The lightweight class will be on display this weekend with a bout of Luis Pena vs Alexander Munoz. Pena has opened as the favorite, and with a serious size advantage on his opponent, he looks like the safer betting option. Neither fighter is close to real contention, but a win for either one would help them climb the rankings in a tough weight division.
We’re used to having some of the most popular MMA fighters associated with the UFC’s lightweight class, and although we won’t be seeing any of them this weekend, we’re still going to get to see a solid bout between two young fighters. Luis Pena vs Alexander Munoz is scheduled as one of the main card fights for UFC Vegas 24. Online sports betting sites in New Jersey have Luis Pena as the betting favorite, but the best UFC betting sites favor Munoz’s betting value as an underdog. Pena is ranked higher than Munoz and has more experience in the UFC. He hasn’t been phenomenal, but he’s done well enough to catch our attention. He went 1-1 in 2020, losing his last bout against Khama Worthy by way of submission. Pena and Munoz are equally talented in terms of striking, and although Munoz absorbs more strikes per minute, he probably has an edge in the grappling area of things. MMA predictions say that Munoz is a decent betting pick, but Pena has demonstrated that he can win in a variety of different ways. However, Pena’s takedown defense is only 45%, which means that Munoz’s optimal strategy against him would be to get him on the mat. Still, Pena is a decent grappler, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt to come through this weekend. The best money line odds for Pena are over on Borgata, where they have him listed at -140, but I’m going to take him at +190 odds on Fanduel to win by points. You can check out NJ online sportsbook reviews for a look at the best places to bet on this fight.
Pena is the more experienced fighter, and I think he’s also the better all-around fighter. It’ll be close, and I don’t think we’ll see any knockouts, but I say Pena wins out. My prediction: Pena wins by unanimous decision.
