The first UFC card of the yr is one filled with must-see bouts, highlighted by the interim light-weight championship being on the road within the promotion’s debut on Paramount+. UFC 324 will happen on Saturday, with Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett battling for the UFC Lightweight Championship in the principle occasion. Pimblett (23-3) is the -245 favourite within the newest UFC 324 odds as he is using a nine-fight win streak and goals for his first title within the promotion. Meanwhile, Gaethje (26-5) is a former interim light-weight champ and is at +200 to again in UFC bets after profitable three of his final 4 fights.
The UFC 324 foremost card begins at 9 p.m. ET from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the UFC 324 co-main occasion, a pair of top-five ranked bantamweights will face off with Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong. Despite back-to-back defeats to Merab Dvalishvili, O’Malley (18-3) is the -210 favourite, with Yadong (22-8-1) priced at +180. Before locking in any UFC 324 picks, be sure to see the MMA predictions and betting recommendation from SportsLine professional Daniel Vithlani.
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Vithlani is a highly-analytical UFC bettor who has been a constant winner for SportsLine members since making his debut in January 2023 with a 5-0 document for UFC 283. In truth, he is up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card sports activities betting picks.
His different highlights embody calling an upset for Sean O’Malley (+210) towards Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292 as a part of a 4-1 foremost card, and his UFC 299 winners included underdog choices on Dustin Poirier (+190) towards Benoit Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Page (+110) towards Kevin Holland (-130). Anyone who has adopted him at sportsbooks and on betting apps may very well be means up.
Now, Vithlani has studied Gaethje vs. Pimblett from each angle and revealed his prime betting picks and finest bets. Head to SportsLine to see them.
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Gaethje vs. Pimblett preview
Gaethje, 37, has a background in newbie wrestling as he was an NCAA All-American at Northern Colorado, however he is made his residing in MMA by way of his knockout capability. Of his 26 victories, 20 have come by way of knockout, 5 have come by way of resolution, and only one has come from submitting his opponent. Of his 5 defeats, three have come from being knocked out and two have been by way of submission. Gaethje has by no means misplaced a call in his skilled profession.
Fighting out of Denver, Gaethje is aiming for his second Interim UFC Lightweight Championship after profitable it the primary time at UFC 249 in a TKO victory over Tony Ferguson. However, he then misplaced his subsequent bout for the UFC Lightweight Championship, falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Gaethje had one other shot to say gold when he challenged Charles Oliveira for the title at UFC 274 however once more got here up brief. He has held the symbolic UFC “BMF” title, which he gained by way of a overcome Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. Check out SportsLine to see Vithlani’s picks and evaluation.
Pimblett, 31, has a BJJ background and made his skilled debut as a 17-year-old in his native Liverpool, England. He fought at bantamweight and featherweight for over 5 years earlier than transferring as much as light-weight in 2018. Since then, he is gained 10 of 11 bouts, together with every of the final 9, and Pimblett sports activities a 7-0 document since becoming a member of UFC in 2021. He can triumph in quite a few methods as of his 23 victories, 10 have been by way of submission, seven have come because of a knockout, and 6 have been by way of profitable on the scorecards.
While he gained championships in different promotions, UFC 324 can be his first title bout since linking up with the promotion. Pimblett, nevertheless, has been awarded Performance of the Night in 5 of his final seven fights, together with in back-to-back bouts. He’s additionally an ideal 3-0 in his MMA profession in Las Vegas, whereas Gaethje sports activities a 3-1 document in Sin City. You can solely see UFC 324 picks and evaluation at SportsLine.
UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett predictions
One of of Vithlani’s UFC 324 picks: He’s backing Nikita Krylov (+120) over Modestas Bukauskas (-142) in a lightweight heavyweight matchup on the preliminary card. Krylov (30-11) is No. 13 in gentle heavyweight rankings, whereas Bukauskas (19-6) is unranked. The former has benefits over his opponent in quite a few metrics, together with vital strikes landed per minute, vital strikes accuracy and takedowns common. Bukauskas additionally lacks a diversified assault as simply one in every of his final 17 bouts have seen him win by way of submission, whereas Krylov has over a dozen MMA wins by way of each submission and with a knockout.
“[Krylov] seems very focused in this training camp and is still only 33 years old,” Vithlani instructed SportsLine. “If Krylov can find his old form, his MMA game will be a lot more diverse than Bukauskas. If Krylov can mix in his grappling, he will threaten with chokes and ground and pound to win this fight.” See who else to again right here.
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How to make UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett picks
Vithlani has robust picks for Gaethje vs. Pimblett and different bouts on the UFC 324 card. He’s additionally backing a fighter who’s the “far more sophisticated striker” and has him “teeing off” on his opponent. He’s sharing who it is just at SportsLine.
Who wins UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett, and the way precisely does the fight finish? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and evaluation from the incomparable professional who’s up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks, and discover out.
UFC 324 foremost fight card, odds
See picks at SportsLine.
(Odds from DraftKings and topic to alter)
Justin Gaethje (+200) vs. Paddy Pimblett (-245)
Sean O’Malley (-210) vs. Song Yadong (+180)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-345) vs. Derrick Lewis (+275)
Natalie Silva (-310) vs. Rose Namajunas (+250)
Arnold Allen (+200) vs. Jean Silva (-245)
