Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France is on the main card for UFC Fight Night betting tonight.
This should be a banger between a pair of flyweight contenders looking to line up a title shot for whenever the Figueiredo/Moreno rivalry gets settled. UFC betting odds hit the board with Askarov as a -303 favorite and have shifted to -345 with Kara-France coming back at +260.
Here are our best free Askarov vs. Kara-France picks and predictions for UFC action on March 26 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Askarov vs Kara-France fight odds
Live odds courtesy of the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Askarov vs Kara-France method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Askar Askarov | Kai Kara-France |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +750 | +750 |
| To win by Points | -115 | +550 |
| To win by Submission | +360 | +2,200 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Askarov vs Kara-France picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Askarov vs Kara-France betting preview
Askar "Bullet" Askarov is the No. 2 ranked flyweight contender. He has won three straight fights by unanimous decision, most recently defeating Joseph Benavidez by scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 30-26 last March.
Askarov is the former ACB flyweight champion and is 14-0-1 in his MMA career, with the draw coming in his UFC debut against No. 1 contender Brandon Moreno in 2019.
The 29-year-old Dagestan native is a solid technical boxer with excellent wrestling and high-end grappling ability. Half of his 14 wins have come by way of submission.
Kai Kara-France is coming off back-to-back first-round knockout wins (and Performance of the Night bonuses) against Cody Garbrandt and Rogerio Bontorin. The 28-year-old had an extensive MMA career around the world before making his UFC debut in 2018.
He's No. 6 in the flyweight rankings and is 6-2 in the octagon with his only defeats coming against Moreno and Brandon Royval.
The New Zealand native fights out of City Kickboxing, which also trains UFC champs Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski. Nicknamed "Don't Blink" for his early finishes, Kara-France is a high-volume striker who averages 5.09 significant strikes per minute and has a lot of pop in his right hand.
Askarov vs Kara-France tale of the tape
| Joanne Askarov | Alexa Kara-France | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Age | 28 |
| 5-foot-6 | Height | 5-foot-4 |
| 125 lbs | Weight | 125 lbs |
| 67 inches | Reach | 69 inches |
| 14-0-1 | Record | 23-9 |
Askarov vs Kara-France UFC prediction and best bet
Our prediction is compiled from the analysis of the fighters and is an indication of who we are leaning with to win this bout.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this fight or where the most value lies, and is where we would put some of our bankroll behind.
Prediction: Askarov (-345)
Kara-France certainly has a path to victory in this one: Stifle takedowns, scramble to his feet whenever possible, and snipe with those powerful hands (which makes the +750 to win by KO/TKO a wee bit tempting). However, despite his 88% takedown defense, there are levels to grappling and Askarov is on another.
Bullet is the bigger and stronger fighter and we have seen Kara-France controlled on the ground before. Likewise, we have seen Askarov takedown and control a very good defensive wrestler and scrambler in the former title challenger Benavidez.
We have also seen Askarov show improved striking in recent bouts, both in terms of accuracy and power. His relentless wrestling, cardio, and formidable striking defense should lead to a win here, even if the odds seem a bit disrespectful towards Kara-France.
Best bet: Askarov by decision (-115)
Seven of Askarov's first 11 career wins were via submission, but that was prior to fighting in the octagon. Finishes aren't quite as easy to come by in the UFC and his last three wins have come by unanimous decision.
In fact, despite 18 minutes of control time in four UFC bouts, he has yet to even attempt a sub. We'll take Bullet to win by points at just shy of a pick'em price.
