UFC 274 PrizePicks Props, Plays: Tracy Cortez Among Top Picks
Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC. Pictured: UFC figher Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.
- If you can't bet on UFC 274, you might as well do the next best thing: Parlay your predictions on PrizePicks.
- Billy Ward gives out his four picks for Saturday's action below.
UFC 274 features a massive 15-fight card, including two title-fights, though only one fighter in the main event is eligible .
That gives us plenty of opportunity for action on PrizePicks, with tons of available props for this card. Below, we'll highlight my favorite selections, with some extra choices if you want to create longer odds.
What is PrizePicks? A daily fantasy operator — meaning they’re available in more states (30) than sports betting is! — PrizePicks offers a unique opportunity for action on player props in which you parlay two or more plays together.
UFC Fight Night PrizePicks Parlay
Donald Cerrone Fight Time: Under 10 Minutes
One of the great things about PrizePicks is the ability to get action on fights without having to pick the winner. That comes in handy for this fight, as "Cowboy" Cerrone takes on fellow veteran Joe Lauzon to open the main card.
Cowboy's once legendary chin is now far behind him, as he's winless in six straight, with four of those defeats coming by (T)KO inside of 10 minutes. Lauzon hasn't fought in over two and a half years, but had dropped three of four fights before the layoff, with two knockout losses in his own right.
A fighter's chin doesn't get better with age, and both men involved in this contest have serious durability issues. They're also both finishers, with solid submission and striking skills on both sides of the Octagon.
With -225 odds to end inside the distance (longest of any three round fight on the card) it's more likely than not that the finish comes within two rounds. Finish rates tend to decrease as fights wear on and fighters tire, so the under takes it here. Somebody's chin will desert them early in this one.
Editor's Note:Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is out for UFC 274
Tracy Cortez: Under 2.5 Takedowns
Cortez is the slight favorite for her bout against Melissa Gatto on the prelims, largely thanks to her wrestling ability. Cortez is averaging a solid three takedowns per 15 minutes in the UFC, with all of her fights going the distance.
However, Gatto is a tough out. She has an excellent 85% takedown defense rate in her UFC career, while landing the occasional takedown herself. What Gatto also has is finishing ability. She's won both of her UFC fights by TKO, thanks to her excellent kicks.
She also has strong submission skills, defeating future UFC fighter Karol Rosa by Kimura prior to joining the UFC. Even if Cortez is able to get a takedown, it's possible Gatto finishes her on the ground before she can land another one.
More importantly, Gatto is content to have a jiu-jitsu fight on the ground, rather than working back to her feet and potentially allowing another takedown to happen. That means this fight probably needs to go three rounds — with a Cortez takedown in each — for this prop to go over.
There's way more ways for this one to finish under than over, so that side has the edge.
Quick Picks
- Michael Chandler Under 1.5 Takedowns: This fight could very well end in the first round, with Chandler's ferocious striking against an aging Tony Ferguson. I'm not sure Chandler even looks to take this fight to the ground because he has a significant edge on the feet. He failed to attempt a single takedown in two of his three UFC fights, with the bout against fellow dangerous striker Justin Gaethje being the only exception. I also like the under on Chandler's significant strikes (at 67.5) for similar reasons.
- Khaos Williams Under 49.5 Significant Strikes: "Khaos" has tremendous power, picking up knockouts in three of his four UFC wins. There aren't many fighters who can handle 50 significant strikes from Williams while remaining conscious. That list probably doesn't include his opponent for Saturday, Randy "Rude Boy" Brown. Brown was finished by hammerfists from bottom by Niko Price, and by strikes from Vicente Luque.
How would you rate this article?
Follow Us On Social
