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In the co-main event of UFC 254, #1 Robert Whittaker will take on #2 Jared Cannonier in a middleweight bout this Saturday live from Fight Island in Abu Dhabi and available on pay-per-view via ESPN+. This bout is even at -110 for both fighters as we write this, a dead heat according to the oddsmakers.
Whittaker enters with a 22-5 MMA record. If you take out a loss to champion Israel Adesanya, Whittaker has won his last ten straight bouts. In his last four fights, he has two wins over #5 Yoel Romero and a win over #6 Darren Till. “The Reaper” is a big-time striker, averaging 4.51 significant strikes per minute. He absorbs 3.43, defending 61 percent of them.
Like Whittaker, his opponent, Cannonier, will want this fight on his feet.
He averages 3.72 significant strikes yet takes just 2.82, defending 66 percent of what’s thrown his way. Having won his last three fights before the third round, Cannonier typically fights at light heavyweight. He’ll be looking to change it up and have a shot at Adesanya.
Here are the betting splits at DraftKings Sportsbook for Robert Whittaker vs. Jared Cannonier at UFC 254 on October 24th.
Betting splits
Robert Whittaker: -110, (46% of action, 55% of bets)
Jared Cannonier: -110, (54% of action, 45% of bets)
Winning method splits
Here are the splits for the method of victory at DraftKings Sportsbook for Robert Whittaker vs. Jared Cannonier at UFC 254 on October 24th:
Whittaker vs. Cannonier Winning Method
| Method of victory | Odds |
|---|---|
| Method of victory | Odds |
| Jared Cannonier By KO, TKO or DQ | +165 |
| Robert Whittaker By Decision | +225 |
| Robert Whittaker By KO, TKO or DQ | +300 |
| Jared Cannonier By Decision | +450 |
| Robert Whittaker By Submission | +1600 |
| Jared Cannonier By Submission | +1800 |
| Tie | +6600 |
DraftKings DFS Values
Robert Whittaker: $8,000
Jared Cannonier: $8,200
Cannonier’s last four fights haven’t gone even into the third round. While three of Whittaker’s last four have gone the distance, it’d be shocking to see this bout be a decision. In five of Whittaker’s last eight fights, he’s landed over 65 significant strikes. Neither are primarily grapplers. If you pick Cannonier, it’s betting on a quick finish while Whittaker should be the better overall bet in DFS given how long he lasts in the octagon and how many strikes he throws in that time.
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