UFC 272 betting tips and Covington v Masvidal predictions

Free MMA tips, best bets and analysis for UFC 272, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, on Saturday night.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, from 1am Saturday night

Best bets

C Covington to win by decision or technical decision
2pts 20-21 bet365

B Mitchel to win by submission
1pt 21-10 Paddy Power

S Spivak to win KO, TKO or submission
2pts 16-5 Paddy Power

UFC 272 preview

Welterweight duo Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal finally get the chance to settle their feud at UFC 272.

It’s a classic clash of styles with wrestler Covington – ranked number one in the division – going up against a formidable striker in Masvidal.

Covington also boasts a decent stand-up game, although he is far from a power puncher and just four of his 16 wins have come via knockout.

Masvidal is something of a one-trick pony and, if he doesn’t land big shots in the opening two rounds, the stats show he’s unlikely to cause too much damage in the latter exchanges.

Expect Covington to try and maintain the distance early before applying pressure and shooting for takedowns from round three onwards.

However, Covington is unlikely to get it done inside the distance with the overwhelming majority of his victories coming by way of decision, including five of his last six, and he might need help from the judges again.

Undefeated submission specialist Bryce Mitchell is back in the Octagon for the first time since October 2020 when he faces veteran Edson Barbosa.

Barbosa’s best days are well behind him and Mitchell should be able to earn a tenth win by submission.

Former NFL defensive end Greg Hardy appears to be on his way out of the UFC and Sergey Spivak looks primed to land the final blow.

Heavyweight Hardy has lost his last two by KO and big-hitter Spivak can get back on the winning path after his first-round defeat to Tom Aspinall last time.

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