UFC 314 Volkanovski vs Lopes picks & props

UFC 314 is right around the corner, so it's time for the picks and prop bets for the main card ahead of the event in Miami, Florida, on April 12. We'll take the odds from our trusted partner, 22Bet. Please remember that odds change daily and may vary from those other sportsbooks offer. One last thing to note - waiting for the weigh-ins and checking how each fighter looks on the scales is a must before you place any bets.

Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes (Play the underdog at 2.17)

We start with the main event for the UFC Featherweight championship belt, which Ilia Topuria vacated. Volk is coming back after being brutally knocked out twice in a row, winning just once in his last four fights. Two of those losses happened against P4P king Islam Makhachev in the weight above, yet MightyTips believes the Australian is close to the end of his career. You can't beat the age, and 36 is a lot in this weight class. On the other hand, Lopes is on fire with a 5-fight winning streak. Those five victories happened in less than two years, and he didn't take as much damage as Volkanovski did, and he recently demolished Brian Ortega. We suggest opting for the youth here, betting Lopes at 2.17. If you still believe in Volkanovski's experience and pedigree, 22Bet offers odds of 1.70 on his triumph.

Michael Chandler vs Paddy Pimblett (We doubt Pimblett’s hype is worth odds of 1.68)

The co-main event is probably the most-waited fight of the evening. Pimblett is one of the modern fighters with the most enormous hype, but does that make him a favourite in this match-up? We don't think so. He is 6-0 in the UFC, but all of his wins are against very modest opposition or fighters close to retirement. And we all remember he was given a decision against Jared Gordon where he arguably lost all three rounds. Michael Chandler has poor results in the UFC, but check the level of his opposition. He doesn't have the best fighting IQ and stamina, but we still believe the American is worth a shot at 2.24 with his experience and knockout power. Pimblett can be had at 1.68 if you think his hype is fully deserved.

Bryce Mitchell vs Jean Silva (A surprise on the cards at 3.54?)

In our opinion, this one is much closer than the odds suggest. The Fighting Nerds are taking over, and Jean Silva's 4-fight KO streak is definitely impressive. He has a decent chance to knock Mitchell out, but his takedown defence is far from ideal. Charles Jourdain, a striker, took Silva down three times, and Mitchell's grappling skills are much superior. We can see a world where Silva will be held on the mat for most of the fight or even submitted by the American. If you believe Silva will win, take him by knockout at 1.65. However, our play will be the opposite - MightyTips hopes Mitchell's hand will be raised on odds of 3.54, despite his recent statements on flat Earth and other things.

Yair Rodríguez - Patrício Pitbull (Favourite to win at 1.52)

37-year-old Patrício Pitbull, a former Bellator champion in two weight classes, will finally make debut in the UFC. He is up against former UFC Interim Featherweight Champion Yair Rodríguez, who is five years younger. While this has a massive chance of claiming the Fight of the Night award, we can't see Pitbull winning here. Rodríguez was finished in his last two fights, but he should get back to the winning column, as he'll have an advantage both on the feet and on the mat. We advise playing Rodríguez on odds of 1.52 at 22Bet, while Fight to go the distance at 1.61 looks like a decent bet, too.

Nikita Krylov - Dominick Reyes (Just pass, or take the dog at 2.58)

The main card starts with the fight that has red flags all over it. The eighth-ranked in the Light-Heavyweight division Nikita Krylov last fought more than two years ago, as he was recovering from surgery after a serious shoulder injury. He is up against Dominick Reyes, who arguably handed Jon Jones his only real defeat five years ago. Reyes knocked out his last two opponents, looking pretty good, but we all know he doesn't have a chin. Gun to the head, we'll pick the underdog at excellent odds of 2.58 at 22Bet, but for those trying to make value UFC bets - skip this fight in terms of gambling and enjoy the show.