Right on the heels of a thrilling card at UFC 308, the company is delivering one of their more loaded fight nights. UFC Fight Night 246 is coming to Canada on Saturday, November 2, with a main card event featuring Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi. And we are here to break it all down.
- What: UFC Fight Night 246 (UFC on ESPN+ 104
- When: Saturday, November 2, 2024
- Start Time: 4 p.m. EST (preliminary bouts), 7 p.m. EST (main card)
- Where: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Venue: Rogers Place
- Where to Watch: ESPN+ (subscription required)
- Main Event: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi
Moreno enters UFC Fight Night 246 working off two straight losses. However, he still sports a stout 21-8-2 overall career record. Albazi, meanwhile, arrives riding an extensive winning streak. He continues to have just one loss to his name, with a 17-1-0 overall record on his resume.
UFC Fight Night 246 Main Event: Brandon Moreno vs Amir Albazi Betting Lines
Despite hitting a recent rough patch, Moreno is opening as the favorite against Albazi. Here are the latest online UFC betting odds for this matchup:
Like usual, please remember to keep rechecking these UFC Fight Night 246 betting lines right up until you actually place your wager. Our UFC betting odds are accurate entering Monday, October 28. This gives the best online UFC betting sites more than enough time to continue adjusting lines depending on how the pre-bell action shakes out.
In fact, we have already seen some substantial movement. Much of it came following the conclusion of UFC 308. The infusion of interest in UFC betting actually saw Albazi get a bunch of the love, rendering him a smaller underdog than before.
Which fighter should you be investing in ahead of UFC Fight Night 246? Is Moreno the right choice as favorite? Or is Albazi tracking toward an even longer winning streak? Let’s find out.
The Case for Brandon Moreno to Defeat Amir Albazi
Moreno last fought this past February, at another UFC Fight Night, in what was his second matchup against Brandon Royval. The 30-year-old ended up losing by decision, dropping his second consecutive fight.
Perception has naturally shifted on the former Flyweight Champion as a result. Optimists, though, are willing to excuse the mini slump when looking at his level of competition. Taking matchups with Royval and Alexandre Pantoja to decisions is no small feat.
Others will also point to the hectic schedule he shouldered during this stretch. Royal has since taken around nine months off. Many are banking on that break improving his quickness while helping him regain his striking and takedown accuracy.
Time will tell whether that’s the case. But Peak Moreno is no doubt tough to beat. The best version of him is one of the more well-rounded products in this decision. And that explains why 84 percent of experts are picking him to win at UFC Fight Night 246, according to the folks over at Tapology.
The Case for Amir Albazi to Defeat Brandon Moreno
While Albazi is steadily climbing up the charts, people continue to question his striking ability. And the skepticism is fair. He is connecting on just 37 percent of his strike attempts, which is well below the UFC average.
Still, Albazi makes up for his erratic combos with exceptional wrestling techniques. As Andrew Richardson writes for MMA Mania:
“Though he hasn’t scored a huge amount of takedowns yet in his UFC career, Albazi is very clearly a physically gifted wrestler with good technique. The value of strength in wrestling exchanges cannot be overstated. When Albazi and his opponents wrap up in the clinch, it’s clear he usually has the advantage. He plays the inside/outside knee battle well, threatening trips until able to gain an angle, at which point he can crank down on the waist and force his opponent to the floor. Albazi has a nice double leg shot as well. He’ll use it offensively to jam his foe into the fence, which can result in a classic finish or the upper body clinch that he utilizes so well. In addition, he has timed a couple reactive shots, ducking under a punch for the easy finish.”
This approach could serve Albazi well against Moreno. The latter evades 63 percent of all takedown attempts, but that number has been on the decline in recent matches.
If Albazi can use openings off failed striking combos from Moreno to his advantage, he will have the opportunity to make this a wrestling match. And if that happens, the bout may be his to lose.
UFC Fight Night 246 Picks for Moreno vs Albazi
There will be a large subset of analysts who have Albazi taking the victory at UFC 246. Their arguments will almost assuredly be convincing.
And yet, Moreno’s track record speaks for itself. The lines at most online sportsbooks in the United States clearly agree, too.
Moreno is someone who shouldn’t be overwhelmed or caught off guard by Albazi’s wrestling techniques. In fact, he is a fighter who understands how to use those moments to his advantage. If Albazi goes low, it gives Moreno adequate chances to counter by sending him to the mat first.
More than anything, we simply believe that Moreno is better than he showed during his past two fights. We cannot overstate how useful the extra rest prior to UFC Fight Night 246 will be for him. Even if he’s not much faster on his feet or with his combos, he should have the ability to fend off submission attempts from Albazi.
And again, he took those matches with Pantoja and Royval to decisions despite not looking his best. Under the circumstances, this is a fight that should get Moreno back in the win column.
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