The UFC travels to sunny Miami this weekend, and we’re covering all your betting needs for a Florida pay-per-view card brimming with top contenders and one very important championship bout.
Let’s waste no more time and dive right into the most noteworthy betting picks for the UFC 314 preliminary card bouts from a fight card that will see Alexander Volkanovski compete with Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight gold!
Picks Summary
- Tulio by KO/TKO or Decision (-192)
- Hooper-Miller Under 2.5 (-167)
*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio
UFC 314 Middleweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, April 12, 2025 – 06:00 PM EDT at Kaseya Center
Tresean Gore
To give credit where credit is due, Tresean Gore has accomplished more than I expected when he came from The Ultimate Fighter with a mere 3-0 pro-MMA record. Following back-to-back defeats, he’s undoubtedly leveled up his skill set, and now, with a 2-fight win streak on his record, his confidence and experience could be peaking at the right time.
- Gore Pro Record: 5-2
- Gore KO/TKO Wins: 1
- Gore Submission Wins: 3
Marco Tulio
Brazil’s Marco Tulio, fighting out of the world-famous Chute Boxe gym, will make a quick turnaround after impressing the masses with a round one knockout win over Ihor Potieria back in January. This debut KO victory was expected, and with another low-level opponent in front of him, it’s hard to discredit his chances of notching the perfect 2-0 start in 2025.
- Tulio Pro Record: 13-1
- Tulio KO/TKO Wins: 9
- Tulio Submission Wins: 1
Gore vs. Tulio: Fight Tape Analysis
Gore has the athleticism but lacks the punching power. He’s a low-volume striker who’s 30 years old and has just seven pro bouts of experience. As previously mentioned, he’s certainly put the work in to evolve his game since his first two fights in the UFC resulted in losses. Still, with multiple injuries, cardio concerns, and a tested chin by Cody Brundage (this hasn’t aged well), it’s hard to give him the edge over an aggressive and determined Tulio this weekend.
Tulio, also 30, has averaged three fights per year. Although his 13-1 record has mostly been spent on the regional scene, he’s unquestionably the superior mixed martial artist of the two, especially in the striking department, where his power and output will likely leave Gore hesitant to engage and force some panic takedowns.
UFC 314 Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC odds have Gore as the betting underdog, which is no surprise. His wrestling would be the upside in this contest, but it isn’t elite enough to test the hips of Tulio, a fighter who will own all advantages during the striking exchanges.
Either Gore will make the mistake of trading with Tulio and get knocked out, or he’ll remain cautious and stay out of danger as Tulio collects a unanimous decision victory. No matter the case, Tulio wins this fight by knockout or decision.
UFC Pick: Tulio by KO/TKO or Decision (-192) [1u returns 1u profit] at Bet365
Chase Hooper vs. Jim Miller
UFC 314 Lightweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, April 12, 2025 – 06:00 PM EDT at Kaseya Center
Chase Hooper
From being a 19-year-old boy making his UFC debut in 2019 to becoming a 25-year-old man riding a four-fight streak as of 2025, we’ve truly watched Chase Hooper grow up inside the octagon, and if 86% finish rate from his seven UFC bouts isn’t a sign that he’s levelling up, I don’t know what is.
- Hooper Pro Record: 15-3-1
- Hooper KO/TKO Wins: 4
- Hooper Submission Wins: 8
Jim Miller
From one of the youngest lightweight competitors to one of the oldest and most experienced. Jim Miller is an anomaly in pro-MMA. Unlike most of his peers, who’ve long retired or been unable to compete at this level, a 41-year-old Miller returns to the cage having won 3 of his last 4 bouts!
With 44 UFC bouts to his name and two decades of pro experience, does the old dog Miller put the new generation out? Or will it be a passing of the guard moment?
- Miller Pro Record: 38-18
- Miller KO/TKO Wins: 7
- Miller Submission Wins: 21
Hooper vs. Miller: Fight Tape Analysis
Miller’s overall skill set is versatile and commendable. Of course, he’s a twenty-year veteran, and he knows how to kick-box, wrestle, and grapple inside the octagon. However, when looking for weaknesses, as a 41-year-old man, it’s noticeable that his days of high-intensity success are behind him. When fighters bring the fight to Miller, he doesn’t succeed half as much, but if they’re looking for a methodical night of chess, expect to get out-dogged by this longtime veteran.
Unfortunately for Miller, his mid-twenties opponent is the polar opposite. Most known for his amazing scrambling ability and grappling skills, Hooper hasn’t even reached his final form. Even with plenty of years to grow, he’s always going to deliver a high-output, high-intensity fight, which is one of the reasons why he’s found so many wins inside the distance.
Hooper received a lot of slack during his early tenure, but we cannot discredit such a young competitor. His body composition now emulates that of a man, his striking and ability to disguise his takedowns/trips gets better from fight to fight, and if you’re looking at picking a side this weekend, I wouldn’t want to stand in front of the young and hungry rising contender!
UFC 314 Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC pricing with OddsTrader’s top sportsbooks has labeled Hooper as the biggest betting favorite on the card (-900). While this price is ridiculous, it’s understandable when you factor in the pace and cardio required to compete with him.
The days of us cashing underdog tickets on Hooper are over. Miller, in his own right, has been an excellent underdog play over the years, and while his fight intelligence and experience could help bettors once more, I’m not looking to back a side in this fight when I don’t believe these men will make it to the scorecards.
Hooper’s high pace will drain Miller to the point where a KO/TKO or submission will present itself. Alternatively, Miller’s craftiness will shock bettors when he catches Hooper on the chin. On that note, the under 2½ rounds at -167 is often the smart play when Hooper’s fighting (7 of 10 UFC fights have ended inside the distance), as well as Miller, who’s seen the under 2 ½ rounds in 3 of his last 4 contests and 24 UFC bouts overall!
UFC Pick: Under 2.5 (-167) [1.67u returns 1u profit] at Bet365
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
