UFC Seattle Predictions: Adesanya vs Pyfer Main Event Betting Picks and More

After a return to the city for the first time in 12 years last year, the UFC returns to Seattle for another night of action in the Octagon with UFC Seattle.

The UFC touched down at the Climate Pledge Arena 13 months ago with a card that saw Song Yadong take a win over Henry Cejudo.

In the main event of this year’s card, former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya makes his return as he takes on rising star Joe Pyfer. Adesanya has lost three straight and four of his last five, having last fought in a TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia. Pyfer has won three straight and eight of his last nine, coming into this bout off a submission of Abus Magomedov at UFC 320.

The co-main event sees former women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso facing Maycee Barber. This will be a rematch of their fight from UFC 258, which saw Grasso come out victorious.

Grasso is 0-2-1 in her last three, which includes two of her three fights in her trilogy with Valentina Shevchenko. Grasso comes into tonight off a loss to Natalia Silva at UFC 315 last year. Barber, on the other hand, has won seven straight since her loss to Grasso.

The UFC Seattle main card also includes Michael Chiesa vs. Niko Price, Julian Erosa vs. Lerryan Douglas, Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri Belgaroui, and Terrance McKinney vs. Kyle Nelson.

ISRAEL ADESANYA VS JOE PYFER

If we’re betting this fight solely on experience and level of competition, then people will lean on Adesanya – and that seems to be happening. People feel this will be a get-right fight for Adesanya. 

Truth be told, this is a fight that Adesanya needs to win. I just don’t know if he can.

Something has felt off in Adesanya’s game since losing the middleweight title to Sean Strickland. He seems to have slowed down, and he had a similar approach in the fight with Imavov. He also notably looked drained at the weigh-ins. Pyfer may not have as much of the talent that Adesanya has had (at least not yet) or the experience and opponent history. Pyfer, however, has a strong wrestling background and will have the speed that can be troubling for Adesanya.

BET: Pyfer to win (Moneyline) (Caesars & BetMGM: +125)

ALEXA GRASSO VS MAYCEE BARBER

Since first fighting five years ago, these two have gained different levels of experience and evolved as combatants. This fight might come down simply to who can establish control from the get-go, and if they can keep it over the course of three rounds.

Grasso is going to have to use her counter-based play to her advantage, catch Barber coming in and land counterpunches with her boxing and score takedowns on any sloppy or too-aggressive rushing. Barber shouldn’t just rush in blindly; however, she should look to quickly close the distance and give pressure over 15 minutes.

I’m going to run with a momentum-based pick here and say Barber, who is nearing a title shot, makes a strong case by showing changes in her game that lead her to get revenge.

BET: Barber via decision (FanDuel: +100)

JULIAN EROSA VS LERRYAN DOUGLAS

Julian Erosa can be an entertaining fighter, entering off a Fight of the Night loss to Melquizael Costa after a three-fight win streak that saw all first-round finishes. He’s a proven finisher, with all but five of his professional MMA wins coming before the final horn. Douglas has a similar run, with nine of his 12 wins coming via a finish. He makes his UFC debut here after defeating Cam Teague in 36 seconds on Dana White’s Contender Series.

The under play is teasing here; however, with the KO streak he’s on and the punching power he brings, Douglas is favored to get some sort of finish in this fight. And that is the play that I’ll support here.

BET: Douglas via KO/TKO/DQ (FanDuel: -170)