Maki Pitolo vs. Julian Marquez is on the main card for UFC 258 betting on Saturday, February 13 at the UFC Apex in Vegas.
These two fighters might not be household names but both are finishers who are desperate for a win. UFC odds have Marquez as a -176 favorite while Pitolo comes back at +142.
We break down the UFC betting odds for this middleweight bout and give our best picks and predictions for Pitolo vs. Marquez at UFC 258.
Pitolo vs Marquez Fight Odds
| Method of Victory | Maki Pitolo | Julian Marquez |
|---|---|---|
| Win Outright | +148 | -184 |
| Win by KO/TKO | +340 | +200 |
| Win by Points | +440 | +260 |
| Win by Submission | +2,100 | +950 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Pitolo vs Marquez Betting Preview
Maki "Coconut Bombz" Pitolo is coming off back-to-back losses to Impa Kasanganay and Darren Stewart last August. Prior to that, he had a TKO win over Charles Byrd in June, which allowed him to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to Callen Turner in his 2019 UFC debut.
Pitolo has solid boxing combinations and throws with decent power—as you might expect for someone nicknamed Coconut Bombz.
Julian "The Cuban Missile Crisis" Marquez hasn't fought in more than two years, last seen losing by split-decision to Alessio Di Chirico in July of 2018.
Prior to that, Marquez had landed a UFC contract after a brutal head-kick knockout of Phil Hawes on Dana White's Contender Series, before going on to submit Darren Stewart in his promotion debut. Marquez is a well-rounded fighter who combines strong wrestling with powerful striking.
Pitolo vs Marquez Tale of the Tape
| Maki Pitolo | Julian Marquez | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Age | 30 |
| 5-foot-10 | Height | 6-foot-2 |
| 185 lbs | Weight | 185 lbs |
| 75 inches | Reach | 75 inches |
| 13-7-0 (7 KO) | Record | 7-2-0 (6 KO) |
Pitolo vs Marquez UFC Prediction and Betting Pick
PREDICTION: Fight to start Round 3 - No (-102) - Pitolo has awful striking defense and is facing a bigger and stronger fighter in Marquez. Marquez is also aggressive and even in his win against Stewart, he ate some big shots early.
Coconut Bombz has never looked impressive inside the octagon but he's been very active with three fights over the span of three months last summer. Marquez has had his moments in the ring but a layoff of 31 months hurts, especially coming back from a shoulder injury that was considered career-threatening.
I can't figure out a fighter to back in this spot, which has me considering another angle. Dana White has been cutting dead-weight across the UFC recently and a loss for either fighter could mean getting dropped from the promotion. Not only do these guys need a win but they need an entertaining performance, which could make two already aggressive fighters even more likely to pursue a finish.
All seven of Marquez's career wins have come via stoppage within the first two rounds and Pitolo's previous four wins were all finishes (with only one bout making it into the third round). Regardless of who wins, expect a quick finish in this one.
Where Can I Bet on UFC Odds?
Most online sportsbooks and casinos offer bets on UFC odds and props. While odds to win usually come out as soon as a fight is announced, prop bets become more readily available closer to an event. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what UFC bets they have available.
