All you need is one punch.
The UFC returns Saturday at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas with three title bouts. As if that wasn’t sweet enough for MMA fans, DraftKings has added a tantalizing new promotion. New users who bet $1 on any UFC 259 title fight can get a 100-1 return if either fighter lands a single punch.
And so an event that is already filled with intriguing matchups gains even more mojo thanks to DraftKings.
Let’s take a quick look at UFC 259 and the available odds at our region’s sportsbooks.
Blachowicz’s comeback story continues in the main event
Saturday’s main event contains a remarkable comeback story. Light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz started his career 2-4. But since then, the Polish fighter has trended upward, winning eight of his last nine fights and four in a row (three by stoppage).
On Saturday, the 38-year-old will take on middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Adesanya’s story is almost the exact opposite. He is undefeated in UFC action and has stormed through the middleweight division, racking up wins over Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa.
On Saturday, Adesanya is -230 on the moneyline at DraftKings, while Blachowicz is +185. The over/under for the fight is set at 2.5 rounds.
And as previously mentioned, the DraftKings promotion will pay out 100-1 odds for new users if either fighter lands a single punch. That promotion is good for the other title fights on the card as well (Amanda Nunes vs Megan Anderson and Petr Yan vs Aljamain Sterling).
Here’s the fine print:
- First time DraftKings depositors only
- Make a deposit of $5+ into your Sportsbook account
- Following the deposit, place a bet of at least $1 on either fighter to win in any featured Main Event fight
- Bet must be placed prior to the start of the Main Event fight
- If there is a punch recorded by either fighter, you will be issued a $100 bonus once your original $1+ bet settles
- Bonus paid as four (4) $25 Free Bets
- Free Bets valid for 7 days. Failure to use the Free Bets will void the award
- Free Bet amount is not included in any returns or winnings
- Free Bet also not redeemable for cash, non-transferable, and non-refundable
- One qualifying bet per user
- Excludes live bets, parlays, free bets, cash out bets, and voided bets
Nunes a huge favorite in Saturday’s second title fight
Often nicknamed the “Baddest Woman on the Planet,” UFC featherweight champion Amanda Nunes is an epic favorite in her title defense against Megan Anderson. Nunes is -1250 at DraftKings, while Anderson enters at +750. Oddsmakers also envision this being a quick fight, with an over/under set at 1.5 rounds.
Nunes has won 11 straight fights, with a perfect 7-0 record in championship bouts. Anderson enters the octagon after winning her last two fights in the first round.
Yan vs. Sterling title bout features fighters with opposite styles
The other title match Saturday features a pair of bantamweight brawlers who were originally supposed to meet in December. Petr Yan is undefeated in UFC action (7-0), while Aljamain Sterling is 19-3. This fight could prove to be a contrast in styles.
Yan is often content to trade punches, whereas Sterling’s strength lies in his grappling. His resume includes a first-round submission of Cory Sandhagen last June.
The fight is considered a pick’em at DraftKings, with both fighters at -110. Their total is set at 3.5 rounds.
For the title fights, bettors will find multiple wagering options. These include winning method, individual round betting and whether or not the fight will go the distance.
And beyond the three title bouts, there are 12 other fights on the jam-packed UFC 259 card. The rest of the matchups and their moneyline odds are as follows:
- Islam Makhachev (-335) vs. Drew Dober (+250)
- Dominick Cruz (+110) vs. Casey Kenney (-137)
- Thiago Santos (+138) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (-167)
- Joseph Benavidez (+110) vs. Askar Askarov (-134)
- Sean Brady (-230) vs. Jake Matthews (+180)
- Song Yadong (-141) vs. Kyler Phillips (+115)
- Trevin Jones (+180) vs. Mario Bautista (-225)
- Uros Medic (-177) vs. Aalon Cruz (+144)
- Tim Elliott (+102) vs. Jordan Espinosa (-124)
- Kai Kara-France (-141) vs. Rogerio Bontorin (+115)
- Carlos Ulberg (-230) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (+180)
- Livia Renata Souza (+172) vs. Amanda Lemos (-215)
Daily fantasy players can also expect a number of big contests for Saturday’s fights. So there’s no shortage of action once UFC 259 begins.
It all starts with the early preliminaries at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ followed by the main card at 10 p.m. on ESPN Pay-Per-View.
There are three title fights at the top of the card.
A main event pairing champion versus champion.
And a massive DraftKings promotion that will make it all even better.
