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UFC Vegas 31 Picks: Islam Makhachev Will Steamroll Thiago Moisés

By Iain MacMillan

Islam Makhachev has established himself as one of the top contenders in the UFC lightweight division.
Islam Makhachev has established himself as one of the top contenders in the UFC lightweight division. / Anthony Geathers/Getty Images
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The UFC is set to continue its action this Saturday, following a dramatic UFC 264 card last week that ended in Conor McGregor breaking his leg in the first round against Dustin Poirier.

Also, as a little humblebrag, I hit my picks for both the co-main and main event.

But now the UFC will head back to the APEX Center for a card that will be headline by a lightweight bout between Islam Makavchev and Thiago Moisés. The co-main event will feature the return of former women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate, who will be taking on Marion Reneau.

Islam Makhachev (-700) vs. Thiago Moisés (+425)

Islam Makhachev is set as a massive favorite in the main event, and for good reason. He enters this weekend on a seven fight win streak dating back to September 2016. In that stretch he had two submission victories, a knockout, and four unanimous decisions.

He’ll be taking on Thiago Moisés who is on a three fight win streak, and has only lost twice in his UFC career. His latest win came via unanimous decision against Alexander Hernandez in February of this year.

Pick: Islam Makhachev -700

If you don’t feel like laying the -700 juice, I don’t blame you. This will be a perfect spot to take a fighter to win inside the distance, and if you want to bet on something even more aggressive, take him to win via submission.

Makhachev, much like the other Dagestani fighters, is a fantastic grappler with submissions capabilities. He has eight submission wins in his professional MMA career, including submission wins in two of his last four bouts. Expect more of the same from the No. 9 ranked lightweight in the UFC.

Meisha Tate (-140) vs. Marion Reneau (+110)

Meisha Tate is one of the true pioneers in women’s MMA. Her first professional fight happened back in 2007, before the likes of Ronda Rousey got into the sport. She’s the former Strikeforce and UFC champion, and this will be her first time inside the octagon since 2016.

She’ll be taking on Marion Reneau, who is currently the No. 12 ranked women’s bantamweight fighter in the world. Reneau enters the fight on a four fight losing streak, with her latest coming against Macy Chiasson in March of this year. She may need a win against Tate in order to keep her UFC career alive.

Pick: Marion Reneau +110

As much as it hurts me to do, I have to bet against “Cupcake” Tate. Fighters returning to action after being retired is an all too common theme in mixed martial arts, and it hardly ever works out well for them when they do.

Reneau may be on a four fight losing streak, but she has impressive wins in her career against the likes of Sara McMann and Jessica Andrade. Five years is a long time to be out of the sport, so I’ll bet on the fighter that has had eight fights worth of experience since the last time Tate stepped inside the cage.

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