Johnny Walker vs. Jamahal Hill is the main event for UFC Fight Night betting on February 19, from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This should be a banger between a pair of light heavyweights that love to strike and have knockout power. UFC betting lines opened with Hill as a -303 favorite and have since shortened to -275, while Walker comes back at +225.
Here are our best free UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill picks and predictions for Saturday, February 19.
Walker vs Hill fight odds
Live odds courtesy of the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Walker vs Hill method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Johnny Walker | Jamahal Hill |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +340 | -130 |
| To win by Points | +950 | +460 |
| To win by Submission | +2,000 | +3,400 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, as of February 15, 2022.
Walker vs Hill picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Walker vs Hill betting preview
Walker is the No. 10 ranked light heavyweight contender despite losing three of his last four fights. In his most recent bout last October, he lost by decision to Thiago Santos in a lackluster 25 minutes that saw both fighters wary of opening up.
Walker is still 5-3 in his UFC career with four wins coming by way of first-round knockout. The 29-year-old is a long and rangy striker who throws punches and kicks from a variety of angles and is extremely dangerous with his knees and elbows.
Jamahal "Sweet Dreams" Hill is No. 12 in the light heavyweight rankings and is fresh off a first-round knockout victory over Jimmy Crute in December. That victory allowed Hill to bounce back from his first career MMA loss when he had his elbow dislocated by one of the division's top submission specialists in Paul Craig.
Hill is now 4-1 in the octagon with three wins by KO/TKO. Another impressive knockout victory (against Klidson Abreu) was officially ruled as a no-contest after Hill tested positive for marijuana. The 30-year-old is a long, athletic, and explosive striker with dynamite in his hands.
Walker vs Hill tale of the tape
| Johnny Walker | Jamahal Hill | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Age | 30 |
| 6-foot-6 | Height | 6-foot-4 |
| 204.5 lbs | Weight | 205.5 lbs |
| 82 inches | Reach | 79 inches |
| 18-6-0 | Record | 8-1-0 (1 NC) |
Walker vs Hill 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: Hill (-275)
Hill has all the momentum heading into this fight and while his grappling was exposed by Craig, Walker isn't the sort of fighter to take this to the mat.
Walker is actually very close to being on a four-fight losing streak, as he was knocked down twice in the first round by Ryan Spann before pulling off the KO win. He's a wild and creative striker but that can leave him exposed in the striking exchanges... and Hill can crack.
Hill has looked like the vastly superior striker in every fight he's been in. He had a 101-31 edge in significant strikes against Darko Stosic, knocked out Abreu with a knee in the first round, starched veteran Ovince Saint Preux in the second frame, and quickly dispatched a tough young fighter in Crute.
If Walker tries to fight at range and acts scared to pull the trigger like he was in his last bout, he doesn't stand a chance.
Best bet: Hill by KO/TKO in Rounds 1, 2, or 3 (+115)
Not only does Walker have poor strike defense but he has a suspect chin which has resulted in three knockout losses in his career — most recently against Corey Anderson in 2019.
That chin is going to be tested by Hill who has a tricky southpaw stance and is capable of throwing with knockout power without loading up. Hill displayed that explosive power by dropping the durable Crute early in the first round and once Crute recovered he flattened him with the same short right hook immediately after.
That said, Hill did gas in his only UFC fight that made it into the third round. He's a fast starter and with this fight scheduled for 25 minutes, he's going to be hunting for a KO/TKO before the bout gets into the championship rounds.
Walker's previous decision loss was an outlier, with 11 of his previous 14 fights ending inside the first round. With all four of Walker's stoppage losses coming within the first two rounds, bet on Sweet Dreams to say goodnight early.
