Fight fans get to witness a sneaky good lightweight bout on the UFC 290 main card between Jalin Turner and Dan Hooker.
Hooker and Turner will slug it out for three rounds at T-Mobile Arena Saturday. After that, we'll get Dricus Du Plessis vs Robert Whittaker.
There are two title fights, too, the first between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja, followed by the main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez.
The UFC 290 prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET and the main card starts at 10 p.m.
"The Tarantula" Turner is a -250 favorite vs Hooker.
UFC 290: Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker Betting Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jalin Turner | -250 |
| Dan Hooker | +200 |
Odds as of July 4
Per our odds calculator, Turner's -250 status equates to a win probability of 71.43% and a $100 bet on him pays $125. Hooker gets a 33.33% chance and a $100 bet yields $300.
UFC 290: Turner vs Hooker betting Preview
Turner's fought very well lately and Hooker is coming off a decisive win. Something's got to give.
How Turner wins
First, the big man can exhale. He no longer has to defend the incessant takedowns of his previous opponent Mateusz Gamrot. Turner fought so well in that fight but came up short.
Thankfully, Hooker is a more beatable opponent, and I see two clear advantages for the Contender Series product.
Leg reach is big. Turner's a massive lightweight at 6-foot-3, and while his three-inch reach advantage will be big, his long limbs are a greater weapon. Watch for him to blast front kicks to Hooker's body in a way to diversify his offense.
The guillotine choke is Turner's specialty. If he can engage Hooker in tight — maybe in a Thai clinch — he can bomb him with knees, wobble him and hop onto that front-facing choke.
How Hooker Wins
"The Hangman" is still a badass, and he has a real chance in this bout.
It'll be hard to bang with a slugger like Turner, but Hooker can stay deceptive with head movement and quick hooks. I anticipate this fight moving in waves. Both guys will dance on the outside then engage and release again. The longer the firefight, the greater the advantage for Turner.
Hooker wins by sniping instead of brawling. His experience is his biggest weapon.
UFC 290: Turner vs Hooker Pick
This fight is closer than the odds suggest. That said, Turner looked great in his loss to Gamrot at UFC 285. I'm doubtful Hooker, at 33 years old, will suddenly explode for a victory over Turner.
Bet The Tarantula inside the distance.
