UFC Fight Night 162: Betting Odds and Picks

UFC Fight Night 162: Maia vs Askren Betting Odds and Prediction

The UFC returns to Singapore for the first time in over a year for UFC Fight Night 162: Maia vs Askren. The Octagon will be set up in the Singapore Indoor Stadium this Saturday morning with prelims starting at 5 a.m. ET and the card’s headliner featuring a tilt in the welterweight division between Demian Maia and Ben “Funky” Askren. The former title challenger, Maia, is a +135 underdog while the former Bellator and OneFC champion, Askren, is coming back at -165.

Event Information
  • UFC Fight Night 162: Maia vs Askren
  • Date/Time: October 26, 5 a.m. ET
  • TV Coverage: ESPN+

Demian Maia vs Ben Askren

Funky Ben Askren (-165) is coming off the first loss of his professional career after compiling a 19-0 record. That one loss was a devastating one with Jorge Masvidal landing a perfect flying knee to knock Askren out in just five seconds. Meanwhile, Maia (+135) has won his last two bouts after losing consecutive fights to former champion Tyron Woodley, interim champion Colby Covington and current champion Kamaru Usman.

I have been excited for this fight since the moment it was announced. Demian Maia is 21-2 in fights in which he has landed at least one takedown. However, in the two fights in which he was taken down and didn’t land a takedown, he lost both, to Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman. As for Askren, he is a former Olympic wrestler but hasn’t really had a big opportunity to show that off in the Octagon, with his two fights in the UFC lasting a combined 3:25.

Prediction: Ben Askren (-165) via decision

Michael Johnson vs Stevie Ray

Two fighters coming off losses in their last bouts meet in the co-main event. Michael “The Menace” Johnson (-270) looked like he was poised to win a third fight in a row in March before Josh Emmett landed an out-of-nowhere punch that knocked him out late in the third round. Similarly, Stevie “Braveheart” Ray (+210) suffered the same outcome against Leonardo Santos in June, but his knockout loss came midway through the first round.

Johnson is an aggressive fighter who lands an average of 4.15 significant strikes per minute, while also absorbing 3.82 significant strikes per minute. Over his last few fights, his footwork has really impressed me, and he has outstruck his last four foes. Meanwhile, Ray tends to be a little hesitant in his strikes, often holding back and not trusting what he sees, then loading up and overextending when he decides to attack. This got him in trouble with Santos as he overreached with a punch and got countered.

Prediction: Michael Johnson (-270) via decision

Frank Camacho vs Beneil Dariush

Beneil Dariush (-175) is eyeing his first three-fight winning streak since he won five in a row in 2014 and 2015. Most recently, he secured a second-round submission win over Drew Dober in March. Meanwhile, Frank “The Crank” Camacho (+145) rebounded from back-to-back defeats with a second-round knockout over Nick Hein in June. Camacho is looking for his first winning streak in the UFC as he is just 2-3 in the organization.

Camacho slowly marches his opponent down, closing the distance so he can load up and throw power kicks and punches looking to put his foe away. Of his 22 professional wins, 17 have come by knockout. However, he can sometimes be caught watching his foe, often being a little late to react to forward pressure, and he can be hit with combinations. Dariush has really good footwork and does very well at throwing combinations at his opponent, often ending with a solid leg kick. He has outstruck six of his last seven opponents and has landed six takedowns in his last two bouts.

Prediction: Beneil Dariush (-175) by knockout

Ciryl Gane vs Don’Tale Mayes

Ciryl “Bon Gamin” Gane (-350) returns to the Octagon following a successful debut in August. The France native secured a first-round submission win over Raphael Pessoa in his first UFC fight to bring his record to a perfect 4-0. After two knockout victories in Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, Don’Tale “Kong” Mayes (+265) makes his Octagon debut aiming to extend his three-fight winning streak.

Gane is a training partner of heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou and moves around the Octagon like he’s a middleweight but he has the power and strength of a heavyweight. Bon Gamin has good takedown defense and due to his relative quickness, he is able to get out of trouble quickly. Additionally, he has great cardio that allows him to maintain a good pace for the duration of a bout. Mayes stands a little flat-footed at times but when he explodes, he throws heavy, fast, straight punches. Sometimes Kong gets a little flashy and his pace slows with his big movements.

Prediction: Ciryl Gane (-350) via knockout

Muslim Salikhov vs Laureano Staropoli 

Muslim “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov (-155) seeks a third straight victory in the UFC and is coming off a devastating knockout over Nordine Taleb at UFC 242 in early September. The Dagestan native lost his UFC debut to Alex Garcia by second-round submission but won his next two. Similarly, Laureano “El Matador” Staropoli (+125) has won his first two bouts in the UFC and is looking to run his overall winning streak to eight. Most recently, Staropoli secured a unanimous-decision victory over Thiago Alves in May.

There’s no denying Salikhov’s power as 12 of his 15 professional victories have come by knockout, including his two wins in the UFC. The King of Kung Fu is really good at judging distance and is very fast at getting out of danger. His hand speed is terrific as well, but he tends to throw 100 percent of his power in every strike rather than setting up a combo to land heavy. His two losses have been by submission and he was taken down three times in his debut by Alex Garcia.

Staropoli throws a lot of feints, constantly reading his opponents’ movements and how they react to him. He’s creative with his kicks, mixing them up between high and low, and he likes to throw jumping kicks as well. When his opponents get into his punching range, he fires his hands like pistons, fast and straight.

Prediction: Laureano Staropoli (+125)

Here’s a look at all of the matchups and odds for UFC Fight Night 162: Maia vs Askren:

Ben Askren vs Demian Maia Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Ben Askren-165
Demian Maia+135

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

Michael Johnson vs Stevie Ray Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Michael Johnson-270
Stevie Ray+210

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

Ciryl Gane vs Don’Tale Mayes Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Ciryl Gane-350
Don’Tale Mayes+265

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

Muslim Salikhov vs Laureano Staropoli Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Muslim Salikhov-155
Laureano Staropoli+125

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

Ashley Yoder vs Randa Markos Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Ashley Yoder+105
Randa Markos-135

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

Rafael Fiziev vs Alex White Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Rafael Fiziev-190
Alex White+155

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

Enrique Barzola vs Movsar Evloev Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Enrique Barzola+155
Movsar Evloev-190

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

Sergei Pavlovich vs Maurice Greene Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Sergei Pavlovich-250
Maurice Greene+195

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

Aleksandra Albu vs Konklak Suphisara Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Aleksandra AlbuEVEN
Loma Lookboonmee-130

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

Jeff Hughes vs Raphael Pessoa Betting Odds
FighterOdds
Jeff Hughes-235
Raphael Pessoa+185

Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook

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