A high stakes featherweight matchup between No. 5 Max Holloway – 13-3, 5 KOs, 2 SUBs – and Brazilian Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira – 20-4, 6 KOs, 12 SUBs is set to headline UFC Fight Night 74 in Saskatchewan on August 23.
At stake is entrance into the crowded title picture at 145 pounds, where stars like Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor await.
CURRENT ODDS
Check our UFC Fight Night 74 odds for the latest money lines on Holloway and Oliveira, where Holloway is currently a 2-to-1 favorite at -2011. Oliveira right now clocks in at +179. The total in this five-round bout is 1.5 rounds, with the over at -205 and the under at +175. I admit I’m a little surprised to see such a low total in a featherweight bout.
WELCOME TO THE ELITE
Holloway is currently riding an impressive six-fight win streak, most recently upsetting title contender Cub Swanson in surprisingly dominant fashion at UFC on FOX 15. The win signaled an arrival of sorts for the Hawaiian, who failed in two attempts against top-10 competition in Dennis Bermudez and Conor McGregor. However, Holloway is just 23 years old, making him one of the brightest prospects in a stacked divison.
Oliviera is only two years older at age 25, and the Brazilian jiu-jitsu standout comes into the bout on the heels of a four-fight winning streak, with notable victories over Hatsu Hioki, Jeremy Stephens and Nik Lentz. A 13-fight veteran for the UFC, Do Bronx has also fallen short in opportunities against the division’s, with losses to Frankie Edgar, Cub Swanson and Donald Cerrone.
Holloway and Oliveira will enter the bout with both their stocks at all-time highs. Adding more intrigue to the matchup is the fact that both men are viable future title challengers. While they’ve faced more prestigious opponents, one could argue that this is the most significant fight of each man’s career.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Credit goes to matchmaker Joe Silva for delivering such a compelling fight. Both men are supremely athletic and highly gifted. Holloway is particularly good in the standup, with springs in his legs and a violent snap in his strikes. At 5’11”, he is tall for a featherweight, and has shown a great awareness in using his length in an active submission game.
However, Oliveira has a marked advantage on the ground, where he’s made a name for himself as a submission specialist. The Brazilian rounds out his game with solid technical striking that’s elevated by elite athleticism.
I expect Oliveira and Holloway to test each other’s striking, where the Hawaiian holds a small, but distinct, advantage. What’s more, Oliveira will have all kinds of trouble taking this fight to the ground, as Holloway has fantastic takedown defense and the quickness to scramble back to his feet. The pick is Oliveira to win a unanimous decision after an extremely fast-paced matchup.
HOW TO BET
Sign in to get the latest Holloway vs. Oliveira odds. BookMaker offers daily updates to money lines, total, prop bets and more, so make sure to lock in your bets should you find a favorable wager. Their bout takes place at UFC Fight Night 74 on August 23, 2015 at the Sasktel Centre in Sakatoon, Canada. FOX Sports 1 will televise the main card starting 9 p.m., with the prelims starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Don’t forget to check in during fight night to get live odds. During each fight, BookMaker updates their odds in real-time, so you can keep betting as each fight unfolds on live television. It’s a great way to hedge your bets should you fall behind. With our mobile platform, it’s never been easier to bet on UFC events.
