UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Emmett Picks, Predictions, Odds
The UFC is back in North America this week after traveling to Singapore for UFC 275 last weekend. That event was full of excitement, but the chalk largely held up on the main card as four of the five favorites ended up winning their fights. The only underdog that ended up winning was a slight one in Jake Matthews at +115 to beat Andre Fialho. Underdogs like Josh Emmett and Joe Lauzon are hoping to buck that trend this weekend, while favorites Calvin Kattar and Cowboy Cerrone are out to continue it.
UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022, from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The prelims will get underway at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2, while the main card is going to start at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. ESPN+ will also broadcast the event in its entirety.
Calvin Kattar vs. Josh Emmett Picks
This is the fourth straight promotion that Calvin Kattar has headlined. Kattar won unanimous decisions against Dan Ige and Giga Chikadze, but he lost a unanimous decision to former UFC Featherweight Championship title holder Max Holloway. He is ranked fourth in the current UFC Featherweight Rankings, and he has a penchant for delivering exciting fights with Fight of the Night bonuses in three of his last five tilts. Kattar doesn’t have much of a ground game as only two of his 23 wins have come by submission, but he has shown both stamina and knockout power.
Josh Emmett dropped down to featherweight after a split decision loss to Desmond Green at UFC 210. Emmett is 6-1 as a featherweight in the UFC with his only defeat being a second-round knockout at the hands of Jeremy Stephens. This will be the toughest fight of Emmett’s career though, as his best victory came against Ige in December. Emmett doesn’t have a strong game, and his stand-up game isn’t as polished as Kattar’s, so the favorite is the play.
To Win Fight: Calvin Kattar (-225)
Total Rounds: Over 4.5 (-138)
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Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon Picks
This could be the last time we see Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in the Octagon. Cerrone is a fan favorite and has spent over a decade in the UFC, but he is not the same fighter he was in his prime. He hasn’t won in the Octagon in over three years with five losses and a no contest in his last six fights.
Joe Lauzon has not been that successful in the UFC though. He has lost three of his last four fights, and he is just 15-12 in his 15+years in the promotion. His fighting style has changed too, as he used to be a submission specialist but hasn’t had a fight decided by submission in almost a decade.
It is a little tempting to roll with the underdog at this price, but the better wager is Cerrone to win inside the distance. Cerrone still has a solid ground game and power, and Lauzon has taken more chances lately since he has trouble decisively winning rounds.
To Win Fight: Donald Cerrone Inside the Distance (+125)
Total Rounds: Under 2.5 (-175)
Kevin Holland vs. Tim Means Picks
Former KOTC champion Tim Means is 16-9 since joining the UFC over a decade ago. Every time he got close to a title shot, he would lose to a seasoned fighter, and that has kept a ceiling on his career. The 38-year-old has recently changed his game to account for his age too, as he used to be a knockout artist.
Kevin Holland is extremely seasoned for a fighter under 30. This will be his 30th fight, and he tied the UFC record for most wins in a calendar year with five victories in 2020. Holland recently made the move from middleweight back down to welterweight, and he should not have much trouble against Means.
To Win Fight: Kevin Holland (-275)
Total Rounds: Under 2.5 (+110)
