UFC Vegas 115 Betting Picks: Moicano vs. Duncan Headlines April 4th Card

After being on the road for a couple of weeks for Fight Night events, the Octagon lands back in the Meta Apex for UFC Vegas 115, which takes place this Saturday, April 4.

The main event of UFC Vegas 115 will be one of those bouts where a veteran is looking to keep his spot, while a hungry young lion looks to claim it and make a mark. UFC Vegas 115 will be headlined by Renato Moicano taking on Chris Duncan.

Moicano had won four straight since UFC 282, including a 3-0 record in 2024, leading to him being called on short notice to challenge then-lightweight champ Islam Makhachev at UFC 311. Moicano lost that title fight, then lost to Beneil Dariush at UFC 317. This is his first fight since.

Duncan is 6-1 since winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, including wins in his last four. Duncan comes into this bout off a first-round, comeback submission of Terrance McKinney at UFC 323 in December.

The co-main event will see a women’s strawweight battle between Virna Jandiroba and Tabatha Ricci. Janidroba unsuccessfully challenged Mackenzie Dern at UFC 321 for the then-vacant strawweight title, snapping a five-fight win streak in the process. Ricci, meanwhile, has won three of her last four, coming into this bout off a finish of Amanda Ribas in July.

The UFC Vegas 115 main card will also include Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Brendson Ribeiro, Ethyn Ewing vs. Rafael Estevam, Tommy McMillen vs. Manolo Zecchini, and Jose Mauro Delano vs. Robert Ruchala.

RENATO MOICANO VS CHRIS DUNCAN

Whatever side you seem to be on, whatever you think of these two athletes, one thing is for certain: they’re both proven finishers. Duncan is a strong striker with a Muay Thai base; his kicks are brutal and he can mix them in with some fast hands. Duncan has only gone the distance four times in his MMA career; the judges weren’t even needed in the two fights he’s lost.

Moicano has strength himself, however, and he’ll definitely have the edge if a grappling battle were to ensue and/or the fight ends up on the ground. Half of Moicano’s wins in professional MMA, in fact, have come via submission.

While I may lean one way with picking a winner, it’s not as strong as my feeling the ref will be stepping in one way or another in this one.

BET: Moicano vs. Duncan to end via KO/TKO (DraftKings & FanDuel: -115)

LANDO VANNATA VS DARRIUS FLOWERS

It has been three years since we’ve seen Lando Vannata. While his track record isn’t one of the strongest by wins, he has been known as an entertaining Octagon performer. Darrius Flowers has shown power, as demonstrated by his time in LFA, but it hasn’t translated into UFC success. Jake Matthews and Michael Johnson are tough competition for your first two Octagon fights, but he struggled against Evan Elder as well.

With Vannata’s UFC experience and wrestling ability, I expect him to be able to handle Flowers.

BET: Vannata to win (Moneyline) (DraftKings & BetMGM: -225)

AZAMAT BEKOEV VS TRESAN GORE

I love Tresean Gore since watching him with TUF, but this is a brutal matchup for him. Azamat Bekoev is a beast with way more MMA experience. