UFC 290 Event Betting Preview and Betting Odds

The UFC ‘s International Fight Week celebrations run from July 3rd to July 9th, but everyone knows what the main attraction is: UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC fans will be foaming at the mouth looking at the fight lineup for UFC 290, especially on the main card. Check out which fighters will be entering the octagon on Saturday night as moneyline favorites on most sports betting sites.

UFC 290 Event Odds - July 8th

There are dozens of places where you can find previews for the main and co-main events at UFC 290, both of which are championship bouts, so we’re going to focus on the other exciting fights on the card because there are a lot of them. With a whopping 10 ranked fighters take the stage at T-Mobile Arena, this could be one of the deepest UFC cards in recent memory. All odds provided by Betway.

Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus du Plessis Middleweight Bout Betting Odds

No. 2 middleweight contender Robert Whittaker’s massive -400 odds are a bit surprising considering No. 5 Dricus du Plessis has four finishes in five UFC fights. Whittaker has not won a fight inside the distance in six years, so his +200 odds to win by decision are the best bet here.

Du Plessis, who has finished the likes of Derek Brunson and Darren Till in his last two bouts, is the much larger man and likely the more powerful of the two, but can he get close enough to use that power? There’s a reason Whittaker wins so often by decision: it’s because he knows how to move in, do some damage, then bounce back out quickly to avoid the middleweight power coming back at him.

Bobby Knuckles is a master of distance management and Du Plessis has shown that his gas tank is far from up to snuff in the UFC. We like Whittaker here, but obviously not at -400. The safest way to go here is Whittaker at +200 to win by decision but if you want a flier, go with the South African to win by KO at +500 odds.

Jalin Turner vs. Dan Hooker Lightweight Bout Betting Odds

Dan Hooker has fallen quite a ways over the past couple of years. With four losses in his last six bouts, the Kiwi is starting to become a bit of a stepping stone for real contenders in the lightweight division… like Jalin Turner. The man they call the Tarantula has a three-inch height advantage and 1.5-inch reach advantage over Hooker.

Turner has won five of his last six fights but he lost his most recent to takedown artist Mateusz Gamrot, a bout in which Turner actually looked darn good. If Turner can get in close on Hooker he should have no problem touching him up with muay thai and eventually sinking in his go-to guillotine choke. 

Hooker is still dangerous, but he’ll have to pick his shots carefully and then move out of range. He’s an accurate puncher, but with the length of Turner’s arms and legs, it might be hard for Hooker to get to his preferred range. Turner should win here, but he’s not offering very much value. The best you’re going to do is -167 for Turner to win by finish.

Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price Welterweight Bout Betting Odds

In the featured bout of UFC 290’s preliminary card, UFC legend and former champion Robbie Lawler takes on Niko Price in a welterweight bout. Lawler is 41 but he’s still got enough in the tank to entertain the masses, as evidenced by his thrilling win over Nick Diaz in 2021.

Lawler has lost six of his last eight fights, so he’s tough to trust from a betting perspective. It’s just hard not to root for a brawler like Robbie. Niko Price is a very aggressive boxer as well, and he’s a much younger 33 years of age. This one could turn into a street fight, which would benefit Lawler’s lawless fighting style.

Price has more power and a more varied striking game, but he’s also won just three of his last nine fights. This could very well be Lawler’s MMA swan song, and Price probably needs a win if he wants any chance at another UFC contract, so we’re going to see desperation. Lawler at +500 to win by KO and Price at +100 to win by KO or +300 by decision are the only props worth a look. If we’re being honest, this one’s too close to call, so just save your money, sit back, and enjoy the carnage.