Final Combating Championship (UFC) girls’s Bantamweight contenders Holly Holm and Kayla Harrison will duel this weekend (Sat., April 13, 2024) inside T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Nevada, for UFC 300.
It’s been 4 years since Holm’s final title shot, a surprising statistic when you think about how typically Holm used to combat for the belt. At 42 years of age, she may lastly be slowing down, having successfully misplaced two of her final three … although Mayra Bueno Silva’s victory was overturned for a foolish motive. Harrison, in the meantime, is the most important new signee to the ladies’s roster in current reminiscence. The Judo Olympian and multiple-time Skilled Fighters League (PFL) queen could face her steepest problem previous to the precise combat, nonetheless, as she has but to make 135 kilos efficiently. If she will hit the Bantamweight mark, she undoubtedly has championship potential.
Let’s take a better have a look at the betting odds and strategic keys for every athlete:
Holm vs. Harrison Betting Odds
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How Holm Wins
Holm might be essentially the most credentialed boxer in UFC, which could be very humorous as a result of she hasn’t gained a combined martial arts (MMA) combat due to her boxing in years. Within the cage, Holm could be very a lot and kicks-and-clinch fighter who avoids buying and selling within the pocket. She tremendously prefers lengthy vary battle of kicks, however is keen to wrestle reactively when pressed.
It’s cliche and reductive to match Harrison to Ronda Rousey, however like … that’s the gameplan right here. Holm wins this combat by using lateral motion, countering her opponent’s makes an attempt to shut distance, and framing on the waist when her foe does handle to clinch — precisely like she did completely to Rousey practically a decade in the past.
Stylistically, it’s very a lot the identical combat. Harrison doesn’t soar off prime place chasing armbars, however the general purpose of avoiding the takedown and kicking her opponent within the face stays. Holm will dwell or die by her clinch protection and footwork, in addition to the straightforward reality that each minute the bout goes on will increase the percentages of Harrison fatiguing from her monster weight lower.
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How Harrison Wins
Harrison is a two-time gold medalist in Judo who has tailored her talent set effectively within the cage. Her kickboxing is completely okay, however extra essential, Harrison has added clinch double legs and taking pictures under the waist into her sport fairly effectively.
I’ve to say, the first approach Harrison wins this combat is by having functioning kidneys on combat day. I don’t know what workforce of nutritionists is overseeing Harrison’s weight lower, however I hope they’ve Ivy League {qualifications}. From the surface trying in, it might look like a monumental problem to get Harrison on weight and in a position to carry out within the cage.
Assuming — a giant assumption — that every one goes effectively, nonetheless, Harrison ought to be capable to dominate this combat on the ground. She’s larger, stronger, and rather more expert within the clinch, which is normally a protected zone for Holm. Offered she doesn’t dash on the boxer face-first, there’s no motive that Harrison can’t implement her standard gameplan to nice impact.
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Holm vs. Harrison Prediction
I suppose it might be a cop-out to put in writing, “Harrison doesn’t make weight and the combat is canceled.” Surprise if DraftKings will submit these odds anytime quickly?
If we ignore the load lower facet — the most important narrative of this entire match up — then all the things traces up in Harrison’s favor. She’s a decade youthful and has the talent and workforce behind her to virtually assure a dominant efficiency. Holm within reason powerful to take down, however a part of that’s due to a standard physicality benefit that completely is not going to exist right here.
I might wait till after weigh-in day to wager on this bout, however …
Prediction: Kayla Harrison by way of resolution (+120)
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LIVE! Watch UFC 300 PPV On ESPN+ Right here!
BIGGEST, BADDEST COMBAT SPORTING EVENT! Final Combating Championship (UFC) will make historical past inside T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., April 13, 2024, staging the three hundredth pay-per-view (PPV) occasion since its inception in 1993. Alex Pereira will put his 205-pound belt on the road in UFC 300’s major occasion in opposition to returning former division roost-ruler, Jamahal Hill. In UFC 300’s co-main occasion, girls’s Strawweight champion, Weili Zhang, will defend in opposition to top-ranked contender, Xiaonan Yan, whereas Justin Gaethje places his “Baddest Motherf—ker” gimmick belt on the road in opposition to former Featherweight deity, Max Holloway, in an all-action Light-weight showdown. UFC 300’s blockbuster PPV major card (see it right here) will even characteristic Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan and Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage. All that and a lot extra! UFC 300 begin time scheduled for six p.m. ET (Prelims) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV).
Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching motion!
Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of your complete UFC 300 combat card proper right here, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), earlier than the pay-per-view (PPV) major card begin time at 10 p.m. ET (additionally on ESPN+).
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