The UFC 294 odds have seen a lot of changes leading up to the event. A major reason for this is that three fighters on the main card pulled out just weeks before the fight. Luckily, the UFC was able to find replacements quickly for its return to Abu Dhabi.
Keep reading to see the latest betting odds for UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2. I will break down the odds from the top UFC betting sites for every bout on this 13-fight card. Also, I will give you my predictions for each of the UFC 294 fights.
UFC 294 Predictions
UFC 294 is taking place on Saturday, October 21st, in Abu Dhabi. Here are the current betting odds for all 13 fights on this weekend’s card. UFC odds courtesy of BetUS.
Sharabutdin Magomedov (-230) vs. Bruno Silva (+190)
Kicking off the prelim fights for this event is a middleweight bout between Sharabutdin Magomedov (-230) and Bruno Silva (+190). Oddsmakers at most sports betting sites have Magomedov favored to get the win this weekend.
I am surprised that Magomedov is not a bigger favorite heading into his UFC debut. He is 11-0, with 10 KO victories to his name. He has five more wins that came in MMA fights with modified rules.
Silva (23-9) is a veteran with 20 KO victories in his career and should be a good test for Magomedov. In the end, though, I think Magomedov is the one who gets his hand raised.
Victoria Dudakova (-475) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (+350)
Another undefeated fighter competing this weekend is Victoria Dudakova (7-0). She will take on Jinh Yu Frey (11-9) in a women’s strawweight bout. Dudakova (-475) is a heavy favorite, according to the latest UFC 294 odds.
Frey has lost five of her last seven fights and is currently on a three-fight losing streak. Her last win was over two years ago against Ashley Yoder.
Dudakova won her UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2022. She defeated Istela Nunes in her UFC debut after Nunes suffered a dislocated elbow in the first round. I think Dudakova will pick up another win this weekend, moving to 2-0 in the UFC and 8-0 overall.
Nathaniel Wood (-335) vs. Muhammad Naimov (+245)
Up next is a featherweight bout between Nathaniel Wood (-335) and Muhammad Naimov (+245). Both men are 4-1 in their last five fights, and the oddsmakers at BetUS have Wood (-335) as a sizeable favorite this weekend.
Wood has a clear experience advantage, having turned pro in 2013 and joining the UFC in 2018. Naimov, on the other hand, did not start his pro MMA career until 2018 and made his UFC debut in June. He could have joined earlier, but Naimov lost his fight on DWCS in 2020.
Despite the odds, I am picking Naimov to get the win this weekend. He is moving back down to featherweight, where he has competed most of his career. I think he can use his size advantage to get the edge over Wood this weekend.
Mike Breeden (+260) vs. Anshul Jubli (-360)
Mike Breeden (10-6) will look to end his three-fight losing streak this Saturday when he steps in the octagon with Anshul Jubli (7-0). A win would be Breeden’s first in the UFC and end his 0-3 start to his career with the promotion. This fight is taking place at lightweight.
Jubli (-360) is a moderate favorite in his second UFC fight. Four of his seven career wins have come via decision, so this could be a longer fight.
Breedan has yet to win in the UFC and has had issues making 155 pounds. Jubli also has a slight size advantage that could come into play in this fight. I think Jubli will pick up the win in what could be Breedan’s last appearance in the UFC for a while.
Abu Azaitar (+145) vs. Sedriques Dumas (-175)
One of the most exciting fights scheduled for the UFC 294 prelims pits Abu Azaitar (+145) vs. Sedriques Dumas (-175). Dumas is a slight favorite in this middleweight bout.
This fight was scheduled for March of this year, but Azaitar withdrew. This will be his first fight since losing to Marc-André Barriault at UFC 260. Both fighters are 1-1 in the UFC and have combined for 11 KO wins in their careers.
This should be an exciting striking contest, but I give the edge to Dumas. He has the height and reach advantage, which should help him if this fight stays on the feet.
Javid Basharat (-565) vs. Victor Henry (+390)
Javid Basharat (-565) is one of the biggest favorites on Saturday’s card, according to the latest UFC 294 odds. He is scheduled to take on Victor Henry (+390) at bantamweight.
Basharat (14-0) is undefeated so far in his MMA career and has finished 11 of his 14 opponents. Another impressive showing this weekend could help him move into the Top 15. Henry (23-6), on the other hand, is the more experienced fighter and has 14 finishes in his career.
Henry could have value to bettors who are looking for an upset. He certainly has the skills to win and could put the first blemish on Basharat’s record. However, I am sticking with the favorite in this one and picking Basharat to improve to 15-0.
