UFC Fight Night 244 Picks & Odds Breakdown

UFC Fight Night 244 takes place on Saturday from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and it should be an exciting card. Let’s take a look at free play on each of the main card fights to make your Saturday a winning one.

Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira 

Royval +225 / Taira -290 // Total Rounds: 3.5

Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira face off on Saturday in the main event in a flyweight showdown that should have big implications on the rankings. Royval is a pretty big underdog in this fight and I don’t really see why, he’s going to find success here. Royval is going to put the pressure on, and that is going to be the difference here. Taira isn’t going to be able to handle the pressure and Royval will come out on top. Back Royval to pull the upset. 

JunYong Park vs. Brad Tavares 

Park -198 / Tavares +164 // Total Rounds: 2.5

JunYoung Park and Brad Tavares face off on Saturday in a middleweight bout, and this should be a fun fight either way. These are two very good strikers who aren’t afraid to get down and dirty. Park especially is an action fighter who loves getting his nose in the action and isn’t afraid to take some shots, as long as that means he’s going to be landing some of his own. The one problem for Park is that Tavares can take some damage also, and he also has calf kicks that can really hurt Park. Tavares is going to put the pressure on, and he will come out on top here. Back Tavares to pull off the upset. 

Jared Gooden vs. Chidi Njokuani 

Gooden +154 / Njokuani -185 // Total Rounds: 1.5

Jared Gooden missed weight by two pounds and is being fined some of his purse, but the fight will go on. The big question for him is how much did that weight cut affect his chin. Often times in these type of situations, a fighter’s chin can be very compromised and that could be what happens here. These are two fighters that are going to be fine standing in the center of the octagon and trying to get a finish. This fight probably won’t even make it out of the first round. Back the under 1.5 rounds to cash. 

Grant Dawson vs. Rafa Garcia 

Dawson -425 / Garcia +330 // Total Rounds: 2.5

This honestly is a stay away fight just based on the odds. Grant Dawson is probably the better fighter on paper, and should probably find success here, but Rafa Garcia is someone that can put up a stiff test. Garcia has won two straight fights and in his last fight against Clay Guida he had 141 significant strikes. If you are betting this one, throw a few dollars on the underdog, but for me this is mostly a pass. 

Alex Morono vs. Daniel Rodriguez 

Morono +185 / Rodriguez -218 // Total Rounds: 2.5

Is age finally catching up to Daniel Rodriguez? He is 37 years old and has lost three fights in a row. The good news for Rodriguez, though, he gets to fight an Alex Morono cat that has also had some struggles heading into this one. Rodriguez is still the better fighter and will find success in this fight. It might not be the prettiest fight, but he will fight his way to a decision. Back Rodriguez to win by decision.