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After taking a couple of weeks off to end 2020, the UFC is back with its first event of 2021, which will be broadcast on ESPN+ and for the first time on ABC. At 12:00 p.m. ET, there will be six prelim fights streamed on ESPN+.
Then at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, there will be five bouts on the main card, which includes the main event of Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar. Holloway enters the octagon ranked first in the featherweight rankings, while Kattar is ranked sixth in the division. We are here to breakdown the odds on that fight and a couple others on the card that might be of interest. As always, odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar
This is a fight that features two of the best fighters in the featherweight division. Holloway enters Fight Island with a professional fighting record of 21-6 and as the favorite (-162) over Kattar. He is receiving 42% of the handle and 73% of bets. “Blessed” Holloway last fought in July at UFC 251, where he lost by a split decision to the featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.
The 29-year-old has not won a match since April 2019 at UFC 240, where he defeated Frankie Edgar by unanimous decision. Out of Holloway’s 21 wins in his career, 10 of them have been by TKO/KO.
As for Kattar, he walks into the octagon as the underdog (+138). The 32-year-old fighter has a professional fighting record of 22-4. The Massachusetts’ native has won two-straight bouts by unanimous and a second round knockout. Furthermore, it would not be surprising to see the “Boston Finisher” go the distance and possibly win the fight as he’s only lost two UFC bouts in three years.
Kattar-Holloway winning method splits
| Outcome | Odds | % Handle | % Bets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Odds | % Handle | % Bets |
| Calvin Kattar By Submission | +1400 | 0.2% | 1% |
| Max Holloway By Decision | +130 | 18% | 39% |
| Max Holloway By KO, TKO or DQ | +450 | 10% | 16% |
| Tie | +5000 | 1% | 5% |
| Calvin Kattar By Decision | +333 | 7% | 17% |
| Calvin Kattar By KO, TKO or DQ | +350 | 64% | 21% |
| Max Holloway By Submission | +1200 | 1% | 3% |
Joaquin Buckley vs. Alessio Di Chirico
Buckley v. Chirico is one of six matches on the preliminary card Saturday. The 26-year-old fighter enters as the overwhelming favorite (-278), with a professional fighting record of 12-3. He is receiving 96% of the handle and 94% of the bets. Surprisingly, this is only “New Mansa” Buckley’s fourth-ever UFC event. In his last bout at UFC 255, the Missouri native landed a second-round knockout over Jordan Wright. It was the 26-year-old’s second-straight victory by knockout in the second round.
As for Di Chirico, he walks into the prelim bout as the underdog (+215). The 31-year-old fighter from Italy has a professional fighting record of 12-5. “Manzo” has lost three-straight bouts all by unanimous decision. The Italian mixed martial artist has not won a fight inside the octagon since Jul. 2018 at the Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale.
Wu Yanan vs. Joselyne Edwards
In one of the two women’s bantamweight bouts, Wu Yunan will take on Joselyne Edwards in the prelims. Neither Yanan or Edwards enter as the favorite as their odds are currently set at -110. But Edwards is receiving 72% of the handle and 61% of the bets. Yunan is receiving 28% of the handle and 39% of the bets.
Yanan has a professional fighting record of 11-3, but hasn’t fought since 2019 at UFC Fight Night 157. At that event, she lost by split decision to Mizuki Inoue. Her last win happened at UFC Fight 141 in Nov. 2018.
“La Pantera” Edwards walks into the octagon with a professional fighting record of 9-2. This will be her first UFC fight as she’s toured the minor league circuit for five years. In her last fight at UWC Mexico 22 in July, Edwards defeated Pamela Gonzalez by knockout in the first round.
UFC on ABC 1 betting splits
| Fights | Odds | % Handle | % Bets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fights | Odds | % Handle | % Bets |
| Austin Lingo | -230 | 92% | 90% |
| Jacob Kilburn | +180 | 8% | 10% |
| Vanessa Melo | +180 | 36% | 21% |
| Sarah Moras | -230 | 64% | 79% |
| David Zawada | +210 | 13% | 13% |
| Ramazan Emeev | -275 | 87% | 87% |
| Carlos Felipe | -190 | 70% | 74% |
| Justin Tafa | +155 | 30% | 26% |
| Joselyne Edwards | -110 | 72% | 61% |
| Yanan Wu | -110 | 28% | 39% |
| Phil Hawes | -134 | 49% | 59% |
| Nassourdine Imavov | +108 | 51% | 41% |
| Dusko Todorovic | -159 | 67% | 69% |
| Punahele Soriano | +130 | 33% | 31% |
| Joaquin Buckley | -278 | 96% | 94% |
| Alessio Di Chirico | +215 | 4% | 6% |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | -305 | 91% | 89% |
| Li Jingliang | +240 | 9% | 11% |
| Matt Brown | +145 | 22% | 31% |
| Carlos Condit | -177 | 78% | 69% |
| Max Holloway | -162 | 42% | 73% |
| Calvin Kattar | +138 | 58% | 27% |
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