UFC 285 Prelims Card Predictions and Parlay, March 4th, 2023

Lm Tipster
Mar 3, 2023, 2:52:16 AM

UFC 258: Prelims Card Event Picks

UFC 285 is set to take place on March 4th, 2023 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and it promises to be an unforgettable night of action. With a stacked card featuring some of the top fighters in the sport, fans can expect to see plenty of exciting knockouts, submissions, and hard-fought battles. Here is a preview and prediction on every fight of the Prelims Card Event:

Julian Marquez vs. Marc-Andre Barriault

Julian Marquez is a dangerous middleweight fighter with a record of 9-3-0. He has an aggressive striking style and the ability to finish his opponents with heavy punches and kicks. Marquez also has a solid ground game, with good wrestling and submission skills that have earned him two submission victories in his career. He's coming into this fight with a lot of momentum, having won his last two fights by finish.

On the other side of the octagon, Marc-Andre Barriault is a talented striker with a record of 14-560. He has a brawler's mentality, often charging forward and throwing heavy punches to overwhelm his opponents. Barriault has good power in his hands and has secured eight of his victories by knockout. He's a tough fighter who is always looking to finish his opponents, making him a dangerous opponent for Marquez.

This fight has the potential to be an exciting back-and-forth battle, with both fighters looking to impose their will on the other. However, I believe that the fight will end before the 2.5 round mark. Both fighters have shown a tendency to finish their opponents early, with Marquez having finished eight of his nine victories in the first or second round, and Barriault having finished six of his eight knockout victories in the first or second round.

Marquez will likely look to utilize his striking to keep Barriault at bay and avoid getting into a brawl with him. If Marquez can keep the fight at a distance and pick his shots carefully, he'll have a good chance of finishing Barriault early. On the other hand, Barriault will likely be looking to pressure Marquez and land heavy shots to try and finish him early.

In the end, I predict that the fight will end before the 2.5 round mark, with Marquez securing a finish over Barriault. Marquez's striking and ground game are simply too dangerous for Barriault to handle, and he'll likely find an opening to finish the fight early. It should be an exciting matchup between two talented middleweights, but I believe that Marquez will come out on top with a finish before the midway point of the fight.

Pick: Under 2.5 rounds -200

Viviane Araujo vs. Amanda Ribas

Both fighters are incredibly skilled and have the potential to go the distance, and I expect a competitive and evenly-matched bout.

Ribas is an excellent grappler with impressive wrestling and submission skills with a 10-3-0 record, while Araujo is a skilled striker with a record of 11-4-0. While Ribas will likely be looking to take the fight to the ground and utilize her grappling skills, Araujo will be looking to keep the fight standing and use her striking to pick apart Ribas.

Despite Ribas' grappling skills, Araujo has shown solid takedown defense in the past, and I don't expect Ribas to have an easy time taking her down. Additionally, Ribas has shown that she's willing to stand and strike with her opponents, and I expect her to engage in some striking exchanges with Araujo.

Overall, I believe that both fighters are skilled enough to avoid getting finished early in the fight. Ribas is a durable fighter who has gone the distance in four of her last five fights, while Araujo has gone the distance in three of her last four fights. With both fighters having the potential to win the fight in multiple ways, I expect a back-and-forth battle that goes over 2.5 rounds.

In the end, I predict that Ribas will emerge victorious by unanimous decision, but I expect a closely contested fight that goes the distance. Both fighters are talented and have the potential to put on a show, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this matchup unfolds.

Pick: Over 2.5 rounds -300

Derek Brunson vs. Dricus Du Plessis

Dricus Du Plessis is a rising star in the UFC's middleweight division, with a record of 18-2-0 and a reputation as one of the top prospects in the sport. He's a well-rounded fighter with knockout power, excellent grappling skills, and a relentless fighting style that has earned him a legion of fans.

In this matchup against Derek Brunson, Plessis will be looking to continue his climb up the middleweight rankings and prove that he belongs among the division's elite fighters. Brunson, meanwhile, is a seasoned veteran with a record of 23-8-0 and a reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the sport.

However, I believe that Plessis has what it takes to come out on top in this matchup. He's a dynamic striker who can end fights with a single punch or kick, and he's also got excellent grappling skills that could give Brunson trouble on the ground. Brunson is a tough opponent, but he's shown vulnerabilities in the past against skilled strikers, and I believe that Plessis will be able to take advantage of those weaknesses.

Overall, I predict that Plessis will win the fight by TKO in the second or third round. He'll likely look to use his striking to wear Brunson down and then finish the fight with a barrage of punches and kicks. Brunson is a tough opponent, but I believe that Plessis has what it takes to emerge victorious in what promises to be a thrilling middleweight matchup.

Pick: Dricus Du Plessis ML -250

Cody Garbrandt vs. Trevin Jones

Garbrandt is a former bantamweight champion and one of the most exciting fighters in the division. He has a record of 12-5-0 and is known for his explosive striking and knockout power. Garbrandt has a fast, powerful right hand that has knocked out several opponents in the past, and he'll be looking to land that shot on Jones.

Trevin Jones, on the other hand, is a tough opponent with a record of 13-9-0. He's lost his last 3 fights. Jones is a well-rounded fighter who can strike and grapple, and he's shown that he's capable of finishing fights in a variety of ways.

This matchup has the potential to be a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Garbrandt will be looking to use his striking to finish the fight early, while Jones will be looking to weather the storm and take the fight into the later rounds where he can utilize his grappling skills.

In the end, however, I believe that Garbrandt has the edge in this matchup. His striking is simply too dangerous for Jones to ignore, and if he lands one of his powerful shots, it could be lights out for Jones. While Jones is a tough opponent, he hasn't faced anyone with the striking power of Garbrandt in the past, and it's unlikely that he'll be able to weather the storm for five full rounds.

Overall, I predict that Garbrandt will win the fight by knockout, likely in the second or third round. His striking power and accuracy will be too much for Jones to handle, and he'll emerge victorious in what promises to be a thrilling bantamweight matchup.