UFC 326 heads to Las Vegas with the BMF title fight between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira headlining an impressive card.
With all eyes set on the main event between the two most prolific action fighters in UFC history, the prelims have some solid fights with good value.
Here are my best free UFC 326 preliminary picks and predictions from Las Vegas.
UFC 326 prelim picks and predictions
Fight 1
• Prediction: Montes ML (-190)
• Best Bet: Montes by submission (+215)
Fight 2
• Prediction: Johnson ML (-900)
• Best Bet: Johnson by KO/TKO (-215)
Fight 3
• Prediction: Garbrandt ML (+130)
• Best Bet: Garbrandt ML (+130)
Click on each fight to jump to the full analysis.
Bet on the UFC at BET99!
One of Canada's best sportsbooks for UFC betting, join BET99 and get up to $800 bonus bets back if your first bet doesn’t win when using our BET99 promo code COVERSBONUS
*Not available in Ontario
UFC 326 prelim odds and picks
Alberto Montes vs Ricky Turcios fight odds
 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Method of Victory | Montes | Turcios |
| To win outright | -190 | +155 |
| To win by KO/TKO | +600 | +900 |
| To win by decision | +250 | +305 |
| To win by submission | +215 | +900 |
| Draw | +5000 | +5000 |
Odds as of 3-5.
Alberto Montes was last seen in action two years ago in the Contender series and shouldn’t look rusty against the vulnerable and simple Ricky Turcios.
Turcios has lost three of his last five and is the kind of fighter perfect for Montes to look good against. While Montes put up decent striking numbers in his 2024 win over Carlos Calderon, he’s always pressing forward with grappling pressure and looking for submissions.
Montes may be unproven at the UFC level, but Turcios won’t have what it takes to spoil his return to action.
With Turcios being taken down 13 times in his last three fights, and Montes having four submissions in five fights, this should be a routine bout for Montes as he gets Turcios on the mat and taps him out.
Prediction: Montes moneyline (-190 at BET99)
Best Bet: Montes by submission (+215 at BET99)
Donte Johnson vs Cody Brundage fight odds
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Method of Victory | Johnson | Brundage |
| To win outright | -900 | +540 |
| To win by KO/TKO | -215 | +1350 |
| To win by decision | +450 | +2000 |
| To win by submission | +500 | +2000 |
| Draw | +5000 | +5000 |
Odds as of 3-5.
Cody Brundage doesn’t seem to have an off switch, coming into this fight with Donte Johnson in just a little over a month after he was stopped in two rounds by Cam Rowston at UFC 325.
Johnson will have trouble with a five-inch reach disadvantage, and Brundage’s historically poor defense means that he’ll bypass it and put the journeyman in a bad position early on. Brundage has decent skills and grappling abilities, but throws caution to the wind and tries to find victory from chaos. That hasn’t worked for him, and it won’t work against a physically dynamic and explosive prospect like Johnson.
With Brundage coming off a bad stoppage and having just one win over his last six fights, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the explosive and promising Johnson is expected to get things done in short order. Expect Johnson to get the win, and my best bet is that he wins by knockout.
Prediction: Johnson moneyline (-900 at BET99)
Best Bet: Johnson by KO/TKO (-215 at BET99)
Cody Garbrandt vs Xiao Long fight odds
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Method of Victory | Garbrandt | Xiao |
| To win outright | +130 | -160 |
| To win by KO/TKO | +335 | +475 |
| To win by decision | +350 | +145 |
| To win by submission | +2500 | +700 |
| Draw | +5000 | +5000 |
Odds as of 3-5.
It hasn’t looked good for Cody Garbrandt in recent years, but the kind of challenge he’ll face in Xiao Long is a step back from the kind of opponents who have bested him in recent years.
Garbrandt’s striking is still commendable when he’s comfortable, and there isn’t much we’ve seen out of Long aside from some questionable decisions amidst lumbering performances.
The declining Garbrandt is the better striker, and his footwork and experience should be enough to take on the green and unproven Long into deep waters. Long will bring the volume, constantly pressing forward, which will give Garbrandt the openings he’ll need to counter and reset. I’m picking Garbrandt straight up to score the upset.
Prediction: Garbrandt moneyline (+130 at BET99)
Best Bet: Garbrandt moneyline (+130 at BET99)
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
