Rapid Fire Picks: UFC Fight Night Santos vs Walker
We're shooting through the best picks of this all-action card!
Early card, quick picks, so we'll get right to it this week.
Devonte “King Kage” Smith vs Jamie Mullarkey
Smith has the power advantage though generally pulls KOs out early and while he continues to hit hard throughout 15 with solid cardio he loses a bit of his magic beyond the first 5. Mullarkey would normally be a lock here for an early round KO loss but has been on a streak lately showing off his own stone hands and aggression. He'll be the more active fighter over 3 rds if he can avoid the big damaging strikes, and while Smith could maintain top control for a decision Mullarkey feels a bit too crafty and active to let it stay in one place too long.
Mullarkey straight +125 70%, Smith Rd 1 KO/TKO +275 30%
Niko Price vs Alex Olivera
Either Price breaks Oliveira with violence and activity (and more than likely gets the finish, though a small decision possibility exists), or Cowboy catches him cold and blows him out early. Olivera is the more dangerous man early but if he gets past 5 I expect Niko’s pace to get to him.
Price ITD +100 80%, Oliveira rd 1 +600 20%
Johnny Walker vs Thiago Santos
Someone's going to sleep in the first 3 ( lean heavy on the first 2) unless Walker has turned into a wrestler. That's possible as he's hinted at it in recent fights but this is under the big headlining lights and I doubt he'll be able to stay on gameplan in that setting against the Brazilian Sledgehammer.
Walker is the longer and fresher of the two, and hits plenty hard with lightning quick reactions. He can catch anybody including Marreta, who's been finished several times in the first round and nearly so several other times (which he turned the tide in — ahem Jimi Manuwa ahem). It could go either way, and Marreta isn't the same guy since the Jones fight (knees and father time), so his finishing ability may be diminished, and he was noticeably less inclined to kick in his last bouts. But those hands can still swing… split 55/45 Marreta (unless you're a Walker wagon rider), realistically with these lines if you split it either way and anchor your parlays on these you should profit nicely in a win regardless.
I don't see Walker scoring a finish past the second and it's unlikely for Santos either. Split Santos evenly 1st +250 and 2nd rd +550 25% each with a 5% cover on the 3rd. Walker should be 30% 1st +350 15% 2nd +700.
If you're feeling your gambling itch and thinking Walker is going to do his best DC impression, the Walker decision line is hard to resist throwing a few bills at coming in at a super juicy +850… but that's crazy, right?
P.S. I'm getting a nagging feeling the backside line parlay is going to be the hitter this week…
That's all for this week degenerates — get your bets in, tune in for some awesome fights at 1pm PT / 4pm ET, win big, and as always, see you all next week with fatter pockets!
Rapid Fire Picks: UFC Fight Night Santos vs Walker
Walker, a blitz fighter, tried an outsize range game, which Thiago nearly beat Jon Jones at... But neither side really cared to press the action and a fire card capped off with a shitty end to the co-main and a lackluster main....
I'll just say it... That was a garbage affair. The 205 version of Ngannou Black Beast. Feinting requires you to throw a strike every once in a while. Through 3 rounds the two had combined for 17 head strikes. It didn't improve much from there. Santos probably gets the nod but who knows and who really cares after a bout like that.