UFC Fight Night 213: Kattar vs. Allen Picks, Predictions, and Odds
The bantamweight and lightweight divisions of the UFC took center stage last week for UFC 280, so it’s only fitting that two featherweights headline this week’s event. Calvin Kattar and Arnold Allen will square off in the main event of UFC Fight Night 213. Allen is a slight favorite by the current UFC betting odds, but Kattar has the experience advantage.
UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. This entire card will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+ with the prelims starting at 4 p.m. ET and the main event kicking off at 7 p.m. ET.
Calvin Kattar vs. Arnold Allen Picks
There’s a lot to like about 28-year-old Arnold Allen coming into this fight. Allen is 18-1 in his professional MMA career, and he has won all nine of his bouts since joining the UFC in 2015. His career was sidetracked after a bar fight led to his travel being restricted, but the Ipswich native is free to travel internationally once more. Six of his nine UFC victories have come by decision, making the ‘Over’ a nice play in the main card.
Calvin Kattar has faced better opponents than Allen, but he hasn’t been as impressive as the Englishman. Kattar is 5-4 since early 2018, and he has lost two of his last three fights. His last four bouts have gone the full five rounds (making the ‘Over’ an even better play), and he has been very entertaining with Fight of the Night bonuses in his last three events.
Kattar is a pseudo-gatekeeper in this division, and he has a reach advantage over Allen. This is the chance that Allen has been waiting for though, and I think he will take advantage of the opportunity.
To Win Fight: Arnold Allen (-125)
Total Rounds: Over 4.5 (-150)
Tim Means vs. Max Griffin Picks
Promotion veteran Tim Means has been with the UFC for more than a decade now. Means’ first fight was back in early 2012 when the UFC still had fights on now-defunct Fuel TV. He has been a game competitor over the years with a 14-10 record in the UFC, but he is nearing the end of his career. Means will turn 39 in less than four months, while Max Griffin has a little more gas left in the tank.
Griffin needed some time to find his footing in the UFC, but he has won three of his last four fights. He lost a split decision to Neil Magny in his last fight, but it was still a pretty impressive performance. Although he is three inches shorter than Means, he has a reach advantage, and he can use that to finish his opponent inside the distance.
To Win Fight: Max Griffin (-175)
Total Rounds: Under 2.5 (+137)
Dustin Jacoby vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Picks
Dustin Jacoby wasn’t able to stick in his first go-around with the UFC, but he has made the most of his second chance with the promotion. Jacoby is 6-0-1 since coming back to the UFC two years ago, and his background in kickboxing has come in handy at light heavyweight. That has led to Jacoby being ranked No. 13 in the division, and he could climb into the top ten with a win over Khalil Rountree Jr. on Saturday.
Rountree’s fights tend to be explosive. Nine of his 15 bouts have ended in a knockout, as he takes a good number of chances due to his background in Muay Thai. That should ensure this fight doesn’t go the distance as neither fighter is that interested in taking this one to the ground, and both would prefer to stand and trade until someone drops.
To Win Fight: Dustin Jacoby (-170)
Total Rounds: Under 2.5 (-163)
