undercard Picks
Robert Whittaker (-135) vs Israel Adesnanya (+105)
Kelvin Gastelum, who lost the interim title bout to Adesanya, is tipping Whittaker to win this massive showdown in the UFC 243 picks. Whittaker has won nine fights in a row since his last loss in 2013, including a pair of title defenses.
Adesanya is a stand-up knockout fighter. If he’s going to win, he’ll probably do it via an early KO. The longer the fight goes and the more Whittaker can force it to the ground, the more the UFC 243 odds lean toward him.
Whittaker isn’t the greatest wrestler in MMA but he’s significantly better than Adesanya. And he’s proven to be a durable fighter.
Al Iaquinta (-137) vs Dan Hooker (+112)
Hooker (18-8), Adesanya’s training partner, knocked out James Vick in his last fight. Iaquinta (14-5-1) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Dan Cerrone last May. He’s lost two of his last three fights and looks to be in tough in the UFC picks.
A winner of five of his last six bouts, none of Hooker’s eight career victories in UFC competiton have gone the distance. He’s won every one by KO, TKO or submission.
Iaquinta has faced stiffer competition. He fought Khabib Nurmagomedov for the vacant UFC lightweight title in 2018. Though he lost, the fight went the distance.
Holly Holm (-200) vs Raquel Pennington (+163)
Holm returns to the site of her greatest triumph, and perhaps the most shocking outcome in the UFC Vegas odds, when she shocked out the legendary Ronda Rousey in UFC 193.
Things have gone south for her since then. Holm has lost five of her last seven fights, including defeats at the hands of Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes.
Pennington isn’t in that class of MMA talent. Look for Holm to get back on the winning track, fighting at a place where she should be oozing confidence.
UFC 243 Undercard Picks
Sergey Spivak makes his second UFC appearance and again, is in tough. The Ukrainian heavyeight brought a 9-0 MMA mark, all via stoppages, to the UFC. But he was knocked out by Walt Harris, the No. 11-ranked heavweight in his UFC debut. Spivak is a heavy underdog in the UFC 243 odds.
Spivak gets Australian Tai Tuivasa, the No. 13-rated fighter in the division, in his second bout.
Tai Tuivasa (-435) vs. Sergey Spivak (+234)
Tuivasa (8-2) has lost two straight. But seven of his eight wins are via knockout.
Luke Jumeau (+127) vs Dhiego Lima (-156)
Lima will utitlize his size (6-2 to 5-11) and reach (75-72 inches) advantages to take the decision in the UFC Vegas odds.
Callan Potter (n/a) vs Maki Pitolo (n/a)
Potter, 34, was knocked out by Jalin Turner in 53 seconds in his UFC debut at UFC 234.
He’s 9-2 in his last 11 bouts. Piloto won the UFC Contender series and has won his last three fights.
Justin Tafa (n/a) vs. Yorgan De Castro (n/a)
Both De Castro (5-0) and Tafa (3-0) come into this heavyweight bout with unblemished records. De Castro was recently signed by UFC.
Khalid Taha (-260) vs. Bruno Silva (+200)
Silva (11-3-1) is 3-1-1 in his last five bouts. Taha (13-2) is 3-2.
Jamie Mullarkey (-260) vs. Brad Riddell (+200)
Silva (11-3-1) is 3-1-1 in his last five bouts. Taha (13-2) is 3-2.
Nadia Kassem (-127) vs. Ji Yeon Kim (+104)
Kassem (5-1) was beaten in her last fight. Kim is 2-2 in UFC and also comes into this bout off a loss.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
