UFC 266 Odds, Picks and Betting Preview – Volkanovski vs Ortega

• Two titles are on the line at UFC 266 in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 25th
• Nick Diaz makes his highly-anticipated return in a rematch against Robbie Lawler
• See the odds, picks, and betting preview for the full UFC 266 main card, below

The UFC is back in front of a full capacity crowd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for the second time this year for UFC 266 on September 25. In the main event, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski looks to defend his belt for the second time against Brian Ortega, who gets his second chance at becoming a UFC champion. Volkanovski is listed at a -160 favorite in the UFC 266 odds to beat Ortega and defend his belt.

The co-main event sees flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko take on Lauren Murphy. Nick Diaz also returns to rematch Robbie Lawler in a five-round non-title fight. UFC 266 airs live on pay-per-view with the main card at 10 PM EST. The table below shows odds for the main card at DraftKings followed by best bets.

UFC 266 Odds

Odds as of September 20 at DraftKings

Does Volkanovski Remain The Champ?

Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega were supposed to fight back at UFC 260 in March, but the champ tested positive for COVID-19 and the fight was postponed. The two then coached the return season of The Ultimate Fighter, but they will now finally share the Octagon together in the main event of a stacked UFC 266 card.

Volkanovski & Ortega Recent Fights

When Ortega first fought for UFC gold back at UFC 231 in December of 2018 he was actually favored to beat Holloway, but the fight was a one-sided beatdown. The Hawaiian outstruck Ortega for four rounds and landed 307 strikes and the doctor stopped the fight in between the fourth and fifth round. Since then, he took time off to recover and change his entire team around him. He also ended up tearing his ACL pushing his return even further back. Yet, when he did return, he dominated Korean Zombie over five rounds and showed an improved Ortega on the feet that could present some challenges for Volkanovski.

The featherweight champ, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since July of last year, and with Australia and New Zealand locked down, he couldn’t get his usual training in, or couldn’t go to City Kickboxing in New Zealand.

Volkanovski & Ortega Stats

Both men grew to not like each other while filming TUF and spending weeks together and now they have both promised to finish the other, which is very possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RKrC4uEiwA&ab_channel=UFC-UltimateFightingChampionship

Early on, I expect Volkanovski to come out aggressive and get right in Ortega’s face and use his jab and feints to set up the big power shots. Ortega does have better striking but I do think he will try and take this fight to the ground, but Volkanovski has great takedown defense and will be able to keep it standing. Volkanovski will be able to pick Ortega apart and either get a dominant decision victory or possibly a late TKO finish like Holloway did to defend his belt.

At -160, Volkanovski holds decent value in the UFC 266 odds. However, Volkanovski is being offered at +275 to win by KO, TKO or DQ at DraftKings.

Pick: Alexander Volkanovski (-160)

Can Murphy Pull Off The Upset?

Valentina Shevchenko is about as dominant as they come, and no matter who they put in front of her, she will be around a -1000 favorite if not bigger. Lauren Murphy, meanwhile, finally gets her long-deserved title shot but will have her hands full.

Shevchenko & Murphy Recent Fights

Shevchenko has seemed to take some personally lately where people say her opponent has an advantage over her in something or can’t be finished. She proved against Chookagian, who had never been finished, she can finish the fights. Against Andrade, meanwhile, people thought the Brazilian would be the better wrestler but it was Shevchenko who outwrestled Andrade and got a TKO win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWn38SG_lKU&ab_channel=UFC-UltimateFightingChampionship

In this fight, Murphy is as durable as they come as she has never been finished in her career, but I believe that all changes at UFC 266. Shevchenko is a much more fluid striker where she’ll be able to stuff the takedowns of Murphy and pick her apart and eventually in the third round, hurt Murphy and finish her off via ground and pound to defend her belt.

Look for the Shevchenko inside the distance or Shevchenko by TKO prop (-135) for better value in the UFC 266 odds as laying -1375 doesn’t provide any value.

Pick: Valentina Shevchenko (-1375)

Other UFC 266 Picks:

1. Robbie Lawler (-110): Nick Diaz won the first fight way back in 2004 but, he hasn’t fought since 2015, so I don’t know how he will look. Lawler, despite the skid, has been active and should be able to outstrike Diaz and win a decision.
2. Curtis Blaydes (-320): Blaydes should be able to outwrestle Rozenstruik and win a decision or ground and pound TKO, however, due to his chin issues, laying -320 is not advised.
3. Jessica Andrade (-280): Calvillo won’t be able to get Andrade down, and on the feet, the Brazilian is the better striker and should be able to get a decision win.