Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chandler UFC 274 Prediction and Odds (Can Ferguson Compete at Lightweight Still?)
By Reed Wallach
UFC 274 is live from Footprint Center on Saturday, May 7th with one of the best fight cards of the year.
Two Lightweight contenders are set to do battle when Michael Chandler stands in to fight Tony Ferguson on the main card. Ferguson is on the losing end of 3 in a row while Chandler has dropped consecutive fights to the two men fighting for the Lightweight championship on Saturday in Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.
Chandler is a massive favorite in this bout, can he get back in the win column and hand 'El Cucuy' his fourth straight loss? Here are the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook:
Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chandler UFC 274 Odds
Moneyline:
- Tony Ferguson: +315
- Michael Chandler: -415
Total: 1.5 (Over -145/Under +125)
Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chandler Prediction and Pick
Ferguson is a fan favroite in the UFC, but the losses are starting to pile up. While he has lost to some of the top contenders at Lightweight (Gaethje, Oliveria and Beneil Dariush) the 38-year-old is starting to look every bit of it.
He now faces an explosive fighter in Michael Chandler, who burst onto the UFC scene with a first round knockout of Dan Hooker, but has faltered when facing some of the best in the world at this weight class, dropping a title fight to Oliveira last summer and more recently to Gaethje in one of the fights of the year.
Chandler has struggled outside of the first round as there is some concern over his cardio, but his ability to grapple (an All-American wrestler) can weather any offense Ferguson throws at him.
This line accurately shows the difference between the two fighters. Ferguson has looked like a shell of himself while Chandler was a few more devastating strikes away from knocking out the now champion Oliveira in the first round. I won't lay this price on Chandler, but I see him as the likely winner.
I believe most of Chandler's finishing upside comes in the first round, but Ferguson should be able to hold up through 15 minutes. I expect by the time this fight is over 'El Cucuy' will look as beaten as he has in recent losses but I expect this fight to go to the cards.
Ferguson hsa been finished once since 2009, which came against Gaethje when he dealt one of the most vicious beatdowns of all time. Ferguson stayed standing for a majority of the fight but the referee called it in the fifth round. With only 3 rounds to work and less striking prowess, I expect Chandler to put together a dominant win by decision.
LEAN: Chandler by Decision
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