UFC 279 Diaz vs Ferguson: Prelims Odds, Predictions, Picks

• Massive brawl breaks out backstage at the UFC 279 pre fight press conference

• Pre fight press conference cancelled for safety reasons

• Khamzat Chimaev weighs in at 178.5 lbs, fight vs Diaz scrapped

• New UFC 279 main event is Nate Diaz vs Tony Ferguson

• Kevin Holland vs Khamzat Chimaev is the new co-main event

Hakeem Dawodu vs Julian Erosa – Featherweight Division

The odds for this bout are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook. Click on the odds below to head to DraftKings and place a bet.

“Mean” Hakeem Dawodu has gone an impressive 6-2 so far in the UFC and defeated very formidable opponents along the way such as Kyle Bochniak, Julio Arce and Zubaira Tukhugov.

He has only suffered two defeats in his career so far and both of those happened during his time in the UFC.

His first loss came during his debut fight with the promotion and he lost via guillotine choke vs Danny Henry in the opening round of their fight, while his second and most recent loss came by way of unanimous decision to Movsar Evloev.

Most of Dawodu’s UFC wins have come by way of judges’ decisions with three split decisions and three unanimous decisions recorded in the UFc so far.

Julian “Juicy J” Erosa head kicked his way into the UFC with a second round knockout win over Jamall Emmers on the contender series in 2018, but has since had a mixed bag of results ever since joining the promotion.

Initially, Erosa started off his UFC run with a three fight losing streak, suffering defeats to Devonte Smith, Grant Dawson and Julio Arce, before finally being cut by the UFC.

After winning a regional fight via first round submission, “Juicy J” was back to his winning ways and finished Sean Woodson and Nate Landwehr consecutively on his UFC return.

In his last two fights, Eros defeated Charles “Air” Jourdain via D’Arce choke in round three, and Steven Peterson via split decision.

Our Picks

Hakeem Dawodu to win by Split or Majority Decision (+700)

Jailton Almeida vs Anton Turkalj – 220 Lbs Catchweight Bout

Jailton Almedia’s eleven fight winning streak seems to have no end in sight and so far during his time in the UFC he has defeated Danilo Marquez and Parker Porter both in the first round.

“Maladinho” has won every single one of his professional mixed martial arts fights via finish and there is no doubt he will be looking for yet another early submission or ground and pound finish.

Anton “The Pleasure Man” Turkalj is a very well rounded MMA fighter from Sweden with a variety of different finishes on his resume including two rear naked choke submissions, ground and pound finishes as well as a spinning backfist KO in his most recent fight at Brave CF 50.

He makes his UFC debut on this card after defeating Acai Dos Santos via unanimous decision on episode one of this season’s contender series.

Our Picks

Jailton Almeida to win by Submission in round one (+150)

Dennis Tiuliulin vs Jamie Pickett – Middleweight Division

Dennis Tiuliulin started off his career in his home country of Russia before making an appearance at UAE Warriors 18 where he knocked out Jucelino Ferreira in the first round.

Upon signing for the UFC, Tiuliulin would face Aliaskhab Khizriev in his debut, but ultimately ended up losing the fight via rear naked choke in the second round.

In just his second fight with the UFC, Dennis Tiuliulin will face Jamie “The Night Wolf” Pickett,

Who is yet another contender series graduate to appear on this card.

Pickett initially lost his first two UFC fights to Tafon Nchukwi and Jordan Wright, before putting together a two fight winning streak over Laureano Staropoli and Joseph Holmes, beating both by unanimous decision.

Picketts most recent fight did not go his way however, as he was submitted via D’Arce choke by Kyle Daukaus in the opening round.

Our Picks

Jamie Pickett to win via KO/TKO/DQ in round one (+550)

Jake Collier vs Chris Barnett – Heavyweight Division

Jake “The Prototype” Collier has had a mixed bag of results since joining the UFC and has followed the trend of losing one fight and winning the next one over and over since all the way back in 2014.

Collier’s most recent win was a first round rear naked choke win over Chase Sherman, followed by a unanimous decision loss to Andre Arlovski in his most recent fight.

