It’s what you’ll be tuning into UFC 262 for, but Tony Ferguson vs Beneil Dariush will be an excellent lightweight bout. It’s the co-main event this Saturday, and it figures to be an entertaining showdown featuring a veteran and a younger contender. Dariush is the betting favorite, and with Ferguson’s career winding down, he looks like the smart pick to cover all bets.
Fasten your seat belts and get ready for another UFC main event this Saturday, May 15, when UFC 262 kicks off in Houston, Texas. We’ve got Tony Ferguson vs Beneil Dariush set as the co-main event. It’s an exciting matchup with Ferguson, once regarded as a top UFC fighter, and Dariush making waves in the lightweight division recently. UFC betting predictions and the best MMA betting sites are backing Dariush, most likely due to Ferguson’s recent skid. Ferguson was on point before embarking on a two-fight losing streak. He first lost to Justin Gaethje by TKO in May 2020. He then proceeded to lose to Charles Oliveira by unanimous decision in December 2020. His career is beginning to wind down, but “El Cucuy” can still hang with the best of them. He could bounce back here against the less-experienced Dariush, making him a value betting pick, but I’m going to roll with the favorite for my money. Ferguson’s a better striker, but Dariush has a more well-rounded game. He combines Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai boxing techniques to create space and striking opportunities. All Ferguson needs is a couple of good hits to drop somebody, but I think that Dariush has the footwork to prevent that from happening. If you want to know where to bet on this fight, look at the NJ online sportsbook review. However, you’ll get the best value for the underdog at Fanduel, where they’ve got Ferguson listed at +144. I’m going with Dariush, whose best money line odds are on 888sport at -164. He’s been red-hot lately and has given us several impressive performances, so I expect him to continue that this weekend.
Ferguson might bounce back after back-to-back losses, but Dariush is a serious problem in the lightweight division. He’s so versatile that it’s hard to predict how he’ll end his opponents, but regardless I’m going with him to take this bout. My prediction: Dariush wins by KO/TKO in the 2nd round.
