UFC 252 Betting Picks: Analysis and Tips for Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier

Are you ready for UFC 252? As usual, the fight card does not disappoint. Top-shelf matchups abound, and they're headlined by the third meeting between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. Below you'll find the UFC betting odds for this prizewinning bout, along with all the other lines you need, courtesy of the BetOnline:

Favorite			Underdog
Stipe Miocic	-115	-115	Daniel Cormier
Jairzinho Rozenstruik	-125	+105	Junior Dos Santos
Magomed Ankalaev	-350	+265	Ion Cutelaba
Pedro Munhoz	-230	+180	Frankie Edgar
Sean O'Malley	-350	+265	Marlon Vera

Make sure you're double-checking these UFC 252 betting odds before placing a wager. The opening bell on these fights will sound on August 15. The lines are bound to shift between now and then. For now, though, our preview will cover everything you need to know:

• UFC 252 start time
• Updated odds for all of the main fights
• Breakdown of Miocic vs. Cormier
• Analysis of Rozenstruik vs. Dos Santos
• Predictions for top-five fights

You can also check our UFC betting page and our UFC odds page for the latest information on the UFC betting world.

UFC 252 Betting Breakdown

• When: August 15
• Start Time: 8 p.m. EST
• Where: UFC Apex Facility in Las Vegas, Nevada

Stipe Miocic (-115) vs. Daniel Cormier (-115)

This is the third part of the heavyweight trilogy between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. And it's shaping up to be a banger.

Miocic and Cormier have split their first two meetings. Their initial bout came at UFC 226, in July 2018. Cormier was the light heavyweight champ at the time and just moved up to the heavyweight division. He notched a first-round knockout to beat Miocic and become a two-division titleholder.

Their second battle came at UFC 241, in August 2019. This proved to be more of an evenly matched affair, though Miocic scored the fourth-round knockout. He has been out of the octagon ever since, after undergoing eye surgery from issues that are believed to have been suffered while fighting Cormier.

As for Cormier, this could be the last fight of his career. He is 41 and has always maintained he'd retire before 40. Many think he's prolonged his stay in the UFC strictly to complete this trilogy with Miocic. 

Despite the split moneylines, not to mention the series split itself, it's tough for us to pick against Miocic. He is among the most accomplished heavyweight fighters in UFC history. It would be a stretch to say that Cormier got lucky in their first matchup, but with the added rest and younger frame, Miocic is the fighter we're rolling with.

OSB Prediction: Stipe Miocic

Jairzinho Rozenstruik (-125) vs. Junior Dos Santos (+105)

It's sort of surprising that Jairzinho Rozenstruik isn't a starker favorite. Junior Dos Santos has some of the best technical skills in the business, but Rozenstruik has knocked out many of the most touted heavyweight fighters.

Impressive still, Rozenstruik has only one loss to 10 victories on his UFC record. And with Dos Santos working off a two-fight losing streak, this feels like an artificially deflated betting line.

Maybe Dos Santos can take this to a decision. His movement around the octagon certainly lends itself to avoid a knockout. But we're not about to pick against Rozenstruik, who has aspirations of securing even bigger-name matchups in the future.

OSB Prediction: Jairzinho Rozenstruik (-125)

Magomed Ankalaev (-350) vs. Ion Cutelaba (+265)

Ion Cutelaba has been waiting for this one.

He and Magnomed Ankalaev already fought once, this past February. The matchup lasted all of...38 seconds. Ankalaev won by TKO. But Cutelaba and his camp have insisted the fight was called prematurely and pushing for a matchup ever since.

Though a rematch was initially scheduled for UFC 249, it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. It's tough to get a feel for this fight as a result. We have only a 38-second sample size to go off. 

But oddsmakers are correctly favoring Ankalaev. He's working off a four-fight winning streak since September 2018 and known as one of the more opportunistic strikers in the business. Cutelaba, by comparison, takes too many risks and makes too many impulsive offensive decisions, as evidenced in his 4-4 record under the UFC banner.

OSB Prediction: Ankalaev (-350) 

Pedro Munhoz (-230) vs. Frankie Edgar (+180)

Initially scheduled for a UFC fight night, this matchup received a promotion after Pedro Munhoz tested positive for COVID-19. It is now one of the five headlining fights at UFC 252.

Oddsmakers haven't been impacted by Munhoz's positive COVID-19 test. He opened at around the same spot, as a -225. But we believe Edgar is actually at a slight advantage.

While his past two fights were both losses, they came at the hands of UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway. The latter is a far more well-rounded opponent than Munhoz. That should work out in Edgar's favor, as both his defense and striking have improved after facing higher-end competition.

OSB Prediction: Frankie Edgar (+180) 

Sean O'Malley (-350) vs. Marlon Vera (+265)

Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera were last-minute additions to the UFC 252 fight card. That doesn't make them any less appealing.

On the contrary, aside from Miocic-Cormier, this is a match many will have circled as the most interesting. O'Malley is one of UFC's fastest-rising stars and becoming an increasingly large draw. His resume lives up to that hype.

Not only does he sport a career 12-0 record (4-0 in UFC specifically), but he's made quick work of his past two opponents. He dispatched Jose Quinonez in the first round on March 7 and then did the same to Eddie Wineland at UFC 250.

Fans and analysts alike drool over O'Malley's combination of power and length. His 72-inch reach allows him to land both kicks and strikes from a distance, and he has the force behind his vertical combinations to end sparrings in a hurry—as we 've already seen on multiple occasions.

OSB Prediction: Sean O'Malley (-350)

Check out the below list of the best online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for your UFC 252 betting:

Category : Sports Betting News