UFC 263: Adesanya vs Vettori 2 Predictions, Odds & Picks

• After suffering the first loss of his career while attempting to win the light heavyweight title, middleweight champion moves back to 185-pounds to defend his title in a rematch against Italian fighter Marvin Vettori
• The co-main event features another rematch as flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo puts his title on the line once again against Brandon Moreno, who fought the champion to a draw last December
• UFC mainstay Nate Diaz returns to the octagon to take on top-5 welterweight Leon Edwards, who is riding was riding an eight-fight winning streak before his last fight that ended in a no-contest

UFC 263: Adesanya vs Vettori 2

The odds for this match are provided by William Hill sportsbook. Click on the odds below to head to William Hill and place a bet.

UFC 263: Adesanya vs Vettori – Picks & Predictions

(C) Israel Adesanya vs Marvin Vettori – Middleweight Championship

 Israel Adesanya (-260)

(C) Deiveson Figueiredo vs Brandon Moreno – Flyweight Championship

 Deiveson Figueiredo (-220)

Leon Edwards vs Nate Diaz – Welterweight Division

 Leon Edwards (-575)

Demian Maia vs Belal Muhammad – Welterweight Division

 Demian Maia (+190)

Paul Craig vs Jamahal Hill – Light heavyweight Division

 Paul Craig (+240)

How to Watch UFC 263: Adesanya vs Vettori 2

(C) Israel Adesanya vs Marvin Vettori – Middleweight Championship

Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya

There is no doubt that Israel Adesanya is the king of the UFC middleweight division.

Joining the UFC in 2018 as an undefeated fighter, Adesanya remained undefeated through his first nine fights with the promotion. During that time he defeated Marvin Vettori, won the interim middleweight title in a fight of the year against Kelvin Gastelum, became the undisputed champion after defeating Robert Whittaker, and defended his title twice.

In his search to add even more fuel to his legacy, Israel Adesanya took a chance to become a two-division champion when he challenged light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz to a fight in what was Adesanya’s most recent Octagon appearance.

The fight headlined the March 6, 2021, UFC 259 card and, although hard-fought, Blachowicz handed Adesanya the first and only loss of his career thus far in the form of a unanimous decision loss.

He is now set to return to his home at 185-pounds in a rematch against the man who came closest to beating him before Blachowicz back in 2018: Marvin Vettori.

The two fought to a very close split-decision, with Adesanya being awarded the victory.

Born in Nigeria, Adesanya lives and trains out of Auckland, New Zealand. He works out with the renowned gym City Kickboxing with coaches Eugene Bareman and Andrei Paulet. He also holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Andre Galvao.

Adesanya has been fighting professionally since 2009 and is currently ranked as the fourth-best men’s pound-for-pound fighter on the UFC roster. He is also a former Glory kickboxing middleweight champion.

He will enter the octagon Saturday night with a four-inch height and a six-inch reach advantage over Marvin Vettori.

Marvin “The Italian Dream” Vettori

As mentioned earlier, Marvin Vettori came the closest to beating Israel Adesanya before his battle at light heavyweight. Since his split-decision loss to Adesanya, Vettori proved he was no fluke as he has gone one to win his next five fights in a row.

After wins over Cezar Ferreira, Andrew Sanchez, and Karl Roberson, Vettori made a statement when he defeated top contender Jack Hermansson via unanimous decision last December in what was deemed the fight of the night.

He was expected to face Darren Till next but his opponent had to pull out of the bout due to injury. Kevin Holland stepped in on short notice and Vettori absolutely dominated him through five rounds to secure an unquestionable unanimous decision victory. That fight took place this past April.

Born in Italy, Vettori trains in his home country with the goal of becoming Italy’s first UFC champion. He trains with both the Stabile Fight Team as well as with Kings MMA under coaches Romulo Barral and Rafael Cordeira. He holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Filippo Stabile.

Fighting since 2011, he is currently ranked as the third-best middleweight in the UFC and he is a former Venator FC welterweight champion.

He is four years younger than the champion.

(C) Deiveson Figueiredo vs Brandon Moreno – Flyweight Championship

Deiveson “Daico” Figueiredo

Following the first loss of his career back in 2019, Deiveson Figueiredo has gone on a five-fight winning streak that included capturing the UFC flyweight title as well as defending it once against Alex Perez.

His last fight came against his opponent this Saturday: Brandon Moreno. The two fought in the main event of UFC 256 last December and fought to a majority draw in a fight of the year candidate.

Born in Brazil, the champion now trains at his own gym Team Figueiredo. He has been fighting since 2012 and holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

He is currently ranked as the tenth-best pound-for-pound fighter on the UFC roster.

He is five years older than his opponent.

Brandon “The Assassin Baby” Moreno

Following a split-decision draw against Askar Askarov in 2019, Brandon Moreno has gone on to win three fights in a row – including a win over Jussier Formiga, the only man to defeat Deiveson Figueiredo.

As mentioned prior, Moreno’s last fight came against the champion last December and the two put on a barnburner that ended in a majority draw.

Born in California, Moreno trains at the Entram Gym and has spent training time with Bang Muay Thai as well as with Team Elevation.

Fighting since 2011, Moreno holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Raul Arvizu.

