This Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 63 kickoff features a top-ten welterweight bout between #9 Joaquin Buckley and #6 Colby Covington.
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Discover all of our top prop picks for the preliminary round, main card, and UFC on ESPN 63 main event below.
Joaquin Buckley To Win By Points (+175)
FanDuel Sportsbook is where
Why: Buckley has kept almost all of his strength from the shift back down to 170 from 185, if it weren’t evident from the way he picked up and slammed Stephen Wonderboy Thompson to the ground in the first few seconds of his most recent bout.
In this position, Buckley will have a significant strength advantage over Covington, which may lessen Covington’s capacity for takedown. Out of all the welterweight fighters currently competing, Covington has the most takedowns landed and the tenth-highest takedown accuracy.
Additionally, Buckley is just as good at grappling as Covington. Trouble is ahead because Covington doesn’t appear to have a significant advantage anywhere, unlike in many of his prior bouts.
Here, Buckley’s agility might make the difference.
He has a ton of power (tenth knockdown average per 15 minutes) and hardly gets hit (sixth in significant strike defense, tenth in strikes absorbed per minute).
This, in my opinion, is where Covington’s decline begins. Given that he is unlikely to find another title fight in his career, his drive cannot be as high as it once was.
However, a resounding victory might elevate Buckley to the level of a legitimate contender in the division. Buckley has outstanding advantages, strength, and youth.
Covington must therefore approach this fight with the intention of taking Buckley deep and hoping to catch him in the later rounds making a mistake because of a lack of conditioning.
However, Buckley hasn’t raised any doubts in my mind about his five-rounder tank.
Buckley’s strength allows him to win most of his battles by KO/TKO, but Covington manages to avoid getting knocked out like the plague.
Buckley will prevail by decision, but this one is likely to go the distance.
Joaquin Buckley will win by points (+175) if you bet now.
Billy Quarantillo vs. Cub Swanson Under 2.5 Rounds (+120)
Where: Sportsbook DraftKings
Why: Cub Swanson and Billy Quarantillo will face off in the co-main event.
It’s interesting to note that, despite age 41, Swanson has stated that he has no immediate plans to retire.
Can Swanson continue to win at his age? He has been a UFC icon since 2004.
Given that Swanson has lost seven of his last eleven fights, Father Time has been hammering away at his door for some time.
But in two of his last three victories, Swanson has KO’d or TKO’d opponents. He has lost four of his last six fights, while Billy Q’s last six battles have also ended in defeat.
We might witness an early conclusion because neither fighter is afraid to risk everything right away.
It is worthwhile to take a chance on one of these fighters making a huge shot or perfecting a submission at plus-money odds.
Place Your Bet Now: Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo Under 2.5 Rounds (+120)
Bruno Silva vs. Manel Kape: Fight To End In KO/TKO/DQ (+120)
Where: Sportsbook BetMGM
Why: After winning four straight fights, three of which were via knockout or TKO, Bruno Silva has emerged as one of the flyweight division’s most formidable fighters.
Given that he lost his first two UFC bouts, Silva’s rapid ascent through the ranks of the division is undoubtedly remarkable. Silva’s confidence would remain unshaken, unlike other fighters.
Manel Kape has won 11 of his 19 fights by KO/TKO, while never having been knocked out.
Silva will put everything on the line for a victory since it appears that he thinks a decisive victory over Kape would be the path to a title battle against Alexandre Pantoja.
With a victory, Kape might also set himself up for a title bout, as Pantoja has essentially dominated that division.
He is fourth in the division in terms of major strike accuracy, sixth in terms of strikes landed per minute, and fourth in terms of knockdown average (per 15 minutes).
This one just doesn’t seem like it will be decided.
Bet Now: Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva: A Fight That Ends in KO, TKO, or DQ (+120)
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