The main card for UFC 258 is headlined by Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns for the welterweight title. Usman is the reigning champion and comes into this fight as a -278 (888sport). Burns has earned his title shot as he’s won his last six contests, but he’s going to have a tough time against “The Nigerian Nightmare,” who has a considerable reach advantage.
UFC 258 will take place in Las Vegas on February 13, 2021, with Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns as the main event. The upcoming bout’s main story is about how two former teammates will face off for the welterweight title. Usman and Burns used to train together at American Top Team and became close friends before Usman left for Colorado to train under Trevor Wittman. This makes their fight this Saturday even more interesting. Rarely do we see two close friends duking it out in the octagon, let alone for a title shot, but Usman has made it clear that he won’t be pulling any punches. Both fighters are well-acquainted with the other’s fighting style and will each have a unique profile of their strengths or weaknesses. Gilbert Burns has done well to climb the ranks and earn a shot at the title. The last time we saw him, he defeated former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley by unanimous decision. Usman claimed the welterweight crown from Woodley back on March 2, 2019, and he hasn’t relinquished control of it since. He’s defended his title twice, his most recent one back on July 11, 2020, via a unanimous decision against Jorge Masvidal. The top betting sites in NJ favor Usman, and you can check out the NJ online sportsbook review to compare odds, but if you’re going to roll with Usman, 888sport has the best moneyline odds at -278. MMA betting sites in NJ and UFC betting predictions say that “Durinho” is a longshot to win against “The Nigerian Nightmare,” and I agree. Burns is highly skilled in Brazillian jiu-jitsu and is also familiar with Usman from their days training together. Still, Usman has a size advantage to pair with his formidable fighting and grappling skills. BetMGM offers good betting value for a Usman decision victory at +135 odds. I don’t think he’s going to knock out Burns, but he’s skilled enough to win off points.
These fighters go way back, but Usman is the defending champ for a reason. Burns knows Usman’s weaknesses better than anyone, but I doubt it’ll be enough to get him the victory. My prediction: Usman wins by unanimous decision.
