WeBeatTheSpread's Premium Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili UFC Vegas 71 Pick

WeBeatTheSpread's Premium Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili UFC Vegas 71 Pick

The UFC Vegas 71 main event features a bantamweight bout between the former champion Petr Yan and the surging Merab Dvalishvili. This is a classic striker versus wrestler matchup that promises to deliver an exciting fight. Yan is the -265 favorite to bounce back after back-to-back losses. Can he get it done?

Petr Yan is one of the best strikers in the bantamweight division, and his boxing skills are second to none. Yan has a crisp and powerful striking, throwing combinations with surgical precision, and his ability to counter is top-notch. Yan's footwork can be a concern as he has a tendency to stand straight up, but he is always looking to bait his opponents to come forward so he can counter with his lethal hands. The Russian has a record of 16-4 and has been dominant in most of his fights.

Merab Dvalishvili is one of the best wrestlers in the division. He has exceptional takedown skills and a relentless pace, and his cardio is top-notch. Dvalishvili's striking is decent, but he relies on it more to set up his takedowns than to do any significant damage to his opponents. The Georgian fighter has a record of 15-4 and has won his last seven fights in a row.

It seems people are quick to lower the stock on Yan after two losses in a row and three losses in his last four, but he arguably won the Sean O’Malley fight. Yan's two losses to Aljamain Sterling, one of which was a disqualification, were both controversial, and Yan was ahead on the scorecards in the first fight before the illegal knee. Yan is still an elite fighter, and it would be foolish to count him out.

Yan matches up well against Dvalishvili, as he has excellent takedown defense and can beat him on the feet. Petr Yan has 90% takedown defense in the UFC and has fought some of the best wrestlers in the division, like Aljamain Sterling, twice. Even though Yan lost both matchups to Sterling, he only gave up three takedowns to Sterling on 39 attempts. Yan's takedown defense will be crucial in this fight, as Dvalishvili will undoubtedly look to take the fight to the ground. If Yan can keep the fight standing, he will have a significant advantage.

Dvalishvili has decent striking, but he is not as good as Yan on the feet. Dvalishvili tends to throw wild strikes, and he leaves himself open to counters. If Yan can time Dvalishvili's strikes, he will have an opportunity to land some significant shots. Yan has shown that he has the power to finish fights, and he will be looking to do so against Dvalishvili.

Petr Yan is an elite striker with excellent takedown defense, and he will be looking to keep the fight standing. Yan has been underrated by many due to his recent losses, but he is still an elite fighter, and he will be looking to prove that against Dvalishvili. There is a reason Yan is such a large favorite in this fight. Due to the large price tag, I can't back Yan on the money line, but I will be taking him by decision. Dvalishvili is a durable fighter who is not easy to put away, and bantamweight fights tend to go the distance more than heavier weights, to begin with.

Pick: Yan by Decision @ (+120) Bet $100 to collect $220 DraftKings has the best odds; click here to bet