Kamaru Usman admits his lengthy reign as welterweight champion led to some lethargy, and finally value him his belt towards Leon Edwards. The former champion is extra decided than ever to reclaim the title Saturday in the principle occasion of UFC 286 in an anticipated trilogy towards Edwards. Their conflict highlights the principle UFC 286 combat card (5 p.m. ET) from O2 Arena in London. Usman instructed the media this week that though he tried to keep away from it, some stage of apathy kicked in forward of his second assembly final August with Edwards, who he had beforehand defeated by resolution. Edwards gained the belt in gorgeous style with a fifth-round knockout and vows he’ll maintain the title, however Usman insists he’ll reclaim the belt.
Usman is a -260 favourite (danger $260 to win $100), whereas Edwards comes again at +210 within the newest UFC 286 odds for Edwards vs. Usman 3. The co-main occasion encompasses a showdown between explosive light-weight contenders with Rafael Fiziev (-235) taking over Justin Gaethje (+195). Before making any UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 picks, be sure to see the MMA predictions and betting recommendation from SportsLine skilled Daniel Vithlani.
Vithlani is a extremely analytical UFC bettor who profited greater than $6,200 for $100 bettors in 2022. This features a documented 24-14 file on his well-respected, two-leg parlays. Every decide was documented on his public Instagram account.
From breaking down movie and following fighters and their camps intently, to monitoring sharp motion and betting market indicators, Vithlani covers the breadth of the MMA betting panorama prime to backside. He additionally trains newbie boxers and speaks usually with MMA fighters to know the game’s nuances.
In his SportsLine debut at UFC 283 in January, Vithlani swept the principle card and his 5-0 file included advising SportsLine members to again Jamahal Hill (-125) towards Glover Teixeira (+105) for the vacant mild heavyweight title in the principle occasion. Anyone who has adopted him has seen large returns.
Now, with UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 in sight, Vithlani has scoured the combat card prime to backside for worth and launched his prime MMA picks. You can solely see who to again at SportsLine.
UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 preview
Edwards (20-3-1) will get his first title protection in his residence nation earlier than adoring followers in a venue that’s recognized to host a few of the most enthusiastic crowds in UFC historical past. The new champion is lastly seeing a few of the respect he believes is lengthy overdue, however his persistence has lastly paid off.
Edwards has gone 12-2-1 in 15 UFC appearances, however his rise got here to little fanfare largely as a result of his extremely technical type led largely to resolution victories versus the highlight-reel knockouts most followers desire. In reality, his knockout of Usman was simply the second stoppage of his UFC profession.
The 31-year-old British fighter was usually missed for high-profile alternatives that went to arguably less-qualified contenders. For occasion, challengers akin to Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal bought two title pictures towards Usman earlier than Edwards lastly landed his first.
Edwards misplaced a call to Usman of their first assembly and their title bout appeared headed in the identical course. The former champion appeared stronger and was the clear aggressor, main most observers to imagine he had handily gained the primary 4 rounds.
The fifth spherical concerned extra of the identical, and Usman (20-2) was basically coasting towards one other dominant title protection. But he appeared to lose focus for a cut up second and Edwards unleashed a kick that caught Usman sq. within the temple and knocked him out chilly.
Now, Usman is set to recapture the welterweight crown, whereas Edwards is motivated to point out his victory wasn’t a fluke. You can see who Vithlani is backing at SportsLine.
Top UFC 286 picks
We’ll share one among Vithlani’s UFC 286 picks right here: He is backing Gunnar Nelson (-380) to get his hand raised towards Bryan Barberena (+300) in a battle of welterweight veterans on the principle card.
Nelson (18-5-1) has spent the vast majority of his 11-year UFC profession within the top-15 rankings. But losses to some prime contenders and an almost three-year break from competitors have prompted him to drop from the rankings and fade from view. Even so, the 34-year-old Iceland native stays one of many prime grapplers within the recreation and has 12 profession submissions on his file.
Barberena (18-9) is a nine-year UFC veteran who’s in style with followers due to straight-ahead brawling type and nonstop tempo. The 33-year-old California native noticed a three-fight win streak come to a halt in December when he fell by submission to former champion Rafael dos Anjos.
“Once Barbarena will get taken down, I feel he’ll wrestle to get again up. If it is a clear grappling recreation on the bottom, Nelson ought to have his approach,” Vithlani instructed SportsLine. You can see extra picks at SportsLine.
How to make UFC 286 picks
Vithlani has robust picks for Edwards vs. USman and different bouts on the UFC 286 card. He’s additionally backing a fighter who “is likely one of the most harmful strikers in UFC” to emerge with a dominant victory. Those picks are solely out there at SportsLine.
Who wins Edwards vs. Usman at UFC 286? And how precisely does every combat finish? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on each combat at UFC 286, all from the MMA skilled who profited greater than $6,200 in 2022, and discover out.
UFC 286 odds, combat card
See full UFC 286 picks, predictions, greatest bets right here.
Kamaru Usman (-260) vs. Leon Edwards (+210)
Rafael Fiziev (-235) vs. Justin Gaethje (+195)
Gunnar Nelson (-380) vs. Bryan Barberena (+300)
Casey O’Neill (-180) vs. Jennifer Maia (+155)
Marvin Vettori (-285) vs. Roman Dolidze (+230)
Jack Shore (-500) vs. Makwan Amirkhani (+375)
Omar Morales (–110) vs. Chris Duncan (-110)
Sam Patterson (-285) vs. Yanal Ashmoz (+230)
Muhammad Mokaev (-900) vs. Jafel Filho (+600)
Lerone Murphy (-180) vs. Gabriel Santos (+160)
Joanne Wood (-180) vs. Luana Carolina (+160)
Ludovit Klein (-195) vs. Jai Herbert (+165)
