UFC Macau Punching Parlay: Bank on These Moneyline Plays

Ulberg: The Story So Far

A 6’4” frame, good looks, abs, and sparkling teeth might have you believe Carlos Ulberg is built for the catwalk, but don’t let that fool you because this man is a rapid dog inside the octagon and has five consecutive wins inside the distance is evidence of this.

It was a rough beginning for Ulberg during his early UFC tenure; he stumbled in his debut and failed to impress in his first promotional win overly. However, under the guidance of City Kickboxing and with an extensive background in kickboxing for good measure, this New Zealander has gone from strength to strength of late and is heading in the direction of becoming a serious contender for Alex Pereira’s 205lb title!

• Ulberg Pro MMA Record: 10-1
• Ulberg Knockout Wins: 7
• Ulberg Submission Wins: 1

Oezdemir: The Story So Far

Volkan Oezdemir, the UFC octagon veteran slugger, is no longer viewed as a divisional contender or anyone who will progress into the weight class’s top-five rankings. However, his gatekeeper status is cemented, and those looking to use his name as a stepping stone will need to fight for that right, something Johnny Walker and Bogdan Guskov recently learned the hard way.

Oezdemir’s 8-6 UFC record looks ugly on paper. Still, when you realize that five of his UFC losses have come against former champions, No.1 contenders, and top-five-ranked opponents, you start to understand why there’s a lot of respect for his name as a 205lb gatekeeper.

• Oezdemir Pro MMA Record: 20-7
• Oezdemir Knockout Wins: 13
• Oezdemir Submission Wins: 2

UFC Macau Ulberg vs. Oezdemir: Skillset Breakdown

With an extensive kickboxing background, Ulberg entered the UFC with many holes in the game. Two of which were grappling and cardio for x3, five-minute fights. Offensive striking, of course, is his bread and butter, but to truly allow this skill set to shine, he was forced to evolve in all facets of MMA.

Four years later, with multiple lessons learned, Ulberg proves that his time at City Kickboxing pays dividends. Not only did he out-grapple and secure his first submission win over Da Woon Jung, but

he’s also finished credible wrestlers/grapplers by knockout, as a reminder that grounded affairs won’t be an easy path to victory.

When you look at Oezdemir’s path to victory this weekend, sure, he has the power to finish most 205ers, but he isn’t going to have the speed nor the technical ability to outmatch Ulberg, the lifelong kickboxer. So, this forces a grappling game plan, and based on his cardio that’s lacked in rounds two and three previously, I cannot envision this as being a viable approach.

Ulberg Moneyline Reasoning

Expect Ulberg to stay patient on the feet, dictate the range, and piece up Oezdemir, whose boxing offensive usually works better in tight, close-knit quarters. Suppose the underdog wants to rush the pocket. In that case, he’ll pay for it like Alonzo Menifield did, and should he opt to wrestle, that might prove difficult when attempting to tackle the distance Ulberg can maintain with his precise, at-range kickboxing.

 The available odds favor Ulberg, and rightfully so. He’s a new-era light heavyweight, and based on his progression so far, it’s difficult to see him losing this fight where a striking contest will favor him considerably.

Parlay Leg 1: Ulberg ML (-240) at BetOnline

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UFC Macau Flyweight Bout