Taking place in basically the home locale for the UFC (Las Vegas), UFC 279 will be another action-packed card of MMA action. At the top of the main card will be a welterweight showdown between No. 3 ranked Khamzat Chimaev and UFC stalwart Nate Diaz. Prior to that fight will be another solid welterweight matchup with Li Jingliang squaring off with UFC veteran Tony Ferguson. Certainly a card with some recognizable names, these contests should feature some thrilling action for fight fans.
For this breakdown, SBS will be going over what to look for from each combatant, who will win in each matchup and also some more notes about UFC wagering.
| UFC 279 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chimaev vs. Diaz | Chimaev | -1800 | -1800 | -1800 |
| Jingliang vs. Ferguson | Ferguson | +235 | +235 | +235 |
Fighter Spotlight: Khamzat Chimaev
Coming into his upcoming showdown with Diaz, Chimaev is one of the rising stars in the division thanks to his vicious power and ring acumen. A fighter with an unblemished record at 11-0, the Swedish competitor is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Burns at UF 273. Prior to that though, he had won all of his matches (10 total) by either knockout (six) or submission (four). In his second to last bout, Chimaev put together a Performance of the Night showing at UFC 267 with a rear-naked choke victory over Li Jingliang. Known for using freestyle wrestling to his advantage, the 28-year old employs a variety of techniques to get his opponent to submit. In terms of striking, Chimaev has been known to showcase heavy knockout power as well.
Fighter Spotlight: Nate Diaz
One of the most gritty and hard-nosed fighters in UFC history, few fighters have put together the track record that Diaz has. While the veteran sports a professional fighting record of 20-13, he has fought some of the best athletes in the sport and come out on top. His battles against Conor McGregor and bouts against Jorge Masvidal, Donald Cerrone, Michael Johnson amongst others have all earned Fight of the Night honors. Indeed it would be unwise to count Diaz out early since he has shown he can win against almost anyone if the timing is right. Though he is coming off back-to-back losses against Masvidal and Leon Edwards (who just beat Kamaru Usman), this could be the rebound bout Diaz is looking for.
Prediction: In a battle of two fighters at different stages of their career (Diaz near the end and Chimaev entering his prime), this should be a fun bout. A solid contest, take the 28-year old Chimaev here to emerge victorious.
Fighter Spotlight: Li Jingliang
In the penultimate bout of the evening, Li is coming off a spectacular performance against Muslim Salikhov in July of this year. During this Performance of the Night bout, Li was able to upend Salikhov in the second round with a flurry of punches and elbows for a TKO win. Li is actually 5-2 in his last seven fights and has been able to undo opponents with his strong punching power (10 career knockouts). A competitor with five Performance of the Night showings along with two Fight of the Night performances, Li has been known to put on a fantastic show.
What to look for from: Tony Ferguson
Opposing the Chinese mixed martial artist will be another UFC veteran in Tony Ferguson (a one time UFC lightweight champion) who is currently recognized as the No. 11 fighter in the UFC lightweight rankings. Prior to his current four-fight losing streak, Ferguson was on a collision course with the UFC Lightweight Championship. With a current record of 25-7, the 38-year old had amassed a 12-fight winning streak before falling to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. With numerous Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night outings, Ferguson showed he is one of the best fighters in UFC. The big question though heading into Las Vegas this time around is if Ferguson can turn things around and get out of this current losing streak.
Prediction: A battle between savvy veterans, pick Ferguson here to bust out of his slump against Li in Vegas.
When you are done doing your homework on UF 279, make sure to check out all the other resources SBS has to offer. The first place to check out is of course our UFC betting sites guide which is a fantastic resource for all the latest UFC betting markets and the latest bonuses. In addition to that page, our robust best bonus betting sites rundown is a must-read for any gambler that is looking to get the most out of their bets. Finally, if you are a customer that has a couple different payment options at their disposal, we have your back. The SBS payment methods guide is a great place to see which deposit and withdrawal options are the best fits for you and your lifestyle.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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