On Saturday, October 24th, the UFC will be back on PPV with an explosive show from the Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Fight Island will be rocking as UFC 254: Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje is stacked with roughly a dozen action-packed fights.
This PPV event features a highly anticipated lightweight title fight as the undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov takes on the interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje.
Also on the main card are four additional Top 12 ranked bouts and plenty of notable names spread throughout a handful of different divisions.
This UFC 254 page will act as your one-stop shop to find all of the latest news, betting information, predictions, and more. It will be consistently updated with the latest information as we get closer to fight night.
If you are looking to bet on UFC 254: Nurmagomedov vs Gaethje then step inside the betting octagon with us and check out our complete UFC 254 betting guide.
Where to Bet on UFC 254 – Best UFC Betting Sites
Just like the UFC is with the sport of MMA, our list of the best UFC 254 betting sites features the cream of the crop in the world of online betting sites.
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UFC 254 Fight Card
The UFC 254 PPV is loaded with a stacked card from the prelims to the main event. The following is a tentatively scheduled lineup. As always, card is subject to change:
UFC 254 Main Card
- Lightweight: Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0) vs Justin Gaethje (22-2)
- Middleweight: Robert Whittaker (21-5) vs Jared Cannonier (13-4)
- Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov (31-8) vs Walt Harris (13-8)
- Lightweight: Rafael dos Anjos (29-13) vs Islam Makhachev (18-1)
- Women’s Flyweight: Cynthia Calvillo (9-1-1) vs Lauren Taylor (13-4)
- Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalayev (13-1) vs Ion Cutelaba (15-5)
Preliminary Card
- Heavyweight: Stefan Struve (29-12) vs Tai Tuivasa (9-3)
- Light Heavyweight: Da Un Jung (13-2) vs Sam Alvey (33-14)
- Middleweight: Phil Hawes (8-2) vs Jacob Malkoun (3-0)
Early Prelim Fights
- Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov (12-0) vs Sergey Morozov (16-4)
- Women’s Flyweight: Liana Jojua (8-3) vs Miranda Maverick (7-2)
UFC 254 Betting Odds
- Khabib Nurmagomedov (-275) vs Justin Gaethje (+235)
- Robert Whittaker (NA) vs Jared Cannonier (NA)
- Alexander Volkov (NA) vs Walt Harris (NA)
- Rafael dos Anjos (NA) vs Islam Makhachev (NA)
- Cynthia Calvillo (NA) vs Lauren Taylor (NA)
- Magomed Ankalayev (NA) vs Ion Cutelaba (NA)
- Stefan Struve (NA) vs Tai Tuivasa (NA)
- Da Un Jung (NA) vs Sam Alvey (NA)
- Phil Hawes (NA) vs Jacob Malkoun (NA)
- Umar Nurmagomedov (NA) vs Sergey Morozov (NA)
- Liana Jojua (NA) vs Miranda Maverick (NA)
UFC 254 Predictions
Here’s a quick look at our UFC 254 predictions:
Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0) vs Justin Gaethje (22-2)
The undefeated lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov puts his unblemished record and the UFC lightweight title on the line against the ferocious, hard-hitting interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje.
Nurmagomedov will get the win in this highly contested matchup due to his smothering style, unique takedown attempts, and brutal ground and pound.
Robert Whittaker (21-5) vs Jared Cannonier (13-4)
Former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker will face Jared Cannonier in the UFC 254 co-main event to determine the #1 contender for the UFC middleweight belt currently around the waist of Israel Adesanya.
The #1 ranked Whittaker will get the win in this bout over the #3 ranked Cannonier due to his crisp striking, powerful punches, speed, and experience.
Alexander Volkov (31-8) vs Walt Harris (13-8)
In a battle of Top 8 heavyweights, the #6 Alexander Volkov takes on the #8 Walt Harris. This is going to be a hard-hitting fight that Harris should be able to come away with the win.
Harris has the power advantage in this explosive bout, which should end with someone tasting the mat.
Rafael dos Anjos (29-13) vs Islam Makhachev (18-1)
In the second lightweight bout of the main card, the 12th ranked Islam Makhachev battles the 9th ranked Rafael dos Anjos.
Makhachev is rising up the ranks in the lightweight division with six straight wins. Rafael dos Anjos has dropped four of his last five contests and is sliding out of the Top 10.
Makhachev is six years younger, more athletic, taller, and has the reach advantage. Consider taking him in a moneyline wager as he will grind out a victory in what will be the toughest fight of his UFC career to date.
Cynthia Calvillo (9-1-1) vs Lauren Taylor (13-4)
The only women’s bout on the main card is a Top 4 flyweight showdown between the 2nd ranked Cynthia Calvillo and the 4th ranked Lauren Murphy.
Both competitors enter this weekend’s contest on a multi-fight winning streak, but it’s Calvillo who has the more impressive octagon resume so far.
Murphy is the bigger of the two, but the grittiness of Calvillo should be the difference in a contest that has a great shot at going the full three rounds.
Magomed Ankalayev (13-1) vs Ion Cutelaba (15-5)
This is the one bout for the entire UFC 254 card where both combatants strongly dislike each other. Furthermore, there’s plenty of drama and backstory to this matchup that will make this PPV opener a must-see fight.
These two light heavyweight fighters saw their first contest end in controversy. A rematch was booked right away only to get postponed twice before finally making it to the UFC 254 card. Since the first bout, the bad blood and trash-talking has increased between the two.
Ankalaev is the more polished fighter with the advantage in striking and overall skills. Cutelaba is a powerhouse brawler looking for the one-punch knockout. Ankalaev’s striking will be the difference in this bout as the Russian should pick up a TKO/KO victory.
Stefan Struve (29-12) vs Tai Tuivasa (9-3)
Tai Tuivasa returns to the UFC after being released earlier this year due to losing three fights in a row. The heavyweight started off 9-0 but went on a losing streak once the competition got harder. He will take on Stefan Struve who is the tallest fighter in the UFC.
Struve has dropped four of his last five contests and hasn’t been a contender for many years now.
This heavyweight battle is wide open for either man to win.
Tuivasa’s desperation will hopefully showcase the skills that got him to the UFC in the first place. After one year off, the Australian should be fresh and refocused to take down the struggling Struve.
Da Un Jung (13-2) vs Sam Alvey (33-14)
Da Un Jung has won 11 straight fights as he enters this weekend’s light heavyweight bout against Sam Alvey. Jung is 2-0 inside the octagon and has only gone the distance in two of his 15 pro bouts with 10 TKO/KO wins on his resume.
Sam Alvey is fighting for his UFC life as he’s dropped four straight bouts and is in desperate need of a win or at least a draw.
Jung has a slight height and reach advantages, which many believe will help the South Korean striker to edge out Alvey in this prelim fight.
Phil Hawes (8-2) vs Jacob Malkoun (3-0)
Hawes earned his UFC contract after a 1st round KO performance on DWCS. He’s finished off four straight opponents and is riding into this contest with a lot of momentum.
The 24-year-old prospect Jacob Malkoun will be making his octagon debut in this middleweight bout. Malkoun is a training partner of Robert Whittaker and has shown some striking prowess of his own.
Whoever can establish their preferred striking distance will enjoy their first UFC victory. Let’s give the edge to Malkoun in this bout as he has the higher ceiling. Either way, someone is going to get knocked out in this contest.
Umar Nurmagomedov (12-0) vs Sergey Morozov (16-4)
Umar Nurmagomedov is an undefeated 24-year-old prospect and the cousin of Khabib. He will make his octagon debut this weekend in a bantamweight fight against Sergey Morozov.
Morozov will also make his octagon debut this Saturday after spending the majority of his career in M-1. He’s won five straight fights and has scored stoppages in 11 of his 16 pro wins.
Both men have a lot to prove inside the octagon, but you have to like Nurmagomedov in this one. He trains with his famous fighting family and should be just as disciplined and skilled as the rest of them. Take Nurmagomedov to pick up the win in his UFC debut.
Liana Jojua (8-3) vs Miranda Maverick (7-2)
Liana Jojua returns to Fight Island where she picked up a win in July. Both of her UFC bouts have taken place in the United Arab Emirates. She’s 1-1 inside the octagon and will welcome the former Invicta FC fighter Miranda Maverick to the UFC.
Maverick’s most notable accomplishment was winning an eight-woman flyweight grand prix last year known as the Invicta FC Phoenix Series 2.
This will be a grappling matchup between two combatants who can win on the mat. I like Maverick to pull off the win by getting the better of Jojua on the mat.
Nurmagomedov vs Gaethje – UFC 254 Main Event Analysis
Without a doubt, Justin Gaethje is the toughest challenge that the unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov has faced inside the octagon. Not only is Gaethje a dangerous striker with 19 TKO/KO wins on his resume, but he also has a strong wrestling background:
“I’ve wrestled my whole life. I wrestle a lot in there. A huge part of wrestling is not being able to let someone take you down and hold you down. That was my main focus my whole life when I wrestled. I never had a great offense but you could not take me down, you could not hold me down. I’m going to use that.”
Gaethje has the power to knockout Nurmagomedov and the striking skills to pick Khabib apart, which we saw in a masterful performance against Tony Ferguson in May.
Despite Gaethje’s wrestling background, Nurmagomedov isn’t going to shy away from trying to take down his opponent. In fact, the confident champion shared his game plan with the media on how he will beat Gaethje:
“I’m going to try wrestling with him. If he’s going to defend my takedown one time, I’m going to try second, third, 100 times. Of course, I’m going to box with him and kick with him. It’s going to be kickboxing and wrestling – like, mixed. My goal is to make him tired. I’m going to make him tired. This is my goal. Maybe in Round No. 3 or Round No. 4, my plan is (to) finish him.”
For his part, Gaethje predicts that he will beat Nurmagomedov so badly that the champ will be forced to submit.
How Will This Fight End?
Nurmagomedov easily defeated his McGregor and Poirier in his last two fights as they lacked the grappling chops to match up with Khabib. However, Gaethje is on par with the unbeaten champ in this department.
The last time Nurmagomedov faced tough, well-rounded competition like Gaethje was Al Iaquinta and Edson Barboza who both took Khabib the full distance. The Iaquinta fight was a five-round contest just like this UFC 254 main event bout.
Gaethje has what it takes to push Nurmagomedov to the limits and the full five rounds. With that said, expect the champ to edge out the challenger via decision in a fantastic battle on Fight Island.
Best UFC 254 Bets
Check out our picks for the best UFC 254 bets:
Take the Nurmagomedov vs Gaethje Over
Whatever this bout’s Over/Under is listed at, take the Over. These two champs are evenly matched and you can expect them to go the full five rounds.
Whittaker to Win Via Decision
Cannonier’s drop-down to middleweight has been a huge success as he’s gone 3-0. However, Whittaker is fully healthy now and looked great against Darren Till in July. Whittaker will pick apart Cannonier in this bout, but he will need the scorecards for the win.
Volkov vs Harris Ends Inside the Distance
In a combined 60 total fights, these men have gone the distance in just 15 of them. Furthermore, Harris has only ever gone the distance in three of his 21 pro contests. With 41 stoppage wins between the two, expect this heavyweight showdown to end inside the distance.
Makhachev Beats dos Anjos via Decision
24 of Rafael dos Anjos’ 42 professional fights have gone the distance. He’s 14-10 in those contests. Four of Makhachev’s last six bouts have gone the distance. For his career, Makhachev is 8-0 when going to a decision.
These two fighters are heading in opposite directions in their careers as dos Anjos has dropped four of his last five bouts, while Makhachev has won six straight. Rafael dos Anjos lost all four of those bouts via decision and he will drop another fight via decision this weekend.
Ankalaev Beats Cutelaba Inside the Distance
Combined, these two men have gone the distance in seven of 34 total fights. In fact, Cutelaba has gone the distance just twice. Both men have combined to score 20 TKO/KO wins as well.
In their first fight, Ankalaev won via 1st round TKO. Don’t expect it to be that quick in the rematch, but also keep an eye on the Over/Under as it could be offer better value in addition to this prop bet. Take Ankalaev to win inside the distance.
UFC 254 News
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Rick Rockwell
As a longtime freelance writer, avid sports fan, former athlete, and experienced sports bettor, Rick Rockwell has risen up the ranks at GamblingSites.org to become the self-professed “King of the Blog” in his first year with the site. …