If the win, loss, win, loss trend is to continue, then that means Collier is up for a win in this next fight.

Chris “BeastBoy” Barnett has fought all around the world and has one of the most entertaining highlight reels of all time.

After a first round KO win over Ahmed Tijani Shehu at UAE Warriors 13, Barnett was finally signed to the UFC.

His debut did not go as planned as he lost the fight to Ben Rothwell via Guillotine choke in the second round.

Barnetts next fight however would absolutely skyrocket his popularity among UFC fans as he knocked out Gian Villante with a spinning heel kick in round two at UFC 268.

“BeastBoy’s” most recent UFC outing ended in disaster when Martin Buday landed a strike on the back of Barnett’s head and the win was awarded to Buday via technical decision.

Our Picks

Jake Collier to win by Unanimous Decision (+165)

UFC 279 Early Prelims

Norma Dumont vs Danyelle Wolf – Women’s Featherweight Division

Number fifteen ranked Women’s featherweight fighter Norma “The Immortal” Dumont started off her mixed martial arts career in her home country of Brazil, winning all her regional fights at Jungle Fight, Federacao Fight, and Shooto Brazil.

In her UFC debut, Dumont was knocked out by Megan Anderson in the opening round of the fight, however she would go on to win her next three fights in a row vs Ashlee Evans-Smith, Felicia Spencer and Aspen Ladd by unanimous decision.

In her most recent UFC outing, Norma Dumot was defeated by split decision in her fight vs Macy Chiasson.

Danyelle Wolf is a pro boxer who recently made the switch to mixed martial arts when she defeated Taneisha Tennant in her first ever MMA fight on the contender series in 2020.

Wolf has a pro boxing record of 27-14-0 and has taken over a year off to continue honing her skills in MMA in preparation for this fight.

Our Picks

Norma Dumont to win by Submission in round one (+750)

Chad Anheliger vs Heili Alateng – Bantamweight Division

Chad Anheliger first started off his mixed martial arts journey with a two fight losing streak, and his other three losses also came very early in his career.

However “The Monster” currently finds himself on an impressive ten fight winning streak going into this fight.

In 2021, Anheliger made an appearance on the contender series and defeated Muin Gafurov via split decision.

The Canadian made his UFC debut early this year in February and defeated Jesse Strader via ground and pound knockout in the third round.

Meanwhile, Heili Alateng, AKA “The Mongolian Murderer” started off his UFC career with a two fight unanimous decision winning streak over Batgerel Danaa and Ryan Benoit before suffering his first UFC defeat to Casey Kenney by unanimous decision.

Alateng’s next fight vs Gustavo Lopez ended in a draw while he won his most recent fight vs Kevin Croom via first round knockout.

Our Picks

Heili Alateng to win by Unanimous Decision (+180)

Melissa Martinez vs Elise Reed – Women’s Strawweight Division

Melissa “Super Melly” Martinez enters this bout after a three year lay off due to multiple of her fights being cancelled in recent years.

Despite all that, the young Mexican strawweight is currently enjoying an eight fight winning streak which she intends to extend to nine with a win over Elise Reed in her UFC debut.

Elise Reed vacated her CFFC championship in order to sign for the UFC, but unfortunately lost her debut to Sijara Eubanks via ground and pound TKO in round one.

Reed’s last two UFC fights ended in a split decision win over Corey McKenna, followed by a third round TKO loss to San Hughes.

Our Picks

Melissa Martinez to win via KO/TKO/DQ in round one (+700)

Darian Weeks vs Yohan Lainesse – Welterweight Division

Darian Weeks put together five wins in a row before making his UFC debut, but has since lost both of his fights in the promotion.

He lost his UFC debut to Bryan “Bam Bam” Barberena via unanimous decision before suffering yet another unanimous decision loss to Ian Machado Garry in his most recent bout.

Yohan “White Lion” Lainesse put together a seven fight winning streak before making an appearance on the contender series, where he defeated Justin Burlinson via knockout in the first round.

Lainesse had a nightmarish UFC debut however as he was knocked out by Gabe Green in his first ever fight with the promotion.

Our Picks

Yohan Lainesse to win via KO/TKO/DQ in round one (+600)