UFC 269 betting tips and Charles Oliveira v Dustin Poirier predictions

Free MMA tips, best bets and analysis for UFC 269 on Saturday night.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, from midnight Saturday

Best bets

Dustin Poirier to win by KO, TKO or DQ
1pt 4-6 bet365

Kai Kara-France to win
1pt 6-5 Paddy Power

Sean O'Malley to win by KO, TKO or DQ
2pts 11-10 Paddy Power

Preview

Charles Oliveira's lightweight title is on the line at UFC 269 when he takes on number-one-ranked Dustin Poirier in the final numbered event of the year.

Styles make fights and this one pits Oliveira, who holds the record for the most submission victories in the UFC (14), against power-puncher Poirier.

Oliveira is elite on the ground and his best chance of retaining the belt will depend on whether or not he can complete successful takedowns, but that is easier said than done.

Poirier boasts a 61-per-cent takedown defence record and that statistic is skewed heavily after he was wrestled to the ground on seven occasions by former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The Diamond has lost only once in his last ten trips to the octagon – going down to Khabib – and he goes into this one after successive wins over Conor McGregor, while he has also seen off Dan Hooker, Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje.

He boasts the record for eight KO victories – the most in the division – and is good value to add another to that tally.

It is tough to find much value in the co-main event as red-hot odds-on favourite Amanda Nunes looks set for a successful defence of her bantamweight belt against Julianna Pena.

However, further down the card it could be worth getting behind underdog Kai Kara-France to beat flyweight debutant Cody Garbrandt, who could struggle with the extra cut, while Sean O'Malley to pick up a KO, TKO or DQ win over Raulian Paiva offers interest.

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