UFC Vegas 31 - Makhachev vs Moises Predictions & More

UFC Vegas 31 comes at you Saturday Night at 7PM EST from the Apex in Las Vegas. With the run of quality cards we have had leading up to this event, we were bound to have a clunker. This card is that clunker, but that does not mean there are no reasons to watch or bet. There are still some reasons to tune in. 

We only have 11 fights on the card, and it is headlined by Islam Makhachev against Thiago Moises. This is the first main event booking for both fighters, and I believe only one of them deserves it. Makhachev is absolutely an elite lightweight and should have gotten a better opponent in this scenario. When we are looking at -700 betting lines for a main event, it is telling that the fight was clumsily booked. 

Makhachev is the better striker, world’s better wrestler and is sharp enough on the mat to keep submission attacks from Moises being successful. This fight could be a snoozer and in any event, it would be a massive surprise if it weren’t something of an easy win for Makhachev. 

One better storyline this week is Meisha Tate’s return to the octagon after five years away. She will take on Marion Reneau in the co-main event. More on this fight later. 

Both the quantity of fights and matchmaking on this card leaves much to be desired. Of the 11 fights, only four carry a betting line smaller than -225. There are lopsided matchups and fighters on the card that are going to be cut with a loss. Malcolm Gordon and Alan Baudot top that list as they are simply not UFC caliber fighters. 

With the lower level nature and matchmaking issues with the card, we only have two betting plays. Apologies for the lack of action this week but I don’t want to force plays that are just middling at best. I always want to offer you the best of what’s available. Let’s get to the bets. 

Fight is at 135 lbs and is +200 to end inside the distance. 

Fight is at 185 lbs and -250 to end inside the distance. 

👊 Islam Makhachev via decision over Thiago Moises

👊 Mateusz Gamrot via KO over Jeremy Stephens

👊 Billy Quarantillo via decision over Gabriel Benitez

👊 Daniel Rodriguez via KO over Preston Parsons

👊 Amanda Lemos via KO over Montserrat Ruiz

👊 Khalid Taha via submission over Sergey Morozov

👊 Anderson Dos Santos via submission over Miles Johns

👊 Francisco Figueiredo via KO over Malcolm Gordfon

👊 Rodrigo Nascimento via submission over Alan Baudot