The primary UFC card of the 12 months is one full of must-see bouts, highlighted by the interim light-weight championship being on the road within the promotion’s debut on CBS and Paramount+. UFC 324 will happen on Saturday, with Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett battling for the UFC Light-weight Championship in the primary occasion. Pimblett (23-3) is the -239 favourite within the newest UFC 324 odds as he is driving a nine-fight win streak and goals for his first title within the promotion. In the meantime, Gaethje (26-5) is a former interim light-weight champ and is at +195 to again in UFC bets after successful three of his final 4 fights.
The UFC 324 most important card begins at 9 p.m. ET from the T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas. Within the UFC 324 co-main occasion, a pair of top-five ranked bantamweights will face off with Sean O’Malley vs. Tune Yadong. Regardless of back-to-back defeats to Merab Dvalishvili, O’Malley (18-3) is the -205 favourite, with Yadong (22-8-1) priced at +170. Earlier than locking in any UFC 324 picks, ensure you see the MMA predictions and betting recommendation from SportsLine professional Daniel Vithlani.
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Vithlani is a highly-analytical UFC bettor who has been a constant winner for SportsLine members since making his debut in January 2023 with a 5-0 file for UFC 283. The truth is, he is up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card sports activities betting picks.
His different highlights embrace calling an upset for Sean O’Malley (+210) in opposition to Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292 as a part of a 4-1 most important card, and his UFC 299 winners included underdog picks on Dustin Poirier (+190) in opposition to Benoit Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Web page (+110) in opposition to Kevin Holland (-130). Anybody who has adopted him at sportsbooks and on betting apps may very well be manner up.
Now, Vithlani has studied Gaethje vs. Pimblett from each angle and revealed his prime betting picks and greatest bets. Head to SportsLine to see them.
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Gaethje vs. Pimblett preview
Gaethje, 37, has a background in beginner wrestling as he was an NCAA All-American at Northern Colorado, however he is made his residing in MMA by way of his knockout potential. Of his 26 victories, 20 have come by way of knockout, 5 have come by way of choice, and only one has come from submitting his opponent. Of his 5 defeats, three have come from being knocked out and two have been by way of submission. Gaethje has by no means misplaced a choice in his skilled profession.
Preventing out of Denver, Gaethje is aiming for his second Interim UFC Light-weight Championship after successful it the primary time at UFC 249 in a TKO victory over Tony Ferguson. Nevertheless, he then misplaced his subsequent bout for the UFC Light-weight Championship, falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Gaethje had one other shot to assert gold when he challenged Charles Oliveira for the title at UFC 274 however once more got here up brief. He has held the symbolic UFC “BMF” title, which he received by way of a conquer Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. Try SportsLine to see Vithlani’s picks and evaluation.
Pimblett, 31, has a BJJ background and made his skilled debut as a 17-year-old in his native Liverpool, England. He fought at bantamweight and featherweight for over 5 years earlier than shifting as much as light-weight in 2018. Since then, he is received 10 of 11 bouts, together with every of the final 9, and Pimblett sports activities a 7-0 file since becoming a member of UFC in 2021. He can triumph in a lot of methods as of his 23 victories, 10 have been by way of submission, seven have come due to a knockout, and 6 have been by way of successful on the scorecards.
Whereas he received championships in different promotions, UFC 324 can be his first title bout since linking up with the promotion. Pimblett, nevertheless, has been awarded Efficiency of the Evening in 5 of his final seven fights, together with in back-to-back bouts. He is additionally an ideal 3-0 in his MMA profession in Las Vegas, whereas Gaethje sports activities a 3-1 file in Sin Metropolis. You’ll be able to solely see UFC 324 picks and evaluation at SportsLine.
UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett predictions
One in every of of Vithlani’s UFC 324 picks: He is backing Nikita Krylov (+120) over Modestas Bukauskas (-142) in a light-weight heavyweight matchup on the preliminary card. Krylov (30-11) is No. 13 in mild heavyweight rankings, whereas Bukauskas (19-6) is unranked. The previous has benefits over his opponent in a lot of metrics, together with important strikes landed per minute, important strikes accuracy and takedowns common. Bukauskas additionally lacks a diversified assault as simply certainly one of his final 17 bouts have seen him win by way of submission, whereas Krylov has over a dozen MMA wins by way of each submission and with a knockout.
“[Krylov] appears very centered on this coaching camp and remains to be solely 33 years outdated,” Vithlani informed SportsLine. “If Krylov can discover his outdated kind, his MMA recreation can be much more various than Bukauskas. If Krylov can combine in his grappling, he’ll threaten with chokes and floor and pound to win this combat.” See who else to again right here.
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Learn how to make UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett picks
Vithlani has sturdy picks for Gaethje vs. Pimblett and different bouts on the UFC 324 card. He is additionally backing a fighter who’s the “way more refined striker” and has him “teeing off” on his opponent. He is sharing who it is just at SportsLine.
Who wins UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett, and the way precisely does the combat finish? Go to SportsLine now to get detailed picks and evaluation from the incomparable professional who’s up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks, and discover out.
UFC 324 most important combat card, odds
See picks at SportsLine.
(Odds topic to alter)
Justin Gaethje (+195) vs. Paddy Pimblett (-239)
Sean O’Malley (-205) vs. Tune Yadong (+170)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-355) vs. Derrick Lewis (+270)
Natalie Silva (-355) vs. Rose Namajunas (+280)
Arnold Allen (+200) vs. Jean Silva (-245)
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