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Connor Furwa's MMA betting picks for the UFC Fight Night card (Woodley vs. Burns) taking place on May 30th, 2020. He provides analysis and wagering picks for each fight.
It’s been three months since the UFC has hosted an event in Vegas, and this Saturday, the MMA leader will make its return after several cards in the Sunshine State. The fight capital will host an exciting card when Tyron Woodley makes his return to the octagon against Gilbert Burns.
UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Burns will be hosted at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dana White will keep the sports world moving as we see a potential top contender match, rising stars, and decorated veterans.
In this article, I'll be providing you with fight breakdowns and MMA betting picks for UFC Fight Night on 5/30/20. Be sure to also check out our DraftKings and FanDuel MMA DFS picks articles. Give me a follow on Twitter @Furwa. Good luck!
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Mackenzie Dern vs Hannah Cifers
Four months removed from giving birth to her first child, Mackenzie Dern will look to avenge her first professional MMA loss when she collides with Hannah Cifers. A multiple-time BJJ World Champion and the daughter of BJJ legend Megaton Dias, Dern is no stranger to pressure. Since entering into the octagon in March 2018, the former world No. 1 ranked IBFFJ competitor, was on a tear until meeting a fellow BJJ black belt Amanda Ribas. Unable to get her shots and transition properly, Dern fell to a unanimous decision loss back in October.
A Muay Thai fighter, who holds a record of 2-2 inside the octagon, Hannah Cifers will look to keep this fight anywhere but on the ground. A purple belt in BJJ Cifers ground game has been exploited at times and will not be on the same level as Dern. It would be hard to imagine Dern not taking this fight to the ground almost immediately and creating a quick submission of Cifers.
Pick: Mackenzie Dern in Round 1 +200
Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver
A pair of Dana White Contender Series alumni square off in what might be the most exciting fight of the night. A technical striker, Roberts faces off with a pure brawler, Brok Weaver, who is looking to make his true UFC debut this Saturday. The length of Roberts will be the factor in this bout as the 6'1" Lightweight will use his distance and technical kickboxing to keep Weaver away.
Doing everything he can to make this a dog fight, Weaver will look to push the pressure early and get in on the lengthy Lightweight. Once being quoted in saying, "I ain't about that technical life," whenever "Chata Tuska" enters the octagon, it should always be in the discussion that he could be involved in the potential fight of the night. Having had his UFC debut cut short with an illegal knee while downed, Weaver will look to bounce back in a major way.
Pick: Roosevelt Wins by 3 Round Decision +110
Billy Quarantillo vs. Spike Carlyle
A pair of young MMA fighters square off in this Catchweight bout. Both fighters are coming off strong UFC debuts, and this is shaping up to be the classic striker vs. grappler match up. Billy Quarantillo, a Contender Series fighter, had a very impressive performance on the show as well as in his debut. A strong, durable striker, whose pressure will be on display in this bout, Quarantillo will look to stay away from the strong wrestling Carlyle possesses.
Coming off an impressive UFC debut in his own right, Spike Carlyle will look to continue his momentum and use his strong grappling game to offset the striking of Quarantillo. Anyone could show up in this fight as UFC matchmakers put on a terrific bout, but the more durable fighter should get the nod at the end of this one.
Pick: Billy Quarantillo Wins by 3 Round Decision +225
Blagoy Ivanov vs. Augusto Sakai
The former World Series of Fighting Heavyweight Champion, Blagoy Ivanov, is about as durable as they come in the sport. Never being knocked out in any of his bouts, Ivanov brings that durability into the octagon as well as several other skill sets that set him apart. Strong punching power, with a championship background in Sambo, Ivanov trains daily with some of the sport's elite at American Kickboxing Academy. Unlike fellow AKK fighter, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Ivanov rarely uses his Sambo skills and only uses it in dire situations.
Augusto Sakai will enter this bout riding a strong win streak and could be the next contender in a dwindling Heavyweight division. The Brazilian Heavyweight doesn't shy away from a scrap making the world front row for potential fireworks Saturday Night. The taller, longer and quicker of the two, Sakai will have the confidence advantage after taking out back to back top Heavyweights consecutively. The key to this matchup, in the end, is if Ivanov will finally use his Sambo to take away the knockout power Sakai possesses.
Pick: Augusto Sakai Wins Inside Distance +300
Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns
If it weren’t for Georges St. Pierre, Tyron Woodley would make a strong case for the greatest Welterweight of all time. Still, the former Welterweight champion will make his return to the octagon after losing the belt to Kamaru Usman over a year ago. Devastating power with seven UFC knockouts and a strong wrestling background, Woodley is a tough matchup for anyone. The long layoff is the only question mark for Woodley, and his motivation to get up for this fight will be worth noting. Originally slated to take on Leon Edwards, the former champ might be looking past this matchup.
The man that is riding a five-fight win streak as well as being undefeated since making a move to Welterweight, Gilbert Burns, is as tough as they come in this stacked Welterweight division. Just two months removed from performance of the night victory in his home country of Brazil, where he TKO’d the legend that is Demian Maia, this 2nd-degree black belt in Jiu-Jitsu is on a title run of his own. A win here against one of the best of all time, Burns would put himself in the conversation for the next title fight in what would be an intriguing matchup with Kamaru Usman.
Pick: Burns +145
