UFC Fight Night - Tyron Woodley versus Gilbert Burns betting tips, preview and where to watch

The UFC returns to Las Vegas this weekend with a main event fight that could have a significant impact on the welterweight rankings as former champion Tyron Woodley takes on rising star Gilbert Burns.

The main card also contains several interesting match-ups including Blagoy Ivanov vs Augosto Sakai in a heavyweight clash and Mackenzie Dern vs Hannah Cifers in an intriguing strawweight match-up.

Here are my bets for Saturdays fights...

UFC Fight Night

• Start time: Main card from 0200 BST Sunday morning
• Watch: BT Sport 1 HD and across all BT Sport digital platforms (from midnight, 0200 BST main card)
• Where: UFC APEX, Las Vegas NV

Burns looks too hot to handle

Gilbert Burns comes into his fight with former champion Tyron Woodley with everything to gain and nothing to lose - a win launching him into the top-five of the welterweight division.

Burns has only had three fights at welterweight but has been massively impressive in each, with a KO win over Demien Maia, and decision wins over Gunnar Nelson and Aleksey Kunchenko, showing just how talented he is.

For me this fight all depends on if Woodley is willing to stand and trade with Burns, or if he will look to wrestle the Brazilian fighter to the mat.

Woodley has proven in the past he is more than capable of standing and trading with opponents, with KO wins over Robbie Lawler and Darren Till.

Burns has a striking accuracy rate of 44% and lands just over three significant strikes per minute, so if he were to apply pressure and start landing punches, this would force Woodley to look into taking the fight to the mat.

If the fight were to go that way, Burns’ grappling experience would no doubt give him the advantage, even with Woodley having a black belt in BJJ.

For me, Burns will apply pressure early and look to finish Woodley with strikes, and will counter any attempt by Woodley to go to the floor with a submission.

Bet One: Gilbert Burns to win via KO or Submission at 7/4

Main fight card

• Tyron Woodley v Gilbert Burns - Welterweight (Main event)
• Blagoy Ivanov v Augusto Sakai - Heavyweight (Co-main)
• Billy Quarantillo v Spike Carlyle - Catchweight
• Roosevelt Roberts v Brok Weaver - Lightweight
• Mackenzie Dern v Hannah Cifers - Women Strawweight

Take Dern to deliver

Mackenzie Dern is without doubt one of the most talented fighters in the strawweight division, although her ability to make the 115lbs limit is often slated, after failing to make weight multiple times.

For this fight, I fully expect Dern to bounce back from her loss against Amanda Ribas with a submission win over Hannah Cifers.

Dern holds a black belt in BJJ and will be perfectly happy with Cifers taking this fight to the ground, which is a real possibility when considering Cifers has a 100% takedown completion rate.

For me Dern will capitalise on this fight making it’s way to the ground and look to take Cifers back, similar to how she did against Amanda Cooper when she won via Rear Naked Choke.

I expect Dern and Cifers to both look to take this fight to the ground and for Dern to have the advantage in the ensuing grappling, leading to her winning via submission.

Bet Two: Mackenzie Dern to win via Submission at evens

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