Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris is the main event of UFC Fight Night betting on Saturday, May 16, capping three cards from the MMA promotion in the past week.
Like most recent UFC bouts, this matchup was shuffled around due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be held in an empty arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Harris enters UFC Fight Night on ESPN as a -178 favorite while Overeem comes in as a +150 underdog.
We breakdown the UFC betting odds for his heavyweight battle and give our best picks and predictions for UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris.
| UFC Fight Night Odds | Alistair Overeem | Walt Harris |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | +138 | -162 |
| Win via KO/TKO | +320 | -110 |
| Win via points | +550 | +650 |
| Win via submission | +950 | +2,900 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Overeem vs Harris betting preview
The last time we saw Alistair Overeem, his lip looked like a discount steak after a stunning stoppage loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik back in December. Overeem had the fight in hand – a shockingly mundane bout considering the two combatants – but got lazy with his defense in the final seconds of the fifth and final round.
Before that loss, Overeem was riding back-to-back TKO wins against Sergei Pavlovich and Alexey Oleynik, the latter of which was able to hurt Overeem early into the fight before his strength, wrestling and devastating knee shots took their toll. At 39, Overeem is past his prime and his chin is damaged good, having lost three of his last five fights via KO, but he could be fighting for his MMA life Saturday night.
Walt Harris not only enters UFC Fight Night with the distraction of the COVID-19 precautions but also with a heavy heart. He was originally scheduled to face Overeem in December, but the kidnapping and murder of his stepdaughter forced him to withdraw from that date. He’s dedicating this fight to her so expect Harris to fight with unrivaled passion in what is a step up in competition.
Harris has made quick work of his last two opponents - like “don’t get up for a beer” quick work. He needed just 12 seconds to KO Oleinik in July 2019 and rolled through Sergey Spivak in less than a minute in May 2019. Much like Overeem, he mixes heavy-handed shots and knee strikes but pushes a much more aggressive stalking pace. He does, however, lack the ground game of his opponent on Saturday.
| Alistair Overeem | Walt Harris | |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Age | 36 |
| 6-foot-4 | Height | 6-foot-5 |
| 248 lbs | Weight | 258 lbs |
| 80 inches | Reach | 76 inches |
| 45-18-1 (23 KO) | Record | 13-7-1 (13 KO) |
Overeem vs Harris predictions and betting picks
PREDICTION: Harris to win -162 – The way Harris can unload with such ferocity in his fists and knees will overwhelm Overeem, who has been hit hard in recent bouts. This is a step up in competition for Harris, so he will have to work harder than a minute to secure the win.
PREDICTION: Harris via KO/TKO -110 – With two power strikers, the likelihood of this fight going the distance is slim. That said, a calculated Overeem nearly went five rounds with Rozenstruik and he is the superior fighter on the ground – if he can keep Harris down. What’s forgotten in the fury of Harris’ last two wins is his counter punching and quickness. He’s 13 for 13 on KO wins and UFC Fight Night will be No. 14.
PREDICTION: Fight will end in Round 2 +330 – Overeem is too savvy to stand and trade with Harris from the opening bell and is fantastic at taking cover when he does eat a shot or two. Harris will also respect Overeem’s power and experience, not wanting to compromise himself. Unlike Harris’ last two bouts, this one sees the five-minute break before a big finish in Round 2.
