The last UFC event in the APEX of 2023 is going to be headlined by an awesome bantamweight matchup between ranked contenders Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez. The winner of this bout will set themselves up for a massive fight in 2024.
Let’s dive into this matchup and discuss the betting trends, keys to victory for both men, their fighting styles, and even some extra tips on how to bet on UFC fights. Then we can get to the official Yadong vs. Gutierrez prediction ahead of placing any bets this weekend.
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UFC: Yadong vs. Gutierrez Betting Trends
- Song Yadong is 4-1 in his last 5 appearances in the UFC octagon.
- Chris Gutierrez is 4-1 in his last 5 UFC appearances.
- Yadong has been the betting favorite in 9 out of his 13 UFC bouts.
- Gutierrez is the underdog for the first time in his last 5 UFC bouts.
- Yadong has 12 finishes (9 TKO/KO and 3 SUB) in his professional MMA career. (28 fights)
- Gutierrez has 10 finishes (9 TKO/KO and 1 SUB) in his professional MMA career. (27 fights)
How to Bet on Yadong vs. Gutierrez
Making UFC Fight Night predictions and betting on the sport of MMA in the UFC is probably the most difficult thing to do in all sports betting. The sport is the most unpredictable and the UFC is where the absolute best in the world fight each other.
For example, this fight is between two of the most talented fighters you can watch right now, and they aren’t even at the top of the bantamweight division.
The process of betting on a fight like this starts with understanding the styles of both men and what they do best versus what are their weaknesses inside the octagon.
Exciting Styles Clash: Yadong vs. Gutierrez
In this matchup, Yadong is the more experienced fighter in main events with two under his belt so far. That means he has already felt the media, the walkouts, and the way he needs to conserve his energy over 25 minutes.
On top of that, Yadong is such an awesome fighter to watch. He fights with a lot of pressure, constantly coming forward and wearing down his opponents. He will get off fast combinations and end with a strong leg kick. His goal is to basically hurt guys to the body and to the head, while also draining their energy.
Gutierrez is the more refined, calculated striker. He enjoys being on the outside setting up his kicks from different stances and finding that beautiful shot that turns into a satisfying KO. He is basically the opposite of what Yadong does with striking, which means this might be a very fun fight to watch.
They are both similar in size with Yadong at 5’8” with a 67” reach and Gutierrez at 5’9” with a 67” reach as well. Yadong will be the stronger fighter in the octagon probably–he looks like he is in top-tier physical condition.
Now after we understand the styles and what these two might want to do inside the octagon, we have to preview the betting lines. For this main event bout, Yadong is coming in as a huge -370 betting favorite over the +295 Gutierrez.
These UFC odds are very strange because Gutierrez is very good and Yadong isn’t anyone who hasn’t been beaten before. Honestly, you should look at this fight as a 50/50 coin flip until you know exactly who you are betting on.
Yadong vs. Gutierrez Betting Picks
Since previewing the betting lines and studying the tape on both of these guys, we have a pretty good idea of who has the best chance to get their hand raised on Saturday night.
The official Yadong vs. Gutierrez prediction is that Yadong will win and get a top-10 opponent in early 2024. He’s probably doing the UFC a favor by taking this main event against a guy ranked below him by a decent amount.
Gutierrez is going to be dangerous when Yadong is coming forward and blitzing with combinations, but the difference in this fight will be the experience. Yadong has been in 5-round fights where he has struggled and had to fight through tough moments.
The reasoning behind betting on Yadong is that he has more paths to victory. He can find ways to get his hand raised over 25 minutes that Gutierrez might not think of or even try because he hasn’t been in that position yet.
Gutierrez also hasn’t beaten an elite fighter yet. He got his chance against Pedro Munhoz earlier this year and just didn’t show up for that fight. Munhoz is known to start slow and maybe not show up to fights in the past couple of years, and Gutierrez didn’t take advantage of that.
Yadong is fresh at 26 years old and has already been in the cage for long periods of time with guys like Chito Vera, Kyler Phillips, Julio Arce, Marlon Moraes, and 20+ minutes with Sandhagen and Simon.
The official pick to make outside of the money line is to take Yadong winning by TKO/KO at +120. He is going to be able to break down the body of Gutierrez against the fence over 3-4 rounds and finish him late.
Top Sportsbooks Odds
BetOnline: Yadong -370
Bovada: Yadong -400
MyBookie: Yadong -375
BetUS: Yadong -360
BetNow: Yadong -375
Bonus! Other Fights Worth Placing a Bet On
One bonus pick for this intriguing UFC Fight Night card is Khalil Rountree beating Anthony Smith by TKO/KO. Rountree is a devastating Muay Thai-style fighter who will be able to really damage Smith early on.
Anthony Smith is someone who either finishes his opponents or gets finished himself. This is a tough matchup for him and Rountree winning by TKO/KO at -120 is a good deal.
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