The UFC travels to Riyadh this weekend, and we’re covering all your betting needs for a Saudi Arabia card stacked with top-ranked talent from top to bottom.
Let’s waste no more time and dive into the most noteworthy betting picks for the UFC Saudi Arabia preliminary card bouts.
Picks Summary
- Bogdan Grad ML (+110) at Caesars Sportsbook
- Terrance McKinney & Under 1.5 (-167) at Bet365
Bogdan Grad vs. Lucas Alexander
UFC Saudi Arabia Featherweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, February 01, 2025 – 09:00 AM ET at ANB Arena
Bogdan Grad
Bogdan Grad prepares to make his UFC debut this weekend, and although we only have regional scene footage to go by, he’s proved to be a ruthless savage who won’t stop bringing the violence once that cage door closes.
- Grad Pro Record: 14-2
- Grad KO/TKO Wins: 8
- Grad Submission Wins: 3
Lucas Alexander
Grad’s opponent, Lucas Alexander, already has his UFC experience in the bag, but a 1-2 record isn’t desirable, even more so when you realize he lost to mediocre Jeka Saragih. His chin failed to hold up on said bout, and that’s the worst attribute you want before entering the octagon with Grad.
- Alexander Pro Record: 8-4
- Alexander KO/TKO Wins: 3
- Alexander Submission Wins: 0
Grad vs. Alexander: Fight Tape Analysis
We haven’t seen Alexander compete for two years, and when he did, it was a brutal knockout loss to Saragih, who’s an average fighter that’s since been knocked out himself and faded into the featherweight roster.
For Grad, he isn’t perfect, yet you know, from watching his pro career come up, that he thrives in war and is the type of fighter you want your money behind. With physicality in check, power, and the greater striking offense, I don’t envision Alexander’s grappling causing much harm here.
UFC Saudi Arabia Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC odds opened Grad as a -200 favorite, and now we’re receiving +110! The line has completely flipped, and that’ll be to many bettors’ detriment. I don’t see why a fighter of Alexander’s caliber has caused such a heavy shift in price, but I’m here for it.
UFC Pick: Grad ML (+110) [1u returns 1.10u profit] at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
Terrance McKinney vs. Damir Hadzovic
UFC Saudi Arabia Lightweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, February 01, 2025 – 09:00 AM ET at ANB Arena
Terrance McKinney
He isn’t the most trustworthy fighter, nor is he ever going to take the UFC lightweight division by storm, but when paired with the right opponent, Terrance McKinney is an absolute firecracker. If anyone can be regarded as the most dangerous fighter in the first five minutes, he’d be a contender for such a title.
- McKinney Pro Record: 15-7
- McKinney KO/TKO Wins: 7
- McKinney Submission Wins: 8
Damir Hadzovic
Damir Hadzovic, where have you been? The Bosnian has not competed in the octagon since 2022, and more to the point, he’s now 38 years old. We can see the red flags a mile off, and while his game plan is likely to survive the first round and hope, his 4-5 UFC record doesn’t give much hope.
- Hadzovic Pro Record: 14-7
- Hadzovic KO/TKO Wins: 7
- Hadzovic Submission Wins: 3
McKinney vs. Hadzovic: Fight Tape Analysis
If you don’t know what McKinney is all about, it’s quite simple: the kid has five minutes of cardio before everything goes downhill. However, in those five minutes, he’s an offensive juggernaut, with 14 of his 15 pro career wins landing in the first round by knockout or submission.
Then we have Hadzovic, who could be completely washed or revitalized following a three-year layoff. That said, the latter is more likely, especially now that he’s two years shy of forty and wasn’t really a special talent to begin with.
Hadzovic is well-rounded; he isn’t incredible or terrible in any single area. However, with the octagon rust in tow, he’ll be in for a shock when McKinney acts like a man possessed, hunting his head in the first round.
UFC Saudi Arabia Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
When looking at the UFC pricing with OddsTrader’s top sportsbooks, there isn’t much value on the board because McKinney is the biggest favorite this weekend. However, it does feel like the inevitable will happen, and with McKinney to win and under 1.5 rounds sitting at -167, I feel safer approaching this line rather than backing a specific method.
UFC Pick: McKinney & Under 1.5 (-167) [1.67u returns 1u profit] at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
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