Sean O'Malley vs. Thomas Almeida is on the main card for UFC 260 betting on Saturday, March 27, from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
This should be an intriguing fight with a rising star in O'Malley looking to get back on track after an upset loss last year. Oddsmakers expect him to bounce back with a victory, with UFC betting lines installing O'Malley as a -325 favorite, while Almeida comes back at +250.
We bring you our best picks and predictions for this bantamweight battle between O'Malley and Almeida at UFC 260 on March 27.
O'Malley vs Almeida fight odds
| Method of Victory | Sean O'Malley | Thomas Almeida |
|---|---|---|
| Win Outright | -310 | +250 |
| Win by KO/TKO | +140 | +550 |
| Win by Points | +230 | +750 |
| Win by Submission | +850 | +1,400 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
O'Malley vs Almeida betting preview
"Sugar" Sean O'Malley is coming off his first career loss when he faced Marlon Vera at UFC 252 last August. O'Malley was finished with ground-and-pound in the opening round but that came after his second collapse to the mat due to a foot injury that may have been caused by an earlier calf kick.
Prior to that defeat, Sugar had opened his career with 12 consecutive wins, including four in a row under the UFC banner. The 26-year-old is a long, athletic, and explosive striker who loves to push the pace. He's very capable as a grappler but prefers to keep things standing up where he can throw punches and kicks from a variety of angles.
Almeida is no stranger to the hype train. The Brazilian was once a fast-rising UFC prospect himself, winning his first four fights in the octagon with three of those coming by knockout. Then Almedia was starched by Cody Garbrandt in the first round in 2016 and hasn't looked the same since.
Almeida has now lost three fights in a row to Jimmie Rivera, Rob Font, and most recently Jonathan Martinez last October. The 29-year-old is a dangerous kickboxer with solid combinations and power in his hands.
O'Malley vs Almeida tale of the tape
| Sean O'Malley | Thomas Almeida | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Age | 29 |
| 5-foot-11 | Height | 5-foot-7 |
| 135 lbs | Weight | 145 lbs |
| 72 inches | Reach | 70 inches |
| 12-1-0 (8 KO) | Record | 22-4-0 (17 KO) |
O'Malley vs Almeida UFC prediction and betting picks
PREDICTION: O'Malley to win by KO/TKO +140 - Dana White and the UFC seem set on building up O'Malley as a superstar, and what better way to do that than give him an ideal matchup for a bounce-back victory?
Almeida is still fairly well known due to his earlier promise but hasn't won a fight in nearly five years. He will keep things standing up but tends to start slowly and his striking hasn't looked accurate in his last two bouts.
Besides knockout losses to Garbrandt and Font, Almeida was also knocked down twice by Rivera, so he's been very hittable in recent fights. That's bad news against a fast starter like O'Malley who has eight knockouts in his 12 career wins. Expect the hype train for Sugar to pick up steam once again after he wins by KO/TKO.
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