UFC 332’s best wagers include the return of one of the greatest lightweights in the promotion’s history after a two-year absence.
UFC 332 features a vacant women’s flyweight title headliner between top contenders Natalia Silva and Wang Cong. After Valentina Shevchenko vacated the belt earlier this year due to injury, Silva and Cong will look to exceed tampered expectations and deliver an instant classic on Saturday night.
Despite the lack of sizzle surrounding the UFC 332 headliner, the card features many intriguing matchups. This includes the return of former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos after a two-year absence from competition.
UFC 332 marks the promotion’s return to Salt Lake City, UT. After several highlight-reel cards in Salt Lake City, UFC 332 could potentially be a surprisingly entertaining event.
Ahead of the action this weekend at UFC 332, here’s what you need to know to potentially win some money this weekend.
All betting odds courtesy of BetOnline.
Damian Pinas by KO/TKO (-185)
UFC middleweight prospect Damian Pinas’ return marks his third fight of the year at UFC 332.
Pinas has earned five consecutive first-round knockout victories in his MMA career. He’s one of the best pure boxers in the middleweight division, as evidenced by recent wins over Cesar Almeida and Wes Schultz.
Pinas will face 10-5 fighter Andrey Pulyaev at UFC 332 and enters the fight as a significant betting favorite. Pulyaev has lost three of his last four fights, although he did manage to go the distance with knockout artists Christian Leroy Duncan and Ateba Gautier.
Despite Pulyaev’s durability, the line for another Pinas knockout sits at a modest -185 entering UFC 332, making it a solid anchor to build a parlay. Until we see otherwise, expect another flash knockout from the middleweight prospect.
Alexander Hernandez vs. Rafael dos Anjos UNDER 2.5 RDs (+120)
Dos Anjos is making a surprising return to MMA after an injury-riddled last two years of training. The former UFC lightweight champion hasn’t fought since injuring his leg against Geoff Neal at UFC 308.
The 41-year-old faces a tough out for his UFC return. Dos Anjos and Alexander Hernandez will battle to move closer to the UFC lightweight Top 15 after recent up-and-down performances.
The high elevation, combined with Dos Anjos’ first cut to 155 lbs in almost 31 months, could make for a fast-paced fight between the former champ and Hernandez. Hernandez is known for quick starts in his UFC career, as evidenced by recent wins over Carlos Ferreira and Chase Hooper.
Expect either Hernandez or Dos Anjos to look for the early finish at UFC 332.
Ismail Naurdiev ML (-136)
Former UFC title challenger Marvin Vettori will look to snap a four-fight skid this weekend at UFC 332. As Vettori returns to the cage, his opponent Ismail Naurdiev’s recent success has been relatively overlooked.
Naurdiev has made the most of his second stint in the UFC with wins in three of his last four fights. He most recently earned a vicious one-punch knockout at UFC Qatar over Ryan Loder to earn his 25th career win.
Vettori took almost a full year away from the Octagon to return to his old team, led by UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush, in California. The former title challenger’s durability has never been questioned, but his endurance has been a major obstacle to his intended return to title contention.
Naurdiev will look to challenge Vettori’s endurance at UFC 332 with a well-rounded skill set. At -136, a Naurdiev win is a solid bet given Vettori’s recent struggles and hiatus.
What’s your prediction for Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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