With a return home to the UFC Apex this weekend, Dana White and company have delivered an excellent fight night card, and we’re covering all your betting needs for an event stacked with up-and-coming talent from top to bottom.
Let’s waste no more time and dive right into the most noteworthy betting picks for the UFC Vegas 98 preliminary card bouts.
Picks Summary
- Pearce ML (-165)
- Gorimbo ML & Fight Doesn’t Go the Distance (+115)
*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Jonathan Pearce vs. Pat Sabatini
UFC Vegas 98 Featherweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, October 12, 2024 – 04:00 PM ET at UFC Apex
Jonathan Pearce
Bouncing back from a debut defeat, Jonathan Pearce went on a tear and ran through five straight opponents, including three wins inside the distance. Unfortunately, as he climbed the ranks and reached the upper echelon of the featherweight division, the likes of Joanderson Brito and David Onama halted his run and brought him back to reality.
- Pearce Pro Record: 14-6-0
- Pearce KO/TKO Wins: 9
- Pearce Submission Wins: 2
Pat Sabatini
Opposite Pearce this weekend is a fellow 145er whose five UFC victories have been outweighed by the losses. Sabatini could run through the opposition with his diverse grappling skill set. However, two knockout losses were added to the resume when matched with opponents capable of nullifying his clearest path to victory.
- Sabatini Pro Record: 18-5-0
- Sabatini KO/TKO Wins: 1
- Sabatini Submission Wins: 12
Pearce vs. Sabatini: Fight Tape Analysis
The grappler/wrestler in Sabatini goes against the wrestler in Pearce, and honestly, despite having a BJJ black belt under Renzo Gracie Philadelphia and a background in college wrestling, I struggle to envision him finding a dominant position on the ground where he can garner success with this path to victory, which is also his best.
With two grappling styles in the cage, the old-age tale of canceling each other out is a high prospect. So, this leads us to a striking battle, and in that realm, Sabatini looks horrible, especially in his striking output. The man just doesn’t throw enough strikes, and I believe this is due to a lack of confidence. He could be unwilling to pull the trigger, and this won’t work well against Pearce, who, despite having most of his success in the wrestling offensive department, will clock up significantly more strikes over the course of three rounds.
UFC Vegas 98 Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC pricing with our top-rated sportsbooks makes Pearce a slight betting favorite, and rightfully so. We’re at the point in Sabatini’s career where he’s continuously proving to us that he isn’t trustworthy. Watching him stand and bang with Diego Lopes was possibly the dumbest decision in history, and then getting knocked out by a fellow grappler in Damon Jackson also throws up red flags.
Without question, Sabatini is the more skilled grappler, but he doesn’t have the top control and wrestling credentials to match Pearce. I envision enough periods of this fight remaining on the feet, where Pearce will either dominate the volume or finish the bout with a blistering KO/TKO.
UFC Pick: Pearce ML (-165) [1.65u returns 1u profit] at Bet365
Niko Price vs. Themba Gorimbo
UFC Vegas 98 Welterweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, October 12, 2024 – 04:00 PM ET at UFC Apex
Niko Price
Niko Price has put on some legendary battles since joining the UFC in 2016, but let’s not avoid the obvious here: the man is winless in 5 of his last 7 appearances, three of his previous four defeats involved knockouts or technical knockouts, and he continues allowing himself to be brutalized in the octagon due to a careless fighting style he has.
- Price Pro Record: 16-7
- Price KO/TKO Wins: 10
- Price Submission Wins: 3
Themba Gorimbo
We all know the UFC is fully behind Thema Gorimbo. Although he’s far from a shining prospect when you’ve previously been endorsed by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, you know the UFC matchmakers are going to give you golden opportunities moving forward.
- Gorimbo Pro Record: 13-4
- Gorimbo KO/TKO Wins: 2
- Gorimbo Submission Wins: 6
Price vs. Gorimbo: Fight Tape Analysis
Ahead of Gorimbo’s fifth UFC fight this weekend, he holds a 3-1 record and has a knack for dominating grounded positions. He delivered an epic knockout off Pete Rodriguez for good measure, but for the most part, a commendable wrestling/grappling game and athletic prowess have allowed him to have his way with opponents on the ground.
The most glaring hole in Price’s game is his durability. This guy has been through countless wars and is aged 35, so we know his career is reaching the latter stages. Fair enough, he defeated a washed-up, tubby Alex Morono last time out and an aging Alex Oliveira before that. Still, he hasn’t defeated an opponent younger or higher than him in the rankings since 2018/19.
UFC Vegas 98 Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC odds place Gorimbo as a significant betting favorite, and we know this is down to Price’s current trajectory.
Furthermore, Price has a wealth of injuries; he cannot wrestle and solely relies on punching power and drawing his opponents into chaos. Most recently, he’s opted away from the chaos, and that’s why he’ll struggle to find success, as Themba will have his way in the grappling and pound or submit his way to victory before the judges intervene.
UFC Pick: Gorimbo ML & Fight Doesn’t Go the Distance (+115) [1u returns 1.15u profit] at Bet365
Gorimbo ITD: Supporting UFC Vegas 98 Facts
- 6 of Price’s 7 UFC losses were by KO/TKO or submission.
- Price has gone the distance in just 3 of his 15 UFC bouts.
*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.
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