Want to make money betting UFC 297? Dive the UFC undercard then because it’s packed with juicy bets. Believe us, Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis isn’t the only worthwhile bet on this pay-per-view show. Allow us to give you three under-the-radar plays!
- What: UFC 297
- When: January 20, 2024
- Where: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada
Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault Betting Pick
Two veteran middleweights will feature on the show with the 36-year-old Curtis battling the 33-year-old Barriault. The current moneyline for Curtis vs. Barriault is quite close. Here’s how the best UFC betting sites are pegging it:
Barriault will be one of the fighters receiving a hero’s welcome come UFC 297. That’s because he’s Canadian and fights out of Quebec. Despite that (and being the younger fighter), he’s an underdog to win this fight.
When comparing the fight styles, we’d also say Barriault is more balanced. Curtis is a pure striker and that’s it. However, Barriault is actually averaging 5.95 strikes per minute to Curtis’ 5.36. But here’s the thing, Barriault has some wrestling ability — not a great one, but he can bust it out if need be. Curtis has exactly zero takedowns in the UFC so it’s not a part of his repertoire.
So why is Curtis the betting favorite again? Well, he’s more dangerous. Curtis has a punishing left hook that’s stopped many opponents in their tracks. That hook is known to come out in counter-strike situations so Barriault would be smart to not carelessly push forward.
Despite Curtis' KO ability, Barriault remains our pick. The home-crowd advantage (and perhaps favorable judging) will propel him to victory. His game plan will be more well-rounded and allow for more opportunities to grab the victory rather than just landing one big hook.
Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson Betting Pick
Not only is this a bet-worthy fight, but it’s an entertaining one too. Why? Because it features one of UFC’s most exciting strikers in Jourdain, who is also from Quebec. It’s close, but the odds favor Jourdain over Woodson right now. Here’s the betting lines:
Jourdain and early finishes go hand in hand. For one, he’s an unpredictable striker who can stop opponents out of nowhere. Spoiler alert: look out for his spinning kicks. Two, he can submit opponents too. Of Jourdain’s 15 career wins, eight came via knockout and another five through tap-out.
Woodson is more predictable of a fighter, but that’s not a bad thing necessarily. His boxing background makes him extremely polished. Woodson’s 5.41 strikes per minute is almost even with Jourdain at 5.71. Here’s the thing: Woodson has a nine-inch reach advantage in this fight. Not only is that a lot, but Jourdain’s boxing pedigree makes him better equipped to leverage the reach difference compared to other MMA fighters.
To us, the odds on this fight should be closer. Woodson doesn’t win on style points like Jourdain, but his striking is really superb. Moreover, he’s a better wrestler than people would expect out of a boxer. In the past, Jourdain has struggled to avoid the takedown with only 47 percent defense. We see value in betting Woodson here. His odds are mispriced given Woodson's legit matchup advantages.
Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana
Let’s give love to the women’s division now. We have ourselves a solid strawweight battle here. After picking a few moneylines, let’s focus on the over/under between Robertson and Viana. Here’s where the odds stand:
If you hate fights on the ground, then look away in this one. Both women are grapplers but go about it differently. Robertson is incredibly skillful when fighting on top, but less so on her back. She’s definitely a grappler who goes for the submission rather than using it to wear an opponent out and win on points. Nine of Robertson’s 12 career wins have been via submission.
Viana is an even bigger tap-out threat. Get this, she has exactly zero career wins by decision. None! Instead, Viana has eight submissions and five knockout victories to her name. If she’s going to win, it’s almost guaranteed to come through a finish.
We’re putting money on the under here. Our gut says Robertson wins, but we’re not confident enough to bet that. Therefore, just bank on someone tapping out early instead. While Robertson generally struggles to take her opponent down, we don’t think that’ll matter here. She’ll have her opportunities because Viana will want to fight her on the ground anyway.
How To Bet On UFC 297?
To place all your UFC 297 bets — whether on the undercard or the main events — hit one of the bookies below. Every type of bet you’re looking for will be carried by any one of the sites below. That goes for this show, but also any other in the UFC in 2024.
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