- Opening UFC odds has Sergei Pavlovich +145 against Curtis Blaydes -170.
- Pavlovich has five first-round finishes in a row.
- See who our betting pick is for Pavlovich vs Blaydes at UFC Fight Night 222.
UFC Fight Night 222 also referred to as UFC Vegas 71, is scheduled to be held on April 22, 2023. Headlined by two heavyweight contenders Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes. The winner a potential favorite to get the next shot at the new heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones. Let’s see how the opening betting odds are shaping up for Pavlovich vs Blaydes.
Pavlovich vs Blaydes Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
| Sergei Pavlovich | +145 |
| Curtis Blaydes | -170 |
According to BetMGM, No.3 ranked heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich is a +145 underdog (Risk $100, Win $145) at UFC Fight Night 222. The favorite here is Curtis Blaydes at -160, (Risk $170, Win $100). Check out UFC betting apps for the latest MMA betting odds and sportsbooks to sign-up with.
Some UFC prop bets to look at here is Pavlovich under 1.5 rounds and Blaydes by TKO. Use a Bet99 promo code to secure a $600 deposit match now.
Sergei Pavlovich vs Curtis Blaydes Prediction
The underdog here Sergei Pavlovich has been on a real hot streak lately. Winning his five fights by KO in the first round. Three of these five wins earned him a performance of the night and his last two wins were over Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa.
Blaydes will have to be cautious of Pavlovich’s attack in the opening round, but not be too cautious and get overwhelmed by the Russian. Blaydes has also been on a similar winning streak, with three straight wins in a row. In fact, Blaydes has only lost to two fighters in his MMA career, Francis Ngannou (twice) and Derrick Lewis.
Pavlovich will take inspiration from Lewis’s finish of Blaydes back in 2021, knowing that Blaydes likes to shoot low which could set up an unsuspecting shot from Pavlovich. Outside of Pavlovich’s quick finishes, we’ve seen lately, the new version hasn’t been tested outside of the first round since 2017, when he went the distance with Mikhail Mokhnatkin.
We know Blaydes has endurance and cardio for days, which will be one of his strengths to drag Pavlovich into deep waters and take away that initial burst of energy.
As the fight goes on Blaydes has a clear advantage in wrestling and grappling. His ability to take his opponents down and control them on the ground could be the key to victory in this fight. Pavlovich has shown good takedown defense in the past, but Blaydes’ relentless wrestling may prove to be too much.
The outcome of this heavyweight battle is uncertain, but considering their individual abilities, Curtis Blaydes might hold the advantage. If he can effectively utilize his wrestling and ground control skills, he could nullify Pavlovich’s striking and potentially secure a decision win or even a late stoppage.
However, if Pavlovich manages to keep the fight standing and connect with powerful strikes, he could potentially finish Blaydes.
Betting Pick: Curtis Blaydes by TKO