A loaded card with a pair of championship fights on tap highlights the return to Texas this week with UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes. The main event should be an absolute brawl with Amanda Nunes looking to earn back the women’s bantamweight strap she lost to Julianna Pena last December A big underdog in that bout, Pena ended Nunes’ 12-fight winning streak with a rear-naked choke in the second round. Out to avenge that loss, Nunes is once again the favorite on the UFC betting board. The co-main event features an interim flyweight scrap between former champ Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France. The two tangled at UFC 245 with Moreno coming out on the good side of a unanimous decision.
The action inside the Octagon will be fierce with 13 scheduled bouts making up the fight card on Saturday, July 30 from American Airlines Arena in Dallas. Early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ with preliminary round matches scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. The main card on pay-per-view is set for 10 p.m. ET. Betting options for every fight on the ticket are available at BookMaker.eu when you’re ready to place a wager.
UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes Odds
Main Card
Julianna Pena +214 vs. Amanda Nunes -280
Kai Kara France +183 vs. Brandon Moreno -235
Sergei Pavlovich -135 vs. Derrick Lewis +105
Alex Perez +146 vs. Alexandre Pantoja -185
Anthony Smith +379 vs. Magomed Ankalaev -550
The five-fight main card is highlighted by a pair of rematch fights with a belt on the line. Arguably the greatest female MMA fighter ever, Nunes (21-5) was stunned by Pena (12-4) when the two met for the bantamweight title last December, breaking her 12-fight winning streak. Nunes dominated her competition with a relentless attack using her powerful strikes and strength on the canvas to end seven of those fights in the first round. Though she succumbed as a heavy favorite to a Pena choke hold last time out, Nunes is still the pick of oddsmakers at -280 on the opening line.
No one outside of Pena and her team expected a victory. Pena got pushed around in the first round of the first fight taking plenty of blows. She withstood the onslaught and took the opening when Nunes provided it, dropping to the mat for the submission. Pena has two things going for her: she knows she’s going to get hit and she relishes the underdog role. Nunes, meanwhile, wants the belt back. As much as I want to back Pena, it’s hard beating the best twice in a row and Nunes is motivated to return to the top.
UFC Prediction: Amanda Nunes -280 / (T)KO
The co-main event is also a rematch with former champ Moreno (19-6-2) looking to grab a piece of the flyweight title. And he’s probably excited to face someone other than Deiveson Figueiredo. Moreno’s past three fights were against Figueiredo, the last a unanimous decision loss shedding him of the belt. But with the current champ sidelined, an interim tussle with Kai Kara-France (24-9) made sense. It’s been nearly three years since Figueiredo scored a unanimous decision win, but oddsmakers pegged the former champ as a -235 favorite. France is 4-1 since the first match and is riding a three-fight winning streak handing Askar Askarov his first loss last time out. He scored first round KO’s in the two previous fights. Still, France is +183 but with improved defense and solid striking he’s primed for an upset.
UFC Prediction: Kai Kara France +183 / Decision
UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes Odds
Prelims
Alex Morono +120 vs. Matthew Semelsberger -150
Rafael Alves +158 vs. Drew Dober -200
Don’Tale Mayes -175 vs. Hamdy Abdelwahab +139
Rafa Garcia +161 vs. Drakkar Klose -205
Oddsmakers expect a close battle between welterweights Alex Morono (21-7) and Matthew Semelsberger (10-3) to close out the prelims. Morono has been a fixture in the division winning seven of his last nine fights including the last three. However, he gets a more athletic and powerful opponent this time. Semelsberger is the betting favorite at -150 after winning seven of his last eight fights with four of them by KO. He is 4-1 inside the Octagon but needs wins over stronger competition to climb the rankings. This is one of those fights.
UFC Prediction: Matthew Semelsberger -150 / (T)KO
UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes Odds
Early Prelims
Adam Fugitt +418 vs. Michael Morales -625
Joselyne Edwards -135 vs. Ji Yeon Kim +105
Nicolae Negumereanu -110 vs. Ihor Potieria -120
Blood Diamond +139 vs. Orion Cosce -175
The biggest favorite on the card is undefeated Michael Morales (13-0) in his welterweight clash with Adam Fugitt (8-2). A late addition to the ticket, Fugitt makes his UFC debut having won his last four professional fights. Morales kept his winning streak intact with a first round stoppage of Trevin Giles at UFC 270. A poised fighter with skills of a savvy veteran, Morales is -625 on the betting line. Both fighters have high finishing rates making it unlikely this one goes the distance.
