UFC 297 Punching Parlay
- Serhiy Sidey ML (-175)
- Brad Katona ML (-200)
Two Team Parlay (+163) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to pay-per-view with a top-tier schedule of fights lined up for Saturday’s fighting festivities, and today, we’re singling out the best locks on the card to formulate a parlay.
Continue reading to discover my two main betting predictions from the UFC 297 fight card, as I’ve concluded that these juiced lines are the perfect risk for this weekend’s event at our main offshore sportsbooks.
UFC 297 Information
- Date & Time: Saturday, January 20, 2024 – 06:30 PM ET
- Location: Scotiabank Arena, Canada
- Scheduled Fights: 12
- Main Event: Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis
Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras
UFC 297 Bantamweight Bout
Sidey: The Story So Far
Serhiy Sidey put his name on the map by stopping his UFC 297 opponent within two minutes the first time they fought. Early stoppage? Perhaps, but there’s no denying which course the fight was about to take, as the 27-year-old Canadian is showing excellent betting value to emulate a result he’s already achieved.
- Sidey Pro MMA Record: 10-1-0
- Sidey Knockout Wins: 6
- Sidey Submission Wins: 2
Taveras: The Story So Far
Aside from Taveras’s previous loss to Sidey, his record seems impressive on paper. All but one of his pro-MMA career wins were obtained by KO/TKO or submission, but we must evaluate the bigger picture.
Before Dana White’s Contender Series stint, Taveras jobbed for Combat Night Pro, and you could argue that his record has been padded with an incredibly low level of competition. Can he hit hard? Sure. Is he a certified finisher? Yes. But I question whether he has the skills to compete in the UFC octagon.
- Taveras Pro MMA Record: 9-2-0
- Taveras Knockout Wins: 5
- Taveras Submission Wins: 3
UFC 297 Sidey vs. Taveras: Skillset Breakdown
I genuinely believe Sidey owns the skillset advantage in all areas of MMA. Before the premature stoppage in their first contest, he was eating the “power” shots of Taveras for breakfast, and it’s this noteworthy durability what gives me a lot of faith in the hometown fighter this weekend.
Taveras’ durability has been tested on multiple occasions; he looks vicious on the regional scene, but arguably, anyone could deliver epic stoppages against the level of competition he’s previously faced.
Sidey Moneyline Reasoning
Sidey was getting cracked in their first fight; there’s no doubt about it. However, after eating several shots, it took just one of the Canadians’ strikes to drop Taveras, and with the latter also suffering a grappling disadvantage, we cannot pass up on this excellent betting value.
UFC 297 Punching Parlay Leg 1: Sidey ML (-175) at BetOnline
Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield
UFC 297 Bantamweight Bout
Katona: The Story So Far
Brad Katona is a two-time Ultimate Fighter winner. After getting cut from the promotion in 2019, he is now riding an impressive 7-fight win streak. However, we can’t figure out whether he’s Canadian or Irish.
- Katona Pro MMA Record: 15-2-0
- Katona Knockout Wins: 1
- Katona Submission Wins: 3
Armfield: The Story So Far
Armfield joined the UFC rankings in 2022 and was instantly dispatched by David Onama. He bounced back perfectly with a round-one knockout over Toshiomi Kazama, but it’s undeniable that Katona will be the most challenging three rounds of his career.
- Armfield Pro MMA Record: 9-3-0
- Armfield Knockout Wins: 6
- Armfield Submission Wins: 2
UFC 297 Katona vs. Armfield: Skillset Breakdown
There aren’t many fans who love to watch Katona’s fight style. However, it’s effective. He’s an incredibly strong grappler with a draining top game that eliminates his opponent’s cardio early and often. He’s also got fast hands with a high output, and while stoppage victories aren’t common, he owns a high fight IQ and knows exactly how to point-fight his way to victory.
For Armfield, it’s quite the opposite. The American wants to engage with heavy shots on the feet where he’s previously collected six knockouts from his nine pro-career wins. His grappling is serviceable, but can he match the relentlessness of Katona? Not by a long shot.
Katona Moneyline Reasoning
The high knockout percentage of Armfield and the sometimes boring style of Katona must be the reason for this undervalued betting line because a seven-fight win streak for any other fighter on the roster other than Katona would certainly be priced a lot higher.
Well, that’s perfect for us because I don’t see many reasons not to attack the Canadian’s moneyline on his return to The Great White North.
We’re going to see Katona own a considerable speed advantage, and he’s wise enough to get in and out of the pocket, which will prevent his opponent from finding those damaging strikes. And should this fight hit the mat, Armfield may as well look toward the next round because he isn’t going to get up from the mat with “Superman” in the top position.
UFC 297 Punching Parlay Leg 2: Katona ML (-200) at BetOnline
The UFC 297 Punching Parlay
- Serhiy Sidey ML (-175)
- Brad Katona ML (-200)
UFC Pick: Two Team Parlay +163 [1u stake returns 1.63u profit] at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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