UFC 278 predictions — Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2: Combat card, odds, prelims, knowledgeable picks

The welterweight championship is on the road in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday night time when Kamaru Usman places the belt at stake towards Leon Edwards in the principle occasion of UFC 278. Usman already holds one win over Edwards, taking a choice victory in December 2015. 

The Brit has ripped off 9 straight wins since regardless of a number of layoffs due to the pandemic and accidents. He held out for his alternative and was lastly rewarded after beating Nate Diaz in 2021. Usman, in the meantime, has continued to be excellent for the reason that first assembly as he enters on a large 19-fight win streak. He is beat the perfect of the perfect at 170 kilos, together with a couple of twice.

Elsewhere on the cardboard, middleweights in want of an enormous win sq. off when former champion Luke Rockhold takes on former title challenger Paulo Costa. Rockhold will step into the ring for the primary time since 2019 and searching for his first win since 2017. Rockhold is simply 1-4 since profitable the middleweight strap in 2016. Costa, in the meantime, has misplaced two straight since starting his profession undefeated. A loss to Israel Adesanya for the 185-pound title was adopted by a choice loss to Marvin Vettori at gentle heavyweight when he was informed to cease making an attempt to chop weight upon arrival in Las Vegas.

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And one other enjoyable matchup within the bantamweight division is on deck when former featherweight king Jose Aldo returns to welcome quick rising contender Merab Dvalishvili. Aldo has bounced again from a tough begin within the 135-pound division, the place only a few thought he might ever make weight. Aldo misplaced his first two appearances at bantamweight, together with a chance for the vacant crown towards Petr Yan, however the “King of Rio” has ripped off three straight wins over rising contenders and could possibly be additionally to a different golden alternative. Dvalishvili, in the meantime, continues his machine-like methods with seven straight wins relationship again to 2018.

The cardboard additionally options some rising prospects trying to make a reputation for themselves. Gentle heavyweight Tyson Pedro is trying to proceed his profitable methods when he meets Henry Hunsucker to open the PPV. Pedro returned from a four-year layoff in April to attain a TKO over Ike Villanueva. Plus, undefeated heavyweight Alexander Romanov is ready to tackle veteran Marcin Tybura on the prelims. Romanov is 16-0 with 15 stoppages to date in his profession, 9 of which have come by submission. Additionally, Sean Woodson is again in a featherweight contest towards Luis Saldana. 

With a lot taking place on Saturday night time, let’s take a better have a look at the total struggle card with the newest odds from Caesars Sportsbook earlier than we get to our employees predictions and picks for the PPV portion of the festivities.

UFC 278 struggle card, odds

Odds through Caesars Sportsbook

• Kamaru Usman (c) -360 vs. Leon Edwards +280, welterweight championship
• Paulo Costa -400 vs. Luke Rockhold +310, middleweights
• Merab Dvalishvili -140 vs. Jose Aldo +120, bantamweights
• Lucie Pudilova -120 vs. Wu Yanan +100, girls’s bantamweights
• Tyson Pedro -800 vs. Harry Hunsucker +550, gentle heavyweights
  
• Alexander Romanov -380 vs. Marcin Tybura +300, heavyweights
• Jared Gordon -270 vs. Leonardo Santos +220, lightweights
• Sean Woodson -340 vs. Luis Saldana +270, featherweights
• A.J. Fletcher -160 vs. Ange Loosa +135, welterweights
• Amir Albazi -500 vs. Francisco Figueiredo +380, flyweights
• Aori Qileng -140 vs. Jay Perrin +120, bantamweights
• Victor Altamirano -175 vs. Daniel Da Silva +150, flyweights

With such a large important occasion on faucet, the crew at CBS Sports activities went forward with predictions and picks for the principle card. Listed below are your decide makers: Brent Brookhouse (Fight sports activities author), Brian Campbell (Fight sports activities author, co-host of “Morning Kombat”), Shakiel Mahjouri (author), Michael Mormile (producer) and Brandon Smart (senior editor).

