The lightweight division will showcase Jeremy Stephens vs Drakkar this weekend on UFC Vegas 24. Stephens is on a losing streak that Klose hopes to extend, but he’s still opened as the betting favorite. The lines are close enough where it might be worth it to take a shot betting on Klose, who’s fresh off a loss but has overall looked solid lately.
The main card of UFC Vegas 24 features Jeremy Stephens vs Drakkar Klose in a lightweight clash. NJ approved sports betting sites favor Stephens, despite the “Lil’ Heathen” riding an unfortunate losing streak. MMA betting sites in NJ aren’t too keen on Stephens, as it might be in bettors’ best interest to roll with Drakkar Klose for this match. Statistically, Klose is the better striker as he lands 3.89 significant strikes per minute and has an accuracy of 53%. On the other hand, Stephens lands 3.18 significant strikes per minute and has a 40% accuracy. The betting line is fishy since nothing stands out about Stephens as a good betting pick. The last time we saw him, he suffered his fourth straight loss after a bout with Calvin Kattar back in May 2020. He desperately needs a win this weekend, but all signs point to Klose pulling off an upset. Klose is the better striker and has performed well recently despite losing to Beneil Dariush in last match. Both men have been out of the ring for some time, but I’m leaning towards picking Klose for this match. Check out the NJ sportsbook reviews for the best markets and odds for the upcoming lightweight bout. 888sport and Fanduel have the best money line odds if you want to roll with Klose, where they’ve got the slugger listed at +120 odds. Stephens’ best money line odds are on Fanduel at -132. UFC betting predictions argue that Stephens has been off lately, and I think that Klose is the better overall fighter. He combines strong grappling with excellent striking skills to give his opponents a hard time. He’s won most of his fights on points, so I’m betting that he does the same this weekend.
Until Stephens does something to prove that he’s a worthy opponent in this weight division, there’s nothing that makes me confident in his abilities to win against Klose. Luckily, there’s better betting value rolling with Klose, so it’s not a very tough decision this time around. My prediction: Klose wins by unanimous decision.