UFC 285 Prelims: Predictions and Odds for Every Early Prelims and Prelims Fight

UFC 285 Prelims: Predictions and Odds for Every Early Prelims and Prelims Fight
The Early Prelims and Prelims kickstart the completely stacked UFC 285 card. Let's dive into the fights.
UFC 285 Early Prelim Predictions
Esteban Ribovics vs. Loik Radzhabov
Due to the fact that both fighters, Ribovics and Radzhabov, have fighting styles and strengths that are comparable to one another, fans may anticipate an intriguing bout between the two. They are tenacious, adaptable, and hostile all at the same time.
While both are good on the feet, Radzhabov’s grappling sets him apart.
Pick: Loik Radzhabov (-270) Bet $100 to collect $137 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Farid Basharat
"Ferocious" Farid Basharat is a 25-year-old British fighter who was born in Afghanistan and now has a perfect record of 9-0 in mixed martial arts. The victory over Allan Begosso via unanimous decision allowed him to extend his winning streak to nine, and he should easily make it ten here versus a journeyman in Blackshear.
Pick: Farid Basharat (-500) Bet $100 to collect $120 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci
Penne will try to outsmart and outperform Ricci by utilizing her years of experience as well as her adaptability. Ricci will attempt to take Penne by surprise and unsettle her by utilizing her judo abilities and potential. Give me the youth and skill every time, even at these short odds.
Pick: Tabatha Ricci (-320) Bet $100 to collect $131 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
Mana Martinez vs. Cameron Saaiman
Martinez will want to overwhelm Saaiman with his strength and aggression in the hopes of finishing the fight early and claiming victory. At the same time, Saaiman will try to outpoint Martinez by utilizing his quickness and agility in order to avoid taking any of Martinez's huge shots. In a fight, I have closer to even; give me the big underdog.
Pick: Mana Martinez (+225) Bet $100 to collect $325 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
Ian Garry vs. Song Kenan
Garry wants to show that he is ready for larger challenges and better rankings, while Song wants to show that he can put an end to the buzz surrounding Garry and earn respect for himself and his country. Both fighters have something to prove at UFC 285, but Garry has more to gain than Song doe, and I expect a statement win here.
Pick: Ian Garry (-600) Bet $100 to collect $116 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
UFC 285 Prelims Predictions
Julian Marquez vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (-150)
Barriault appears to be the more trustworthy of the two, particularly if he is able to establish a decent clinch position. On the otherside, Marquez has a good chance of winning with his opportunistic submission skills and a propensity for last-minute heroics.
In the end, though, I think Barriault takes a close decision.
Pick: Marc-Andre Barriault (-150) Bet $100 to collect $166 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
Viviane Araujo vs. Amanda Ribas
Araujo's traditionally strong takedown defense ought to enable her to strike without fear. Still, it will be irrelevant if Ribas is able to take her down and unleash her superb top game. Two evenly-matched fighters likely go the distance here.
Pick: Goes to Decision (-210) Bet $100 to collect $147 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
Derek Brunson vs. Dricus du Plessis
The fight between Brunson and Du Plessis is likely to be a close one that might go either way, depending on who is able to implement their game plan more effectively. Both of these men have established themselves as dangerous finishers who are capable of rapidly putting an end to fights and coming back from setbacks.
While Brunson is tempting at this price, give me the up-and-comer looking for a middleweight title shot in the not-too-distant future.
Pick: Dricus du Plessis (-150) Bet $100 to collect $166 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
Cody Garbrandt (-178) vs. Trevin Jones (+150)
Garbrandt is definitely attempting to make modifications, such as tightening up his striking and leaning more on his wrestling, but it just hasn’t worked out for him. I think there’s still that dog in there, and we see a redemption-like performance here.
Pick: Cody Garbrandt (-178) Bet $100 to collect $156 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
UFC 285 Early Prelim and Prelim Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- When: March 4, 2023
- Time: 5:30 PM ET / 8:00 PM ET
- Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: ESPN+
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Johnny has been covering the sports betting markets and handicapping games for the better part of the past decade. Along the way, he has written for publications such as All-In Magazine, Blitz Predict, FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, and most recently, OddsChecker. In addition to giving out picks on Twitter, Johnny is the host of the podcast The Daily Sports Bet -- a 10 minute or less listen with actionable insights and no fluff or BS. Starting the podcast in June, he closed out 2021 up 26 units with a winning percentage of 55%.