Saturday’s UFC 263 main event should be a banger, and thanks to an Odds Boost from one Virginia sportsbook, you can get some ridiculously good odds for it.
On Saturday night at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (20-1) meets challenger Marvin Vettori (17-4-1) in a rematch.
Adesanya won their first fight when they met in 2018. As a result, if you want to bet on “The Last Stylebender” in Saturday’s rematch, you have to pay a hefty price with the current -275 odds, as of Friday.
However, thanks to a special UFC 263 Odds Boost from FanDuel, you can get +3000 odds on either fighter in the pay-per-view headliner.
How to use UFC 263 Odds Boost
The Israel Adesanya vs. Marvin Vettori Odds Boost is for new FanDuel users only. If you’re a first-time depositor with FanDuel in Virginia, you can wager up to $5 on either fighter.
With a $5 max bet at those 30-1 odds, you’d net $150 in profit if your chosen fighter wins.
Simply make your wager before the main event starts, which will likely be near midnight on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
Just note that you will probably be directed to the FanDuel mobile app if you’re trying to use the Odds Boost from the desktop site.
Otherwise, your small bet could have a pretty substantial payoff.
Who to pick: Adesanya or Vettori?
So, with +3000 odds at your disposal, should you pick Israel Adesanya or Marvin Vettori?
The odds have held relatively steady since UFC officials announced this title fight.
So, why are the regular odds so lopsided? Why is Adesanya at -275 (bet $27.5 to win $10) and Vettori at +215 (bet $10 to net $21.50)? After all, their first was awfully close, and “Izzy” squeaked by with a split-decision victory (watch the first Adesanya vs. Vettori fight).
In fact, Adesanya is coming off his first career loss while Vettori has won five straight fights since their initial meeting. Should Vettori really be such a big underdog then?
Well, Adesanya’s recent loss may not be irrelevant, but it’s certainly understandable. The 31-year-old Nigerian-born New Zealander decided to move up a weight class to challenge for a second UFC title. But the prolific kickboxer fell short to light-heavyweight champ Jan Błachowicz and suffered a rather decisive decision loss.
However, Vettori won’t outsize Adesanya like Błachowicz did. Additionally, though Vettori’s brute wrestling has frustrated many opponents, including recent foe Kevin Holland, Adesanya’s wrestling defense is much better than he gets credit for. And, of course, his renowned striking skills are otherworldly at times.
It sometimes feels like Vettori earned his top-contender status through sheer will and strength alone. The fiery 27-year-old Italian has plenty of confidence, so it would certainly be understandable if you bit on the regular +215 odds.
But for new FanDuel customers, the +3000 Odds Boost on either fighter essentially makes this is a pick’em fight. And with 50-50 odds, it’s hard to overlook that Adesanya seems to have more avenues to a victory at UFC 263.
Other UFC 263 fights of note
The UFC 263 fight card is stacked. That includes the early preliminary card (6:30 p.m., ESPN+), the regular prelims (8 p.m., ESPN), and the PPV main card.
Another rematch is slated for the co-headliner. Flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo (20-1-1) meets “The Assassin Baby” Brandon Moreno (18-5-2). The 125-pounders fought to a draw in December. However, Figueiredo had fought just three weeks earlier, which is a ridiculously short turnaround in MMA. That helps explain why Figueiredo is -225 and Moreno is +175 in this can’t-miss fight.
UFC 263 also marks the return of perpetually cantankerous fan favorite Nate Diaz (20-12). It’s just his third fight in five years, though. Diaz (+430) is now an underdog to massive -625 favorite and perennial contender Leon Edwards (18-3) in their welterweight bout.
Also on the main card, 43-year-old jiu-jitsu wiz Demian Maia (28-10) is a +180 underdog to -230 favorite and fellow welterweight Belal Muhammad (18-3). Maia is universally adored and one of the sport’s classiest competitors. Surging contender Muhammad, though, could make this a rough night for one of MMA’s good guys.
Kicking off the pay-per-view main card is a light-heavyweight bout between fast-rising prospect Jamahal Hill (8-o) and Paul Craig (14-4-1). Craig has won five Performance of the Night bonuses in 11 fights. UFC officials reserve those awards for crowd-pleasing fighters. However, Craig, a +225 underdog, is going to need to use his superior ground game to pull off a major upset to if he wants to meet hard-hitting -286 favorite Hill.
