UFC on ESPN 58 picks, predictions & best bets: Perez vs. Taira | Pickswise

UFC on ESPN 58 takes place on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. This card features a flyweight fight between Alex Perez and Tatsuro Taira as the Main Event. Here are our best bets for this UFC card, which will include 3 fights on the Main Card.

Be sure to also check out the rest of our UFC predictions for all of the UFC on ESPN 58 Main Card fights.

UFC on ESPN 58 Main Card Best Bets

Tatsuro Taira ML over Alex Perez (-198)

The Main Event at UFC on ESPN 58 will see Alex Perez take on Tatsuro Taira. This will be a fight in the UFC Flyweight division.

Taira comes into this fight with an MMA record of 15-0 and he is 5-0 in the UFC. Taira is averaging 3.51 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 71%. He is absorbing 1.15 strikes and has a striking defense of 47%. His grappling has also been solid, averaging 2.12 takedowns per every 15 minutes and 2.4 submission attempts during the same time period. His takedown accuracy is 41% and his takedown defense is 71%.

Taira is the heavy favorite in this fight, but still looks to be worth backing. Perez is currently in poor form, having won just 1 of his last 4 fights. Further, Taira has the edge in both striking and grappling. For that reason, backing Taira to continue his perfect start to the UFC will be our best bet.

Ikram Aliskerov Win by KO/TKO over Antonio Trocoli (-135)

The Co-Main Event at UFC on ESPN 58 will see Ikram Aliskerov take on Antonio Trocoli. This will be a fight in the UFC Middleweight division.

Aliskerov comes into this fight with an MMA record of 15-1 and he is 3-0 in the UFC. Aliskerov is averaging 8.24 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 65%. He is absorbing 7.15 strikes and has a striking defense of 36%.

Aliskerov is by far the biggest favorite on this card, making his money line not worth the risk. Instead, we will be looking for Aliskerov to win by KO/TKO. Aliskerov has won all of his UFC fights by KO/TKO, and has won 6 fights by KO/TKO overall, therefore backing the same here will be our best bet.

Miles Johns ML over Douglas Silva de Andrade (-135)

The third fight on the Main Card at UFC on ESPN 58 will see Douglas Silva de Andrade take on Miles Johns. This will be a fight in the UFC Bantamweight division.

Johns comes into this fight with an MMA record of 14-2 and he is 6-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.28 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 47%. He is absorbing 2.55 strikes and has a striking defense of 68%. His grappling has also been decent, averaging 1.15 takedowns per every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 22%, but his takedown defense is 85%.

Johns is a small favorite in this fight and looks to be the best play. He has won 4 of his last 5 UFC fights. He also has solid striking, better striking defense, and the edge in grappling. For that reason, backing Johns to win will be our best bet.