UFC 278 picks, predictions

Usman (c) vs. Edwards	Usman	Usman	Usman	Usman	Usman
Costa vs. Rockhold	Costa	Costa	Costa	Costa	Costa
Aldo vs. Dvalishvili	Dvalishvili	Aldo	Dvalishvili	Dvalishvili	Aldo
Pudilova vs. Wanan	Wanan	Pudilova	Wanan	Wanan	Wanan
Pedro vs. Hunsucker	Pedro	Pedro	Pedro	Pedro	Pedro
Data to this point (2022)	19-19	22-16	20-18	21-17	27-11

Usman vs. Edwards

Smart: For some motive, this struggle feels very tutorial. Every part that Edwards does nicely, Usman simply does higher. They’ve each carried very comparable gameplans all through their journeys — each relied on a grappling-heavy assault to stifle opponents from ever firing off heavy photographs earlier than including extra putting components to their video games. However Usman’s evolution and work with Trevor Wittman has introduced an added aspect that creates extra points for Edwards on the ft. If Usman is ready to punish Edwards along with his jab early and make him take into consideration punches coming in, Usman will be capable to dominate this struggle right into a grapple fest earlier than the ultimate horn sounds. 

Costa vs. Rockhold

Mahjouri: Merely put, Rockhold has been gone too lengthy to comfortably facet with him. His long-range kicks, stifling prime management and submission recreation are a profitable mixture. His incapability to safe takedowns reliably and defensive shortcomings in tight are his most obtrusive weaknesses. Rockhold seems dedicated to tying up these unfastened ends, however Costa is the flawed man to check pilot towards. He’s a strong striker who can go for 3 or 5 rounds. Losses to Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori took the steam off Costa, however he’s able to knocking out anybody. Count on him to seek out the identical fight-ending openings that plagued Rockhold in fights towards Jan Blachowicz, Yoel Romero and Michael Bisping.

Brookhouse: Till the second I sat down to write down this blurb, I had Rockhold as my decide right here. There’s one thing I am unable to put my finger on with the struggle that makes me really feel the previous champ could possibly spring a shock. However Rockhold’s inactivity, age, chin and the practically 5 years since he has received a struggle simply will not let me pull the set off. Costa has his flaws, however he hits onerous and is not more likely to fade within the sort of struggle Rockhold goes to deliver. Costa is the good decide right here and I’ve to go towards my intestine and make it primarily based on Rockhold’s flaws and inactivity.

Aldo vs. Dvalishvili

Brookhouse: Dvalishvili is definitely a powerful fighter and a prime participant within the bantamweight division. Aldo, nevertheless, has all of the instruments it takes to tug off the gentle upset right here. Aldo continues to be nice at countering wrestlers and he constantly makes use of essentially the most inventive and flowing mixtures on the ft. It’ll be onerous for Dvalishvili to impose his recreation as Aldo is firing off strikes which can be flowing from data gathered and set-ups he has put in place from the opening moments of the struggle. That is going to be a tricky struggle for each males however Aldo ought to be capable to put within the work.

Mahjouri: Dvalishvili has one setting and it’s go, go, go. He’s a relentless wrestler who averages an absurd 7.30 takedowns per 15-minutes and ranks ninth all-time for takedowns. Aldo has shut down 90% of takedown makes an attempt in 27 UFC/WEC fights. Dvalishvili was badly harm in a struggle towards the heavy-hitting Marlon Moraes, however persevered and overcame his opponent. Aldo will probably be a difficult puzzle to resolve and has the expertise to outthink most. My intestine says that Aldo’s takedown protection share will drop a couple of factors as Dvalishvili nabs a couple of en path to a choice win.

Who wins UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2? And which fighter is a must-back? Go to SportsLine now to get detailed prime picks on UFC 278, all from the insider who’s up greater than $10,000 on MMA picks the previous two years, and discover out.