It’s the earliest UFC card we’ve perhaps ever seen Saturday morning from Perth, Australia.
UFC Fight Night Perth is slated to begin at 4 a.m. ET, with the prelims and the main card beginning at 7 a.m. ET.
It’s far too early for most of us, but perhaps you’ll wake up early enough to watch some action or — even better — wake up to some green tickets Saturday morning that have already cashed.
There are 13 fights on the docket and 10 are expected to end inside the distance, according to oddsmakers.
Last week, we nailed the main event with a +260 winner, though we missed the co-main event as Norma Dumont lost by decision.
We look to keep the good times rolling Saturday morning.
UFC Fight Night Perth, Australia predictions
Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates
In the main event, Jack Della Maddalena headlines in his home country against one of the scariest strikers in the division in Carlos Prates.
Prates is going into this fight as a slight favorite, with a nice size advantage (6-foot-1 vs. 5-foot-11) and a five-inch reach advantage.
Prates just knocked out Leon Edwards, while Della Maddalena was rag-dolled by Islam Makhachev and lost his welterweight title.
Della Maddalena, while being the most recent champion to lose the belt, doesn’t have a sparkling resume.
Prates has already fought the best in the division, with wins over Leon Edwards and Geoff Neal, and gave Ian Machado Garry everything he could handle in a decision loss.
Prates should be favored here, and I’ll take him to win by knockout.
The play: Prates by KO/TKO (+165, DraftKings)
Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld
The oddsmakers seem to think that Beneil Dariush is washed and should retire. He comes in as a massive +395 underdog after losing three of his last four fights, all coming via first-round knockout.
That was, of course, against elite competition, which is not what we’ve seen as of yet from Quillan Salkilld.
Salkilld is 5-0 in the UFC against much lower competition.
He does have some power in his hands, but Dariush should hold the grappling advantages.
If Dariush survives the first round, this should be his fight to take over down the stretch. That’s easier said than done, as Dariush is getting older (36) and has multiple knockout losses on his resume of late.
Still, I think he survives a bit here, as I’m not bullish on Salkilld’s skill set.
Take a few shots here on some long shots, but tie it together on fight to start Round 2 (-120, Fanatics).
Wager 1.2 units on the fight starting Round 2 (-120) and spread another unit on the fight going the distance (+350, bet365) and Dariush by decision (+900, FanDuel).
THE PLAYS: Fight starts Round 2 (-120, Fanatics) | Small bets on fight goes the distance (+350, bet365) and Dariush by decision (+900, FanDuel).
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UFC Fight Night full card picks
Tim Elliott vs. Steve Erceg: Erceg by decision (+110, FanDuel)
Marwan Rahiki vs. Ollie Schmid: Pass (odds not available)
Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Pericic: Fight goes the distance (+550, theScore Bet)
Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland: Tuivasa by KO/TKO (-115, FanDuel)
Cam Rowston vs. Robert Bryczek: Rowston by KO/TKO (+600, BetRivers)
Junior Tafa vs. Kevin Christian: Tafa wins in under .5 round (-120, DraftKings)
Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert: Malkoun by decision (+235, BetRivers)
Colby Thicknesse vs. Vince Morales: Thicknesse by decision (+135, FanDuel)
Ben Johnston vs. Wes Schultz: Pass
Jonathan Micallef vs. Themba Gorimbo: Micallef by submission (+245, BetRivers)
Dom Mar Fan vs. Kody Steele: Fight goes the distance (-140, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
