by UFC 319 is loaded with great fights, but this is one of the toughest cards to bet on that they have had in a long time. In fact, after back to back weeks of going 9 for 9 with picks, I feel as though even going 75% on this card would be a near miracle. Even with, I have dug deep to find 3 upsets I feel comfortable telling viewers.
3 UPSETS TO BET ON
Jared Cannonier – Lerone Murphy – Jessica Andrade
Jared Cannonier vs Michael Page
Betting Odds
Jared Cannonier +158
Michael Page -196
After making a name for himself in Bellator with a 20-2 record, Page is off to a ho hum start in the UFC, going 2-1 and still looking for his first finish. Meanwhile, Cannonier has been in nearly 10 UFC Main events and once challenged Izzy for the UFC Middleweight Championship. He has lost 3 of his last 6 however, but I feel that he gets back on track with a dominant victory here, despite being the slight underdog.
Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico
Betting Odds
Lerone Murphy +134
Aaron Pico -164
This fight has the potential to be great or a total snoozefest. So many times a great collegiate fighter will get off to a hot start in MMA and then get figured out and his done for good. So many times a wrestler will tear it up in Bellator and then come over to UFC to get exposed. Will that be the case of Aaron Pico?
Pico, in Bellator, recreated the ground and pound attack while racking up a 13-4 record with 10 knockouts coming on the ground as he pounded the opponent he took down. He also got caught and finished 4 times with 3 of those coming in the first round. You truly do not know what you’re getting with Pico. He has also beaten a bunch of tomato cans which also muddies the waters here quite a bit.
Lerone Murphy comes into this fight, 16-0-1, he has never lost in his MMA career and yet, is a +134 underdog. I don’t know what to say. Clearly, the odds makers here love Pico. Murphy gets a lot of decision wins, but who cares, he wins.
Jessica Andrade vs Loopy Godinez
Betting Odds
Jessica Andrade +126
Loopy Godinez -154
To be 100% transparent, I’m the furthest from an Andrade fan that you will find. It amazes me that she is not only a former UFC Strawweight Champion, but also a woman who has fought in 4 UFC titles fights, going 1-3 with that one being the fluke Slam victory over Thug Rose. What she also is, is a loser of 5 of her last 7 fights as she had bounced around weight divisions trying to re-spark her career.
Godinez has been bouncing around the UFC since April of 2021, going 8-5 in that stretch as she has struggled to find consistency. As much as I hate to do it, I see the former champ overcoming the slight favorite for the decision win.
