Perhaps the most stacked mixed martial arts card of 2022 is highlighted by two championship fights on Saturday as middleweight champion Israel Adesanya takes on second-ranked contender Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC 276. Their battle tops the main UFC 276 fight card (10 p.m. ET) from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The brash and eccentric Adesanya has become one of the UFC’s most dominant and polarizing superstars. He will make his fifth title defense against the late-blooming Cannonier, who has won five of his past six to earn his first title bid.
Adesanya is a -380 favorite (risk $380 to win $100), while Cannonier comes back at +310 in the latest UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier odds from Caesars Sportsbook. In the co-main event, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (-190) makes his fourth defense in a trilogy bout against former titleholder Max Holloway (+170). Before finalizing any UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier picks, make sure you check out the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Kyle Marley.
Marley won the first-ever “ToutMaster” UFC betting contest sponsored by MMAOddsBreaker and appears regularly on multiple MMA betting and daily Fantasy shows. He watches every single fight for every professional MMA card and does extensive research before each event.
Over the past three-plus years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley’s picks are up more than $13,000. The accomplished MMA analyst has now connected on 58 of his last UFC 93 main-event selections, a stretch that includes just five defeats in 2022.
Marley kicked off the 2022 UFC season in January by telling SportsLine members to support Calvin Kattar (+200) against Giga Chikadze (-240) in the featherweight main event. Kattar’s lopsided unanimous-decision victory gave Marley’s followers another easy winner. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, he’s turned his attention to the UFC 276 fight card and locked in his best bets. You can only see his MMA picks at SportsLine.
UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier preview
Adesanya is a brash and flashy champion who predicted he would soon be holding the belt upon making his UFC debut in February 2018. About 20 months later, he did just that when he dethroned popular former champion Robert Whittaker with a second-round knockout in front of Whittaker’s adoring fans in his native Australia.
Adesanya (22-1) memorably made his ring walk in enemy territory amid a choreographed dancing exhibition involving his team in full costume. He then backed up the bravado in a manner reminiscent of prime Conor McGregor and has since vowed to become one of the UFC’s all-time greats.
The 32-year-old New Zealander appears headed toward that milestone, as he has followed through on his promise to give all qualified challengers a title shot in a timely fashion. His last fight resulted in a competitive but clear decision victory over Whittaker in their February rematch.
His lone defeat came when he attempted to become a rare two-division champion but came up short against Jan Blachowicz in a light heavyweight title fight in March of last year.
Cannonier (15-5) is among a handful of late-blooming contenders who have seen their best days come when most fighters might be in the twilight of their careers. The 38-year-old started at heavyweight and also fought at light heavyweight before finding that his power set him apart at middleweight, where the limit is 185 pounds.
Following a knockout loss to light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes in May 2018, Cannonier rededicated himself to the nutritional and training discipline needed to make middleweight. The Dallas native has gone 5-1 with four knockouts since making the switch, with the lone defeat coming in a competitive decision against Whittaker in October 2020. You can see who to back here.
UFC 276 predictions
We’ll share one of Marley’s UFC 276 predictions here: He is going with Brad Riddell (+120) to get past Jalin Turner (-140) in a battle of lightweight prospects.
Riddell (10-2) is a versatile talent who already has earned a reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the division both for his willingness to take on any opponent and his nonstop pace. The 30-year-old New Zealander won his first four UFC fights but is looking to bounce back from his first defeat. He was stopped by fellow prospect Rafael Fiziev last December.
Turner (12-5) is a rugged power puncher who has won four consecutive fights, all by stoppage. The 27-year-old is coming off a knockout of Jamie Mullarkey in March.
“I give Riddell the slight striking advantage and Turner has been stopped three times. I also think Riddell is more likely to win a decision because he is 5-0 in decisions, compared to 0-2 for Turner,” Marley told SportsLine. See who else to pick here.
How to make UFC 276 picks
Marley also has strong picks for Adesanya vs. Cannonier and every other bout on the UFC 276 card. He’s also backing a fighter who can match his opponent’s pace and “has more power” to roll to a dominant victory. Marley’s picks and predictions are only available at SportsLine.
Who wins Adesanya vs. Cannonier? And how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on every fight at UFC 276, all from the incomparable expert who’s up more than $13,000 on MMA in the past three years, and find out.
UFC 276 odds, fight card
See full UFC 276 picks, best bets, and predictions here.
Israel Adesanya (-380) vs. Jared Cannonier (+310)
Alexander Volkanovski (-190) vs. Max Holloway (+170)
Alex Pereira (-115) vs. Sean Strickland (-105)
Jim Miller (-215) vs. Donald Cerrone (+185)
Ian Garry (-155) vs. Gabriel Green (+135)
Sean O’Malley (-275) vs. Pedro Munhoz (+235)
Jessica-Rose Clark (-135) vs. Julija Stoliarenko (+115)
Dricus Du Plessis (-120) vs. Brad Tavares (+100)
Maycee Barber (-240) vs. Jessica Eye (+200)
Andre Muniz (-280) vs. Uriah Hall (+240)
Robbie Lawler (-125) vs. Bryan Barberena (+105)
Jalin Turner (-140) vs. Brad Riddell (+120)
