UFC Best Bets Today (8/26/23): Holloway vs Sung Jung, Smith vs Spann
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The August 26th UFC main event starts at 8am EST with a fight in the men’s featherweight division between Max Holloway and Chan Sung Jung. Current UFC odds have Holloway slated as a -750 favorite on the moneyline with a -5.5 point spread set at -350 odds. Read on for more UFC predictions and best bets today.
UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs Sung Jung Prediction
After a couple of mediocre fight nights, UFC 292 brought the juice with an electric main card. Carnage and surprising results were the theme for the star studded PPV, getting capped off by a shocking KO/TKO victory by new bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. The UFC now transitions back to a fight night, a card that features a featherweight bout between future hall of famer Max Holloway and the aging Chan Sung Jung with number one contender possibilities on the line. This Saturday also features the highly anticipated rematch between Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann, two light heavyweights who have made it known that they despise each other.
Max Holloway Vs. Chan Sung Jung
It’s a very rare instance where the main event features a massive favorite, yet that is exactly how these two fighters’ careers have gone as of late. Max Holloway bounced back after his decisive loss to current champ Alexander Volkanovski, beating Arnold Allen in dominant fashion by unanimous decision. As for the Korean Zombie, he looked as feeble as ever as his last fight was a loss via standing TKO. He seemingly had no answer to Volkanovski’s combinations, getting picked apart from the opening bell.
To make matters worse for the aging Sung Jung, he has hinted that he is toying with the idea of retirement. While his chin certainly seemed to remain in elite form as Volkanovski failed to knock him out, it certainly will never be the same after the onslaught of strikes that he absorbed.
He now gets the unfortunate opportunity of fighting Max Holloway, a future hall of famer who has built his career off of precision strikes and combinations. Holloway averages an incredible 7.16 Significant Strikes Landed per minute, landing at 49.07% of the time. He excels at spacing with leg kicks, using them to eventually close the distance and unleash a quick combination before backing off and resetting.
Max Holloway putting a PACE on Jose Aldo
— 🌴ᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴏꜰᴡᴀʀ🌴 (@TheArtOfWar6) August 24, 2023
While Holloway’s power is reeling, Sung Jung’s chin is potentially weakened from his last fight out and serves as a prime opportunity for Holloway to make the highlight play and get his name back in number one contender status. Even while regressing mightily with his striking, Sung Jung has shown no signs of slowing down by amping up the tempo with his willingness to trade exchanges with much stronger and faster fighters.
With Sung Jung willing to go toe to toe with Holloway, this puts him in immediate danger of getting picked apart the same way that we saw in his fight against Volkanovski. His sluggish movement is ripe for the picking for Holloway to counter, as well as give him an opportunity to move forward with it and deal more damage. His power is less than ideal, yet the extra rounds help accumulate more damage and give him a better chance for a finish.
Pick: Max Holloway wins inside the distance
Anthony Smith Vs. Ryan Spann
It’s one of the most anticipated rematches in quite some time as these two fighters have made it known that they hate each other. Smith won their first match two years ago, finishing Spann via rear naked choke in the first round.
…to be continued! 👀
Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann rematch at #UFCSingapore this Saturday morning!! pic.twitter.com/bPBT8qiljQ
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) August 24, 2023
Smith has since lost his next two fights after that victory, losing to Magomed Ankalaev by KO/TKO and Johnny Walker via unanimous decision. His quality of fights has taken a major decline in those two fights as well, looking a lot more sluggish and struggling to implement his striking while prone to being counter punched.
As for Spann, he has fared better by going 2-1 since his loss to Smith. He did lose in his last fight out to Nikita Krylov via first round submission yet has shown no instances of slowing down. While Smith has visibly regressed, Spann has maintained his hyper paced slugging style and is poised to bombard from the opening bell.
While I debated taking Spann to win the rematch due to how bad Smith has looked as of late, his style of fighting puts him just as much in danger. Smith’s chin still looks to be intact and can potentially survive the early onslaught. As the fight goes on, Smith’s chances of winning drastically increases as he can take down a tired Spann and hunt for another submission victory.
Pick: Fight not to go the distance parlay piece
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