Quick UFC 287 house cleaning before diving into the Holloway vs. Allen betting guide. Holy shit Israel Adesanya made a statement. The bow and arrow celebration photos are so cold. Guess we found out why 18-year-olds have never fought in the UFC. We all jumped the gun on that hype train. Betting on a senior in high school was irresponsible.

Alright, on to UFC Fight Night Holloway vs. Allen.

Max Holloway (-180) vs. Arnold Allen (+155)

Arnold Allen sneakily snuck into the featherweight top 5 without fighting a true contender. It’s challenging to judge Allen on his past two fights. The last performance against Kattar resulted in a second-round TKO, due to a flute knee injury. Before that, he knocked out a spiraling Dan Hooker. Even though Allen is 10-0 in the UFC, he doesn’t feel ready for Max Holloway.

Holloway has been performing at the highest level for years. Some even deem him one of the greatest featherweights. Vegas gave us an extremely generous line. I would have capped Holloway closer to a 3-1 favorite.

Bet: Max Holloway

Edson Barboza (+140) vs. Billy Quarantillo (-165)

How about Billy Q getting a co-main spot? I love seeing these fighters we have supported since the Contender series make serious headway in the UFC. Although Edson Barboza as an underdog might seem tempting but don’t forget he’s almost 40 years old.

Billy Q switching gyms to train at Serra Longo has already proven to be a great decision. Quarantillo is tough, durable, and has cardio for days. Barboza needs distance to work. Billy Q’s constant pressure will frustrate and suppress Barboza’s offense. Billy Q by decision or 3rd round finish.

Brandon Royval (+140) vs. Matheus Nicolau (-165)

Brandon Royval vs. Matheus Nicolau should be on the main card. The fact that the number 4 vs. number 6 flyweight isn’t even the featured prelim is mind-blowing. Easily a fight of the night contender.

At times Royval tends to get carried away, leading him to overcommit on strikes. As a result, when you overcommit on a strike and fail, you typically find yourself in a horrible position. Nicolau will make you pay for every error, as he is one of the fastest strikers in the division. Defeating Nicolau requires a high fight IQ and Royval is too reckless.

Bet: Matheus Nicolau