UFC 286: Edwards vs Usman Odds, Best Bets, and Predictions
UFC fans have had this date circled on their calendar for months, and now it’s only a few days away. While the entire card, top to bottom, looks like an absolute banger, it’s the main event that we all want to see–the trilogy fight between welterweight champion Leon Edwards and #1 contender Kamru Usman.
Of course, the last time these two fighters shared the octagon was just a few months ago, in August of 2022. Back at UFC 278, no one was really giving Edwards a chance. Usman was the established champ and had really shown no cracks in his game leading into things.
Even as the fight went on, it was clear that Usman was dominating. Well, that was until there were only THIRTY SECONDS left in the FINAL ROUND, which is when Edwards decided to take over.
With a head kick that was heard around the world, Edwards was able to knock Usman out with only half a minute left in the entire fight, securing his position as welterweight champ.
Well, seven months later, we’re back at it again–and we’ve got a great card behind the main event as well. Here are the odds, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, for every fight on the card.
UFC 286 Odds
Early Prelims
Juliana Miller (-435) vs Veronica Macedo (+350)
Jai Herbert (+160) vs Ludovit Klein (-190)
Joanne Wood (-175) vs Luana Carolina (+150)
Jake Hadley (-380) vs Malcolm Gordon (+310)
Christian Duncan (-215) vs Dusko Todorovic (+185)
Lerone Murphy (-180) vs Gabriel Santos (+155)
Preliminary Card
Muhammad Mokaev (-850) vs Jafel Filho (+600)
Sam Patterson (-275) vs Yanal Ashmoz (+230)
Chris Duncan (-105) vs Omar Morales (-115)
Jack Shore (-500) vs Makwan Amirkhani (+400)
Main Card
Marvin Vettori (-265) vs Roman Dolidze (+225)
Jennifer Maia (+145) vs Casey O’Neill (-170)
Gunnar Nelson (-360) vs Bryan Barberena (+295(
Justin Gaethje (+195) vs Rafael Fiziev (-230)
Leon Edwards (+205) vs Kamaru Usman (-245)
UFC 286 Best Bets
Luana Carolina (+150) over Joanne Wood
This is meant as no slight to Joanne Wood, but if I can get great odds going against a fighter who is on a three-fight losing streak, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Wood, who’s about to turn 38, has just not looked herself in her last three fights, and could very well be on her way out the door.
Luana Carolina, however, has won two of her last three–albeit, that one loss was a big one. In her last fight back in March of 2022, Carolina ate a nasty spinning elbow from Molly McCann that sent her straight to the canvas. That was Carolina’s first time losing via KO/TKO, and I expect her to come out here at UFC 286 and redeem herself a bit.
Lerone Murphy vs Gabriel Santos Exact Method of Victory: KO/TKO/DQ (+165)
This fight has fight-of-the-night potential, and Vegas is just refusing to acknowledge that. Santos has knocked out each of his last two opponents, and Murphy has knocked out three of his last five–so both of these guys have lightning in their hands.
Santos is also making his UFC debut, so you could assume he’ll want to make a name for himself as a respected striker–so you can expect hands to be flying.
I really love the KO in this fight, so book it.
Roman Dolidze (+225) over Marvin Vettori
This fight is insanely tough to call, but I really see it as Dolidze’s coming-out party. Real fans of the UFC are familiar with Roman “The Caucasian” Dolidze, but a big win against Vettori (who has lost two of his last three) could really put him on the map.
Dolidze has dynamite for hands and could be a tough matchup for a guy like Vettori who loves to stand and bang.
Kamaru Usman over Leon Edwards via KO/TKO/DQ (+275)
Disney couldn’t even write this storyline. Usman, back on top of the world, knocking out the man that took everything from him.
Incredible storylines aside, I think we’re going to see a no-nonsense version of Usman on Saturday. I think he’ll rely more on his wrestling rather than his striking, and he’ll bring back that vicious ground and pound that he’s used to toture opponents in the past.
While my heart wants Edwards, my brain is telling me Usman.
