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Featherweight champion Max “Blessed” Holloway (19-3, 9 KOs, 2 SUBs) will defend his title against No. 1 contender Brian Ortega (14-0, 3 KOs, 7 SUBs) at UFC 226 on July 7, 2018 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET following the FS1 prelims.
Life as a champion is about to get really tough for Max Holloway. After beating Jose Aldo twice - both times with relative ease - the featherweight champ must now meet a violent jiu-jitsu master with explosive punching power. Brian Ortega has been carving a trail of destruction through 145, finishing every one of his six UFC fights in the process. “T-City” is the real deal, and now he gets the chance to prove that he’s the best in the world this Saturday.
The featherweight title fight serves as the co-main event of a stacked UFC 226 in Las Vegas this Saturday, with a heavyweight champion vs. champion title fight in the headliner. Holloway vs. Ortega on its own could be the main event of a major pay-per-view, but the UFC always stacks its chips on 4th of July weekend. The fact that the most compelling featherweight bout in years isn’t even the main event just goes to show how much of a can’t-miss this card is.
Currently the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu show Ortega as a slight underdog, while Holloway is a clear favorite coming into the matchup. Let’s take a look at your betting options and break down the scrap.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Brian Ortega +135
Max Holloway -175
Over/under 3.5 rounds: O-122 / U-108
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: +125 / -155
Holloway wins by TKO +205
Ortega wins by TKO +1150
Ortega wins by submission +250
Holloway by submission +1415
Striking Stats
Significant strikes landed p/m: Holloway 6.2 / Ortega 3.65
Accuracy: Holloway 43.98% / Ortega 32.25%
Significant strikes absorbed p/m: Holloway 3.9 / Ortega 5.27
Defense: Holloway 65.06% / Ortega 56.8%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Holloway 0.28 / Ortega 0.22
Takedown accuracy: Holloway 80% / Ortega 14.29%
Takedowns defended: Holloway 83.33% / Ortega 58.33%
Submission average: Holloway 0.49 / Ortega 1.75
Matchup Preview
Holloway’s best weapons are his cardio, chin and dynamic striking offense. The 26-year old is one of the handful of fighters on the roster with a weaponized gas tank - he has the ability to pour on non-stop pressure until opponents crumble under the relentless assault. That pace is reflected in his striking stats: 6.22 strikes landed p/m is an extraordinary number for a guy whose only been fighting the division’s best.
A tall, lanky fighter, Holloway utilizes his reach beautifully, fighting long and keeping guys at the end of his punches. While he doesn’t move his head much, the Hawaiian puts on a masterclass in footwork, cutting angles and finding clean openings to launch multi-strike combinations. When he gets hit, it only seems to make him angry as he will retaliate on the spot.
Though the champ is a solid clinch-fighter and a good grappler, he will likely want to void tangling with Ortega in those areas. There’s no other way to put it: Ortega is a straight up monster when it comes to jiu-jitsu. Against world-class fighters in Cub Swanson and Renato Carneiro, “T-City” was able to almost instantly force frantic taps as soon as it went to the ground. His grip and squeeze is otherworldly, especially when he traps the head.
The scary part about Ortega is that his striking power could be every bit as dangerous. While not as polished as somebody like Jose Aldo or Holloway, the 27-year old showed that his fight-ending power could make up the difference. Most recently, he became the first person to stop Frankie Edgar, and he did it with a beautifully timed uppercut that launched the former lightweight champion off his feet. Thor himself woud’ve been dropped by that hammer.
UFC Odds Pick: Holloway to win at -175
Holloway’s experience makes him the favorite, and his current line is playable as a straight bet. This isn’t a rock solid pick however - Ortega would be the pick if his money line approaches +170 or higher. While this feels like a coin flip, we cannot get lost in Ortega’s hype and forget just how good Holloway is. Not at this price anyway.
UFC Odds Pick: Over 3.5 rounds -122
Both these guys are young and can take punishment. Holloway’s only been finished once in 22 fights, and Ortega is undefeated in 14. Holloway’s stick-and-move style should prolong this fight, as Ortega will be forced to try and trap him to impose his grappling. There’s a very high probability that this goes to the cards.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today. UFC 226 takes place on July 7, 2018 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET following the FS1 prelims.
