In a 3-round bantamweight bout on the main card, Rob Font and Kyler Phillips meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 245 — also known as UFC Vegas 99 and UFC on ESPN+ 103 — at the UFC Apex. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC Fight Night 245: Font vs. Phillips odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The prelims begin at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, and the main card begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Records: Font (20-8-0) | Phillips (12-2-0)
The 37-year-old veteran Font is looking to snap a 2-bout skid. He also has dropped 4 of his past 5 outings, although losses to the likes of Jose Aldo, Deiveson Figueiredo, Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera is nothing to be ashamed about. Those aren’t exactly tomato cans.
Font has ended up going the distance in each of his past 2 losses, and 5 of the past 6 bouts. He has finished inside the distance in just 2 of his past 10 fights since July 7, 2018, too.
For Phillips, he takes the walk with 3 consecutive victories, including a unanimous-decision win over Pedro Munhoz last time out at UFC 299. He has ended up going the distance in 2 in a row, and 4 of the past 5 outings.
Phillips has an ever-so-slight half-inch reach advantage, while he has a slight 5.72-to-5.53 significant strikes landed per minute lead. Phillips is also just a little more accurate at 48.53%, to just 47.81% for Font.
On takedowns, Phillips is well ahead with a 2.41 mark, to just 0.89 for Font. Phillips is way more accurate on takedowns, too, posting a 46.88% takedown accuracy percentage, to just 35.14% for the veteran Font. Phillips also leads in submission average, posting a 0.48-to-0.34 lead.
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UFC Fight Night 245: Font vs. Phillips odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of UFC odds. Lines last updated at 12:45 p.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Font +400 (bet $100 to win $400) | Phillips -550 (bet $550 to win $100)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -190 | No +140)
UFC Fight Night 245: Font vs. Phillips picks and predictions
Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)
Phillips (-550) is an overwhelming favorite, as he looks to take down the veteran Font (+400) and position himself for a run at the bantamweight championship. If he is to realize that, he can’t lose to a veteran that is struggling lately.
Phillips does so many things well, and he is the more well-rounded fighter at this point of his career.
Still, you can’t risk 5 times your potential return. Let’s get more specific instead. PHILLIPS ON POINTS (-140) is the best play, as he has gone the distance in 4 of his past 5 outings, with 3 wins via the method.
Over/Under (O/U)
Yes: Fight to go the distance (-190) is quite pricey, and this bet comes with a disclaimer. You cannot make this play straight up, but if you incorporate it onto a ticket with several other legs of an MMA parlay, or a mixed sport ticket, then it isn’t that bad.
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