Holly Holm vs. Yana Santos (formerly Kunitskaya) is the co-main event for UFC Fight Night betting tonight from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Holm might be 41 years old, but she recently inked a new six-fight contract with the UFC as she looks to bounce back from a close loss. UFC betting odds expect her to get back in the win column, installing her as a -250 favorite, with Santos coming back at +200.
Here are my best free picks and predictions for Holm vs. Santos on March 25.
Holly Holm vs Yana Santos fight odds
Holly Holm vs Yana Santos method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Holly Holm | Yana Santos |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +390 | +800 |
| To win by Points | -110 | +360 |
| To win by Submission | +2,000 | +1,600 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on March 23, 2023.
Holly Holm vs Yana Santos picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Holly Holm vs Yana Santos betting preview
Holly Holm is the No. 3-ranked women's bantamweight contender despite coming off a split-decision loss to fourth-ranked Ketlen Vieira. It was a controversial decision, with 18 of 20 media outlets giving the fight to Holm after she outstruck Vieira 96-85 and had more than 10 minutes of control time.
Holm won the bantamweight title back in 2015 with a highlight-reel knockout of Ronda Rousey. Since then, she has gone 4-6 and done an effective job of gatekeeping at the top of the division while not being good enough to beat the cream of the crop.
"The Preacher's Daughter" is a highly refined striker with excellent footwork and she was a multiple-time world champion in boxing before making the move to MMA. She's more than just a boxer, however, as she also poses dangerous kicking ability and vastly improved clinch work.
The last time we saw Yana "Foxy" Santos in action, she was knocked out in the first round by Irene Aldana in July of 2021. She took time off after that to give birth to her second child and will now look to improve upon her 5-3 record in the UFC.
Prior to entering the promotion, Santos had been the former interim champ in Invicta. The 31-year-old is solid on her feet but does her best work in the clinch where she can use her Muay Thai skills to damage opponents.
Holly Holm vs Yana Santos tale of the tape
| Holly Holm | Yana Santos | |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Age | 33 |
| 5-foot-8 | Height | 5-foot-8 |
| 145 lbs | Weight | 135 lbs |
| 70 inches | Reach | 68.5 inches |
| 14-6 (8 KO) | Record | 14-6 (7 KO) |
Holly Holm vs Yana Santos UFC prediction and best bet
Fight prediction: Holm ML
Holm is over the age of 40 but is still in very good shape and throws with a decent amount of volume while pushing the action.
Santos hasn't fought in more than 20 months and she didn't look good her last time out when she got quickly finished by Aldana. Santos doesn't really stand out in any one area and her best trait is her ability to land shots in the clinch, while Holm has the strength and acumen to match her there. Santos has also struggled with southpaw strikers in the past and Holm's left-hand and crisp counter-striking could prove problematic.
That said, this line seems a little steep considering where Holm is at this point in her career. Santos is certainly a live dog in this one, especially if it gets to a decision and comes down to what the judges value. While Holm has the tools to beat Santos, I'd advise against eating the chalk on the moneyline.
Prediction: Holm moneyline (-250 at DraftKings)
Fight best bet: Holm by decision
Regardless of which fighter you're leaning toward in this fight, it makes sense to back them to win by decision and get a better payout. Santos hasn't won inside the distance since 2016, with her last five wins coming by way of decision.
Meanwhile, Holm's best moment in the octagon was her head-kick knockout of Rousey. Five of her seven wins in the UFC have been via points, including each of her last three.
Holm will likely use her kickboxing on the outside and when the distance gets closed, both fighters are likely to clinch up and drain time off the clock.
Pick: Holm by decision (-110 at bet365)
