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UFC Fight Night predictions — Mario Bautista vs. Vinicius Oliveira: Card, picks, odds

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UFC bantamweights are front and center. The four highest-ranked bantamweights all recently competed in major fights. On Saturday, Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira step into the spotlight.

People are starting to wake up to the skill of Bautista (16-3). The Arizona native had won eight fights in a row since 2022 before getting a step up opportunity against top contender Umar Nurmagomedov. While he was swept on the scorecards, Bautista put up a strong effort in defeat. Bautista stunned Nurmagomedov with a knee and nearly yanked his foot off with a toehold. His strong showing, plus a dominant win over former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, helped mend fan feelings after his contentious win over the great Jose Aldo.

“I thought I blew the [Nurmagomedov] fight. That’s the mindset I had,” Bautista told CBS Sports. “Being around people saying, ‘That was an awesome fight. You actually went out there and fought him. You didn’t hold anything back.’ I’m glad people saw that from me. I think that’s what landed me this main event.”

On Saturday, Bautista can utilize his wealth of experience against a fighter with a rapidly rising profile.

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“His hand placements,” Bautista said of Oliveira’s technical gaps. “Outside of the UFC, I saw three separate videos of him getting knocked out. He lives and dies by the sword. I think there’s a higher possibility for that to happen the higher you climb up the UFC rankings.

Oliveira (23-3) is a madman. He marches forward with his hands down and strikes from odd angles. Oliveira is already calling out elite stars like Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili only four fights into his UFC career. “Lok Dog” won’t be far from those conversations if he makes good on his first-round knockout prediction.

“No one in the top five wants to fight me. They’re all close to fighting for the belt. If UFC asked them to fight ‘Lok Dog,’ they’d say no…” Oliveira told CBS Sports. “They don’t want to fight me because they have many things to lose. 

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“I’m dangerous in this division. When you see me fight, you can see I’m crazy. I move forward with my hands down. I dodge stuff and throw punches from nowhere. I’m not technical or orthodox. It’s strange to fight me. If I were someone in front of me, I’d run away. I wouldn’t want to face me.”

Saturday’s co-main event has important implications for the flyweight division. Kyoji Horiguchi, who enjoyed four title reigns between Rizin and Bellator, has the second fight of his second UFC stint. To date, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is the only flyweight to beat Horiguchi. The Japanese star could make a serious splash in the title conversation by beating Amir Albazi. Once considered a future title contender, significant health issues have stunted Albazi’s career. Heart and neck surgery are among the serious procedures that Albazi underwent over the last few years.

Plus, grappling expert Jailton Almeida is back in a heavyweight bout with Rizvan Kuniev in a featured slot. Almeida, 34, debuted in 2022 after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. He ripped off six straight wins, including a strong decision over former title challenger Derrick Lewis in 2023. After a setback against Curtis Blaydes by knockout in 2024, Almeida bounced back with a pair of finishes against Alexander Romanov and Serghei Spivac.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the fight card with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.

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UFC Fight Night card, odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Mario Bautista -170

Vinicius Oliveira +142

Bantamweight

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Kyoji Horiguchi -375

Amir Albazi +295

Flyweight

Jailton Almeida -155

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Rizvan Kuniev +130

Heavyweight

Michal Oleksiejczuk -500 Marc-Andre Barriault +380 Middleweight
Farid Basharat -285 Jean Matsumoto +230 Bantamweight
Dustin Jacoby -185 Julius Walker +154 Light heavyweight

UFC Fight Night viewing information

Date: Saturday, Feb. 7 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Meta APEX — Las Vegas
Stream: Paramount+ (subscribe now for as little as $8.99 per month)

Prediction

Mario Bautista vs. Vinicius Oliveira: Oliveira doesn’t seem concerned with Bautista, technique, or much else. You can chalk up his swagger to some combination of confidence and stubbornness. Oliveira was a vicious KO artist on the regional scene. Things haven’t come so easily for him in the UFC. He might not like that, but I do. Oliveira showed that his skills hold up over 15 minutes. 

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Saturday’s headliners are surprisingly similar considering their contrasting personalities and game plans. They have comparable striking offense and defense stats, though Oliveira sees less artillery coming his way. They’re also difficult to ground. I’m torn here. Bautista’s performance against Nurmagomedov opened my eyes to how good he is. I don’t think he’ll finish Oliveira, and that creates concerns about a potential KO loss over 25 minutes. However, Oliveira’s inexperience against elite fighters and failure to finish his last three opponents are more concerning. I’ll side with the veteran over five rounds. Pick: Bautista via unanimous decision

Who wins Bautista vs. Oliveira, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the advanced model that showed a 6.1% ROI from over 500 fights from 2023-25, and find out.

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Jarrell Miller says Wardley vs Dubois ends in a KO: “He’s been hurt many times”

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Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois are set to collide in two months’ time, with the WBO heavyweight title at stake. Now, American heavyweight Jarrell Miller has offered his thoughts ahead of the contest, having history with both men.

Miller met Dubois back in 2023, when he was halted in the final round with less than 10 seconds remains on the clock. ‘Triple D’ then trumped Filip Hrgovic and was elevated to IBF world champion, defending the title against Anthony Joshua before losing it to Oleksandr Usyk.

18 months after defeat to Dubois, ’Big Baby’ was set to travel across the pond for a first fight on British soil, scheduled to face Wardley at Portman Road – home of Ipswich Town Football Club.

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However, Miller pulled out of that contest due to injury, replaced by Justis Huni, who was dramatically knocked out by the Brit, and so too was Joseph Parker four months later.

That win over New Zealand’s Parker saw Wardley claim the WBO Interim title, and he was upgraded to WBO world champion soon after. Against Dubois, he takes on a difficult challenge for his first defence, one which Miller told New Betting Offers will go one of two ways.

