The second UFC card of the yr takes place on the PNC Space in Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday. The cardboard is topped with a heavyweight battle between prime contender Curtis Blaydes and former champion Junior dos Santos.

Sooner than we take a look at the precept event, let’s cope with the co-main event which can ship the most important upset of the evening. Michael Chiesa is a +235 underdog in the direction of former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos (-275), and I take into consideration these odds to be far too massive.

To put it plainly, RDA isn’t the equivalent fighter that he was two-plus years up to now when he’d seemingly reinvented himself after a switch to welterweight. He ran off three straight wins over Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny and Robbie Lawler.

However, he was outpaced by Colby Covington, and dominated by Kamaru Usman in his subsequent two fights. Clearly, every of those guys are elite 170-pounders who can push and hold a frenetic tempo, nonetheless personally, Covington broke RDA. He hasn’t appeared the equivalent since that loss.

Whereas the Brazilian did submit Kevin Lee after the loss to Usman, I contend Lee was competing throughout the improper weight class, and was uncovered. RDA misplaced to Leon Edwards in his most recent battle by means of unanimous selection, and he appears a bit compromised.

On the other side, Chiesa is throughout the midst of the equivalent kind of resurgence RDA expert in 2017.

Since shifting as a lot as welterweight, he appears to be quite a bit stronger and further dangerous. He has a submission win over Carlos Condit and a dominant unanimous-decision victory over Diego Sanchez.

At 6’1” Chiesa owns a 4-inch edge in peak, and I think about he’ll be able to use that to his profit throughout the placing division. Ultimately, he wins this match on the underside with prime administration, and strikes.

His $7,300 is tantalizing and it opens up your lineup for among the many larger salaries. If Chiesa will get the submission win, or a takedown-heavy selection victory, it might very properly be the fantasy effectivity that locations you extreme.

The Elementary Event

Throughout the featured bout, I’ve Blaydes defeating JDS by unanimous selection. However, I do know there is a path to victory for the earlier champion. Blaydes should take this battle to the underside.

His solely two losses have come to Francis Ngannou, as a result of the American has struggled to cope with his enormous punching vitality. JDS has felt that exact same vitality, however moreover possesses arguably the perfect boxing talents throughout the heavyweight division. Blaydes has talked up his enchancment in that area, nonetheless he’d be intelligent to not enterprise into these waters for a protracted interval in the direction of JDS.

Ultimately, I see Blaydes securing takedowns, doing slightly hurt from the best, nonetheless principally taking rounds based mostly totally on controlling JDS on the underside.

Ultimate week, for UFC 246, I was 8-3 with predictions appropriately tabbing underdogs Drew Dober and Aleksei Oleinik as winners of their bouts.

This is a check out the chances and predictions for the entire UFC Raleigh card.

  • Curtis Blaydes (-240) vs. Junior Dos Santos (+200)
  • Rafael Dos Anjos (-275) vs. Michael Chiesa (+235)
  • Alex Perez (-270) vs. Jordan Espinosa (+230)
  • Angela Hill (-160) vs. Hannah Cifers (+140)
  • Jamahal Hill (-135) vs. Darko Stosic (+115)
  • Bevon Lewis (-420) vs. Dequan Townsend (+335)
  • Arnold Allen (-285) vs. Nik Lentz (+225)
  • Lucie Pudilova (-175) vs. Justine Kish (+155)
  • Montel Jackson (-630) vs. Felipe Colares (+465)
  • Sara McMann (-155) vs. Lina Lansberg (+135)
  • Tony Gravely (-115) vs. Brett Johns (-105)
  • Nate Landwehr (-125) vs. Herbert Burns (+105)

DraftKings Locks

Montel Jackson

His wage at Draftkings is $9,400 is the perfect on the cardboard, and he’s the most important favorite at -630. DK avid gamers who went for the fighter in his spot last week (Maycee Barber) had been burned. I think about points will in all probability be once more to common on Saturday.

Jackson is a blue-chip prospect on the rise after spectacular performances on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Assortment and spectacular wins over Brian Kelleher and Andre Soukhamthath in his last two fights. He has tempo, quickness and an excellent mixture of vitality and method on the underside.

Jackson’s opponent Colares is a brawler with some sloppy entry strategies, who moreover has sluggish palms and poor stand-up safety. This one could end shortly.

Jamahal Hill

One different DWTNCS alum Jamahal Hill has a superb matchup in the direction of Darko Stosic. Hill will benefit from a major attain profit over Stosic, and whereas the earlier isn’t as expert, he must have the sting in placing alongside together with his dimension.

Moreover, Stosic is a short-fight performer, meaning he’s most dangerous throughout the first spherical. He hasn’t confirmed good stamina, and because of his assemble, chances are isn’t going to range on Saturday.