UFC 252: Miocic v Cormier 3 - main card predictions and free tips

MMA predictions and free tips for UFC 252: Miocic v Cormier at the UFC Apex on Saturday night.

Where to watch

Main card BT Sport 1, 3am Saturday night
Prelims from 1am Saturday night

Best bets

Daniel Cormier to beat Stipe Miocic
1pt 10-11 Betfred

Sean O'Malley to win by KO/TKO or submission
1pt 3-1 general

Jairzinho Rozenstruik to win by KO/TKO or submission
2pts Evs bet365

Merab Dvalishvili to win by decision
1pt 8-11 bet365

UFC 252 preview

Stipe Miocic defends his heavyweight title with a trilogy fight against Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 from the Apex in Las Vegas and, as the betting suggests, it's a fight that could go either way.

Bookmakers are struggling to separate the two fighters and looking at their previous meetings it's a tricky call as they have won one fight each - both by knockout.

Cormier won the original contest in July 2018 when an overhand right turned the lights out on Miocic in the first round, but an eye poke just seconds before the KO left a question mark over the win.

Cormier was dominating the rematch until Miocic switched tactics in the fourth round and targeted his body, which gave him the opportunity to land a vicious combination that sent DC to the canvas unable to defend himself.

Both fighters have the power to knock the other out at any moment, but Cormier has shown himself to be the more consistent striker and he is certainly the better wrestler, so back him to get the victory.

Cormier has said he will look to take Miocic to the ground - he is 9-0 in his career when he lands at least two takedowns in a fight - and he has more options than Miocic, who likes to rely on his boxing.

'Sugar' Sean O'Malley has had a sensational 2020 with two first-round wins, and he can continue his hot streak against Marlon Vera.

O'Malley is undefeated with a professional MMA record of 12-0, and eight of those wins have come in the first round.

Vera's record is 15-6, but all of his losses have been by decision and he could be the best defensive fighter O'Malley has faced.

However, O'Malley may be the best offensive fighter Vera has faced, and with his confidence sky-high he could finish Vera for the first time in his career.

Former heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos could struggle with the power of big-punching Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

Rozenstruik suffered his first loss in MMA when he was stopped after just 20 seconds of his last fight against Francis Ngannou, but Dos Santos's best days maybe behind him.

Dos Santos has lost his last two by KO against Ngannou and Curtis Blaydes - the first back-to-back losses of his career.

Before his loss to Ngannou, Rozenstruik had ten wins in a row - nine of them by KO/TKO - and he should be backed to get another one against Dos Santos.

Merab Dvalishvili can grind out another win at bantamweight against John Dodson.

Dvalishvili is an elite wrestler who has has earned eight of his 11 career victories by decision, including his last four in the UFC.

Back him to win on the scorecards against John Dodson, who has lost four of his last seven.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits.

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport