The UFC heads to the United Arab Emirates as Etihad Arena hosts Saturday's UFC Fight Night event.
On the main card is a bantamweight bout between No. 3 contender Petr Yan and No. 12 Marcus McGhee.
UFC odds list Yan as a massive favorite at -360, while McGhee is priced at +260.
Here are my Yan vs. McGhee predictions and free betting picks for July 26.
Yan vs McGhee prediction and best bet
- My fight prediction: Yan moneyline (-360 at BET99)
- My best bet: Yan by decision (-160 at BET99)
Fight analysis
Petr Yan is one of the most underappreciated fighters in the UFC, and Saturday’s bout offers the perfect opportunity to remind fans just how elite he is.
Despite what the record says, Yan's recent losses are far from definitive. Many believe he deserved the win over Sean O’Malley, and his razor-close decision to Aljamain Sterling could have gone either way.
Even in the controversial DQ loss to Sterling, Yan was clearly winning the fight before the illegal knee. His level of competition has been among the highest in the bantamweight division, and he’s consistently held his own against the very best.
This matchup is a massive step up in class for Marcus McGhee, who has never faced anyone close to Yan’s caliber. While McGhee is a hard-hitting striker, he was hurt by Jonathan Martinez, and the latter failed to capitalize.
Yan, on the other hand, is a relentless pressure fighter with elite striking. If McGhee leaves the same openings, Yan will exploit them with precision and aggression.
Best bet analysis
While a finish is possible, the most likely outcome is that Yan wins this fight on the judges’ scorecards. Oddsmakers agree, considering that the fight is -300 to go the distance at BET99.
McGhee is tough and durable, and it will take more than one clean shot to put him away. Meanwhile, Yan’s combination of forward pressure, defensive footwork, and technical boxing should allow him to control the pace for all three rounds.
Expect Yan to mix in body shots and leg kicks to break McGhee down while avoiding any major counter threats. His experience in five-round wars against championship-level opponents gives him a cardio and composure advantage in this three-round affair.
Petr Yan vs Marcus McGhee odds
 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Method of Victory | Yan | McGhee |
| To win outright | -360 | +260 |
| To win by KO/TKO | +450 | +875 |
| To win by decision | -160 | +500 |
| To win by submission | +1000 | +2250 |
| Draw | +2500 | +2500 |
Odds as of 7-26.
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Petr Yan vs Marcus McGhee tale of the tape
| Yan | McGhee | |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Age | 35 |
| 5-foot-7 | Height | 5-foot-8 |
| Bantamweight | Weight Class | Bantamweight |
| 67 inches | Reach | 69 inches |
| 18-5 | Record | 10-1 |
| 7 | Wins by KO | 8 |
| 1 | Wins by submission | 1 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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