International Fight Week is here as T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas hosts the UFC 317 pay-per-view on Saturday evening. It’s one of the most entertaining cards of the year, headlined by two title bouts.
Below, I break down the UFC odds and explain my best UFC picks and predictions for Saturday, June 28.
Best UFC 317 parlay picks
Terrance McKinney moneyline
Viviane Araujo moneyline
Payton Talbott moneyline
Terrance McKinney moneyline
This should be one of the most entertaining fights of the night, with a finish looking likely. Terrance McKinney brings explosive knockout power and a strong wrestling base, and he's better than his record indicates after taking some tough fights at tough moments.
Viacheslav Borshchev can absorb damage, but he's facing legitimate power from McKinney. While a longer fight favors Borshchev, he’ll need to survive McKinney’s early blitz to get there.
Borshchev is technically sound in the pocket and could very well flip the script if he weathers the storm. That said, McKinney is “kill or be killed,” having never gone to a decision in 23 professional bouts.
Borshchev is also starting to show his age, becoming more vulnerable after years of punishment.
Viviane Araujo moneyline
Viviane Araujo possesses solid ground defense, which could play a key role in this matchup. While Tracy Cortez has a wrestling background, her poor takedown defense and lackluster offensive grappling may be neutralized by Araujo’s strengths on the mat.
Cortez is also likely overrated and is coming off a loss where Rose Namajunas completely dominated her. The one edge Cortez holds is in cardio, especially if this fight goes deep.
However, the betting line is moving slightly against her, and Cortez has not shown much other than that aforementioned cardio. If Araujo wins the first two rounds, then the cardio shouldn’t even come into play, nullifying Cortez’s lone advantage.
Payton Talbott moneyline
Now is the perfect time to buy low on Payton Talbott, who is coming off a loss in which he was dominated by Raoni Barcelos. That said, Barcelos is an extremely underrated and proven talent.
Felipe Lima doesn’t have the pressure or grappling ability to replicate that game plan. In fact, that loss to Barcelos may have been the best thing to happen to Talbott, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he stuffs an early takedown attempt before finding a finish.
The betting line is moving slightly against Lima, and the fight is projected to go the distance. I think Talbott either gets the finish off a stuffed takedown or controls enough rounds to take the win.
Not intended for use in MA.
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