by Dan Mendoza
In the main event of UFC 269, lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will face off against top contender Dustin Poirier.
The co-main event sees the double champion, Amanda Nunes, defending her bantamweight belt against rising contender Julianna Pena. This card could be the best one this year. Get the latest information and odds for all UFC fights this weekend.
UFC 269: Oliveira Vs. Poirier Start Time
- Date: Saturday, December 11th
- Main card: 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET/3:00 a.m. BST
- Main event (approx): 9:00 p.m. PT/12:00 a.m. ET/5:00 a.m. BST
Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier Betting Odds
Squaring off in the main event, we have lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira taking on Dustin Poirier. This is Oliveira’s first title defense. As both these fighters have fought the best of the best, this matchup could be a fight-of-the-year candidate.
Charles Oliveira Fight Odds
Charles Oliveira is the slight underdog in this bout, but he should not be underestimated. Oliveira has been a member of the UFC roster since 2010 and is currently riding the longest winning run of his career. Since 2017, he’s won nine fights in a row before capturing the championship belt. He is the more experienced fighter when compared to his opponent having fought 39 times in total, while Poirier has fought 34 times in total. Oliviera is a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who has won 19 fights via submission, breaking the UFC record for most submission finishes. Many people believe Oliveira will take this fight to the ground and submit Poirier.
Dustin Poirier Fight Odds
Due to the caliber of competition he’s encountered, Dustin Poirier enters the match as a slight favorite. Poirier has been a UFC competitor since 2011 and has taken a similar path as Oliveira, beginning at featherweight and progressing to lightweight. He’s won eight of ten fights since then, with one no-contest. Those wins have come against the division’s top fighters, including Conor Mcgregor, Justin Gaethje, and Max Holloway. He has won the majority of his fights through TKO/KO. Poirier is regarded for his well-rounded style, although he does prioritize his boxing abilities. Poirier’s greatest chance is to finish with a TKO/KO.
Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena Betting Odds
Another championship belt is on the line as Amanda Nunes defends her bantamweight title against number one challenger Julianna Pena.
Amanda Nunes Fight Odds
Amanda Nunes is the clear favorite on this card, and with good reason. She hasn’t lost a fight since 2015 and is currently on a 12-bout winning streak. Nunes has faced several of the top fighters in the world, including Ronda Rousey, Cristiane Justino, and Holly Holm. She is well-rounded and capable of fighting anywhere she chooses. Nunes has won the majority of her fights through TKO or KO. She has, however, won four times through submission. Nunes has a few options: she could aim for an early finish by submission or TKO/KO, or she could wait for a decision.
Julianna Pena Fight Odds
Pena has been marked as a big underdog by online sportsbooks owing to her inactivity. Pena joined the UFC after winning the Ultimate Fighter tournament. Due to repeated injuries and having a child, she hasn’t been as active as Nunes. Pena has won six of his eight fights, although both of his defeats have occurred in the last four years. Pena is well-known for her expertise in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and has won the majority of her bouts by submission. Her best bet is to bring this fight to the ground as soon as possible and aim for a submission finish.
Geoff Neal vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio Betting Odds
Following that, we get an intriguing Welterweight match between American Geoff Neal and Argentian Santiago Ponzinibbio. The winner of this bout will move up the rankings to compete for a top ten spot.
Geoff Neal Fight Odds
According to several bookmakers, this bout is quite equal. Geoff Neal is now on a two-fight losing streak, but he hopes to change that with a victory over Ponzinibbio. He entered the UFC through the Contender series and won six consecutive fights before losing to Neil Magny and Stephen Thompson. Neal is well-known for his powerful striking. The bulk of his victories has been by KO/TKO. Neal’s best chance is to try for an early TKO/KO finish.
Santiago Ponzinibbio Fight Odds
Santiago Ponzinibbio has been a mainstay in the UFC’s welterweight division since 2013. He was out of competition for three years due to multiple injuries, but he hopes to make up for lost time and progress up the ranks. He is now on a one-fight winning run, but he had won seven fights in a row before his most recent defeat. Ponzinibbio has won most of his fights via TKO/KO, although he has also been knocked out. As a result, he may strive to avoid a firefight and instead aim to end the fight by submission.
Kai Kara France vs. Cody Garbrandt Betting Odds
Kai Kara France of New Zealand welcomes American Cody Garbrandt to the flyweight class. Garbrandt seeks a new beginning, while France seeks to add Garbrandt’s name to his resume.
Kai Kara France Fight Odds
Kai Kara’s France is the underdog in this fight, but it should not be dismissed. He got his start in the UFC by competing in the Ultimate Fighter series. He’s won five of his seven fights and has only lost against the best in the division. France is known for his power and speed, and he likes to end bouts violently. Garbrandt has already been knocked out and may be exhausted by the weight cut. It may well be smart for France to capitalize on this and aim for a KO/TKO.
Cody Garbrandt Fight Odds
Cody Garbrandt will be looking to win his first fight after moving down from bantamweight to flyweight. He was the previous bantamweight champion before losing to TJ Dillashaw. His long recovery from Covid-19 seemed to affect his last performance – he looked slow and less sharp than in previous fights. Apart from that, Garbrandt is a talented boxer with strong knockout power, having won 10 of his fights through TKO/KO, but has a tendency to get into firefights. This is where he has lost fights before, by being too eager to finish the fight. His best bet in this bout is to take his time and finish with a TKO/KO.
Raulian Paiva vs. Sean O’Malley Betting Odds
To round off the main card, we have Raulian Paiva taking on the brash Sean O’Malley. Paiva hopes to capitalize on some of O’Malley’s hype, while O’Malley hopes to break into the top 15.
Raulian Paiva Fight Odds
Raulian Paiva is the underdog in this bout, yet he is the more experienced fighter. He moved up from flyweight and is now on a three-fight winning streak. He’s a well-rounded fighter who has won the majority of his fights by decision. Paiva is only 5ft 8 compared to O’Malley is 5ft 11, so he may struggle with the size difference. His best chance of victory is through a decision.
Sean O’Malley Fight Odds
With a win over Paiva, Sean O’Malley will move into the top fifteen. Due to his stature, reach, and the level of his previous opponents, he is currently a clear favorite. O’Malley joined the UFC through the Contender series. He’s won 10 fights by TKO/KO and will seek to do it again against Paiva, who is smaller and lighter. O’Malley’s greatest chance of victory is by KO/TKO.
Dan Mendoza is a Vegas native who learned martial arts from the age of 10 - starting with Judo & Karate - moving to amateur boxing and later becoming a MMA coach and trainer. Dan covers UFC, Bellator, Boxing and other contact sports at Vegas-Odds.com