“It’s a 50-50 in my book, and I’ll tell you the reason why. We’ve seen Wardley hurt many times in fights, but he’s durable. He’s mentally strong, he hangs in there, and he’s throwing hard punches to the last round.

“We know Dubois hits hard and has a really good chin, but mentally, he’s not durable. If his dad doesn’t stay in his ear for those 12 rounds, there are fights where he’s quit, mentally disengaged after getting caught with shots, and kind of given up.

“So, he’s probably going to start off pretty strong, but if Wardley can hang in there, I’m thinking a late stoppage for Wardley, or an early night win for Dubois.”

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Wardley-Dubois takes place on Saturday, May 9, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, for what looks set to be another scintillating all-British affair for the coveted heavyweight throne.

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Report: How much Liverpool would need to pay if they’re to beat Man Utd to signing of ‘young jewel’

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A fresh report has indicated how much Liverpool would need to pay if they’re to beat fellow suitors Manchester United to the signing of a higly coveted Bundesliga winger.

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The Reds have been heavily linked with a swoop for Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig, with a trusted source in David Lynch outlining that the Anfield hierarchy are ‘keeping an eye on‘ the 19-year-old, while German insider Christian Falk has gone as far as to claim that an offer is already being planned.

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Liverpool learn Yan Diomande asking price

According to Football Insider, the Red Bull-owned club are ready to be met with ‘big offers’ for the teenage forward, with the northwestern rivals preparing to accelerate their interest in him.

The Bundesliga side are reluctant to sell the Ivory Coast international but have accepted that they would cash in at the right price, with Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly needing to stump up a bid of around £80m if they’re to snap up Diomande in the summer.

Diomande has been outperforming Liverpool’s starting wingers

Hailed as a ‘young jewel’ by RB Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schafer (Sky Sports), the teenager hit double figures for goals this season when netting his team’s winner against Hamburg last weekend.

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The 19-year-old – who’s capable of playing on either flank – has a higher goal return than both Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah in the current campaign, despite playing fewer minutes than the two Liverpool wingers.

The aforementioned Lynch wrote this week that a move for Diomande would make ‘a lot of sense’ given how the Reds’ wide attackers have endured a significant drop-off in output from last term, and even Arne Slot admitted that his team struggled in those positions in their defeat to Wolves on Tuesday night (David Lynch on Substack).

RB Leipzig are in line to turn a massive profit on a player they signed from Leganes for just £17m last summer (Football Insider), and paying upwards of £80m for a youngster who’s still inexperienced at a high level would certainly represent a massive gamble.

However, the Ivorian’s G/A figures from the current campaign (10 goals, seven assists) would indicate that he has the end product to go with his eye-catching talent, and Liverpool mustn’t stand idly by and give their arch-rivals a free run at his signature.

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Detroit Pistons vs San Antonio Spurs Preview: Starting Lineups Tonight, Betting Tips and Game Prediction (Mar. 5)

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The Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs lock horns in a regular-season game at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday, with tipoff at 8 p.m. EST. It is the second matchup between the two teams this season, with the Spurs winning the first encounter 114-103.

The Pistons suffered a 113-109 loss in their previous game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. They no longer hold the best record in the league, but remain in first place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 45-15 record.

Meanwhile, the Spurs destroyed the Philadelphia 76ers 131-91 in their previous outing on Tuesday. San Antonio remains in second place in the Western Conference standings with a 44-17 record.

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview, Starting Lineups Tonight, Betting Tips and Game Prediction

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Betting Tips and Odds

Moneyline: Pistons (+132), Spurs (-156)

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Spread: Pistons +3.5 (-111), Spurs -3.5 (-111)

Total over/under o/u: Pistons o228.5 (-111), Spurs u228.5 (-111)

Editor’s note: Odds might change closer to tipoff.

Betting Tips

  • Victor Wembanyama is expected to record over 3.5 blocks.
  • Cade Cunningham is expected to record under 23.5 points.
  • Jalen Duren is expected to record over 11.5 rebounds.

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview

Cade Cunningham has been hot and cold of late, which has adversely affected the Pistons. Against the Cavaliers, Cunningham scored 10 points on 16 shots, while turning the ball over five times. Detroit needs its best player to raise his level and bounce back with an MVP-level performance against the Spurs.

Jalen Duren has been the Pistons’ best player recently, averaging 25.5 points and 13.7 rebounds on 64.4% shooting. He enters this matchup after winning the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. The Pistons need him to win his matchup against Victor Wembanyama, just like he did when the two teams met last month.

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Meanwhile, the Spurs will face a much stronger challenge against the Pistons than they did against the Sixers on Tuesday. San Antonio made Philadelphia look like a G League team and shot over 55% from the field, including 40% from beyond the arc.

The starters delivered a rollicking performance as usual, and the bench contributed handsomely as well, with rookie Dylan Harper putting on a show off the bench. The young guard made eight of his 11 shots en route to 22 points. Keldon Johnson scored 12 off the bench, helping the Spurs record the most dominant win of their campaign.

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineups Tonight

Detroit Pistons starting lineup

PG: Cade Cunningham, SG: Duncan Robinson, SF: Tobias Harris, PF: Ausar Thompson, C: Jalen Duren.

San Antonio Spurs starting lineup

PG: De’Aaron Fox, SG: Stephon Castle, SF: Julian Champagnie, PF: Devin Vassell, C: Victor Wembanyama.

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Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Prediction

The Spurs are at home and already beaten the Pistons once this season. San Antonio would be confident of getting the job done once again and we expect Wembanyama to lead his team to yet another victory.

Final score prediction: Spurs win 111-105.