He is ranked as the number-one flyweight in the division behind only the champion. He will enter the octagon Saturday with a two-inch advantage in both reach and height.

Leon Edwards vs Nate Diaz – Welterweight Division

Leon “Rocky” Edwards

Leon Edwards was on an eight-fight winning streak and was ranked as the third-best in the welterweight division when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Suffering every setback from a COVID diagnosis to his country’s travel ban to cancelled events, Edwards spent almost two full years out of action following his last win against Rafael dos Anjos in July 2019.

He was finally able to return to the octagon this past March, taking on Belal Muhammad in the main event of their UFC Fight Night card. Although he looked good, the fight had an unfortunate ending as Edwards poked Muhammad in the eye severly enough for the fight to be stopped and deemed a no-contest.

Born in Jamaica, Edwards grew up in England, where he still trains. He currently works with Team Renegade BJJ and MMA gym and has spent time with the American Kickboxing Academy as well.

Fighting professionally since 2011, Edwards has a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Chiu Kwong Man.

He is a former BAMMA welterweight champion and is still currently ranked at number-three in the UFC welterweight division.

He is seven years younger than his opponent.

Nate Diaz

UFC veteran Nate Diaz has gone 2-2 over his last four fights. Those four fights took place over the span of four years and he has not fought since November 2, 2019.

After coming back from a three-year absence following his loss to Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz fought former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 241. He defeated Pettis via unanimous decision.

His last fight took place at UFC 244 and he fought against Jorge Masvidal for the one-time-only BMF belt. Masvidal was handed the TKO win following the third round after the ringside doctor was forced to stop the fight due significant cuts to Diaz’s face.

The winner of the Ultimate Fighter season five, Nate Diaz has been fighting for the UFC since 2007. He has been fighting as a career since 2004.

Born in California, Diaz trains with Richard Perez and Cesar Gracie at the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu gym. He holds a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Cesar Gracie.

Diaz is tied with Joe Lauzon for the second-most UFC bonus awards and shares the record with Conor McGregor for the second-highest pay-per-view buy rate in UFC history.

Nate Diaz is a southpaw fighter who will have a two-inch reach advantage over Leon Edwards Saturday night. However, he is the biggest underdog listed by oddsmakers on the main card.

Demian Maia vs Belal Muhammad – Welterweight Division

Demian Maia

After a tough stretch that saw him lose three fights in a row to Tyron Woodley, Colby Convington, and Kamaru Usman, Demian Maia bounced back to win his next three in a row – which included a Fight of the Night performance over Ben Askren.

The Askren fight took place in October 2019. Maia won the fight via technical submission in the third round.

However, his winning streak would come to an end in his most recent bout. Last March, for only the second time in his career, Maia was finished with strikes. He lost the bout to Gilbert Burns who went on to fight for the title (and lost by strikes).

The Brazilian fighter has been in the UFC since 2007 and has fought for both the middleweight and welterweight titles.

He currently trains out of his own gym, Demian Maia Jiu-Jitsu, and holds an incredible 5th-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He also has a gold and two silver medals at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships.

He will have a two-inch height advantage over his opponent.

Belal “Remember the Name” Muhammad

As mentioned earlier, Belal Muhammad’s most recent fight came against Leon Edwards this past March and was stopped to due a very significant eye-poke. The fight was ruled a no-contest.

Prior to that fight, however, Muhammad was on a four-fight winning streak that included three unanimous decision wins over Curtis Millender, Lyman Good, and Dhiego Lima as well as a performance of the night submission win over Takashi Soto.

Fighting since 2012, Muhammad is a former Titan FC welterweight champion. He currently splits his time training with Roufusport and the Chicago Fight Team.

He holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Daniel Wanderley.

He is nine-years younger than Demian Maia.

Paul Craig vs Jamahal Hill – Light Heavyweight Division

Paul “Bearjew” Craig

For the first time in his UFC career, Paul Craig found himself on a winning streak.

After trading wins with losses, Craig is currently riding a two-fight winning streak. If it weren’t for a majority draw against Mauricio Rua in 2019, Craig could potentially have been on a four-fight streak.

The submission specialist followed up that draw with a triangle-choke submission win over Gadzhimurad Antigulov last July and then made good on the Rua fight when he defeated “Shogun” last November via TKO.

He has five performance bonuses in the UFC – all of which followed a submission win.

The Scottish fighter trains out of his home country with the Scottish Hit Squad. He has been fighting professionally since 2013 and currently holds the rank of brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

He is the 14th-ranked light heavyweight in the division.

Jamahal “Sweet Dreams” Hill

Like his opponent, if it was for his no-contest bout against Klidson Abreu last May, Jamahal Hill would find himself on a significant winning streak – eight-straight, to be exact.

Following the no-contest, which was an overturned TKO win for Hill due to testing positive for marijuana, Hill took on UFC veteran Ovince St. Preux last December. Hill had an impressive showing against St. Preux, earning a TKO victory in the second round.

The American fighter trains out of Michigan with the Black Lion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school. He holds the rank of blue belt in the BJJ discipline.

He has been fighting since 2017 and is ranked just behind Paul Craig as the 15th-best light heavyweight in the division.

He will enter the octagon Saturday night with a three-inch reach advantage over his opponent.