Mohammad Yahya (+106) vs. Trevor Peek (-136)
The fight with the smallest difference in betting odds for UFC 294 is the lightweight bout between Mohammad Yahya (+106) and Trevor Peek (-136). Peek (8-1) is looking to bounce back from his first loss as a professional.
Yahya (12-3) is riding a five-fight winning streak and making his UFC debut. Both fighters are listed at 5’9”, but Yahya will have a three-inch reach advantage.
Prior to his decision loss against Chepe Mariscal, Peek had knocked out eight straight opponents. I think the loss will give him extra motivation for this fight. Assuming Peek can overcome Yahya’s kickboxing skills, I think he will get back in the win column this Saturday.
Tim Elliott (+375) vs. Muhammad Mokaev (-550)
Longtime MMA veteran Tim Elliott will step into the Octagon for his 33rd professional fight this weekend. Elliott (+375) is a sizeable underdog as he takes on the undefeated Muhammad Mokaev (-550) on Saturday. This is the main event of the prelims, and the fight is scheduled to take place at flyweight.
Elliot has been a fixture of the UFC’s lighter divisions for over a decade, and this will be his 19th fight for the promotion. He should provide an interesting challenge for Mokaev, who is looking to remain undefeated in both the UFC and his professional career.
I think Mokaev will be the one to get his hand raised. However, you cannot completely count out Elliott, and a small wager on the veteran can give you a huge payout. Assuming he can avoid the upset, a win over Elliott should move Mokaev one step closer to the featherweight Top 15.
Said Nurmagomedov (-225) vs. Muin Gafurov (+185)
Starting off the main card of UFC 294 is a bantamweight fight between Said Nurmagomedov and Muin Gafurov. Both fighters are coming off a loss, but Nurmagomedov (-225) is the favorite to win this Saturday.
All three of Nurmagomedov’s losses have come via decision. Gafurov has also suffered all five of his career losses at the hands of the judges. So, it is safe to say that these fighters will be looking for the finish this weekend.
Securing a finish will be easier said than done, though, as both Nurmagomedov and Gafurov are well-rounded fighters. They have combined for 26 finishes in their careers. I think Nurmagomedov is the one to add to his total this weekend.
Ikram Aliskerov (-550) vs. Warlley Alves (+375)
This is one of the three fights on the main card for UFC 294 that had a last-minute change. Ikram Aliskerov was supposed to face Nassourdine Imavov, but the latter pulled out. Aliskerov will face Warlley Alves instead.
Even before the change, Aliskerov was a heavy favorite this weekend. BetUS has Aliskerov listed at -550 to beat Alves (+375) in this middleweight bout.
Alves will not have the luxury of a full camp and has lost back-to-back fights. I think he will drop another one this weekend. It’s just his second fight in the UFC, but a dominant win could put Aliskerov in line for a shot at the Top 15.
Magomed Ankalaev (-360) vs. Johnny Walker (+260)
Another exciting fight scheduled for UFC 294 is a light heavyweight bout between Magomed Ankalaev (-360) and Johnny Walker (+260). Ankalaev is coming off a split-decision draw with Jan Błachowicz, the division’s former champion.
Walker was a title challenger in the past, but he has fallen off lately. A win this weekend could put him back in the title discussion.
Despite his recent struggles, Walker has won three straight fights and his career is back on track. However, I think he will suffer a small setback this weekend by losing to Ankalaev. A win should put Ankalaev squarely in line for a title shot.
Kamaru Usman (+215) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (-270)
The co-main event for UFC 294 was supposed to be a middleweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa. However, Costa had to withdraw due to an elbow injury, and he will be replaced by former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Chimaev (-270) is undefeated and favored to pick up the win this Saturday. Both fighters are moving up from 170 to 185 pounds for this fight. It will also be Usman’s first bout since losing back-to-back fights, and his welterweight belt, to Leon Edwards.
Usman is a former champion, but the change in weight classes and the short notice will hurt him. I would stick with Chimaev to get the win this weekend.
Islam Makhachev (c) (-260) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (+205)
The main event for UFC 294 also changed in the weeks leading up to the event. Charles Oliveira had to withdraw from his scheduled rematch with Islam Makhachev. The champion will defend his lightweight title in a rematch against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski instead.
MMA sportsbooks have Makhachev listed at -260 to get the win on Saturday. He defeated Volkanovski by decision in their first fight in February of this year.
If Volkanovski had a full camp, then I think he could have a real chance of beating Makhachev. However, that is sadly not the case. I think Volkanovski comes up short again, and Makhachev earns his second successful title defense.
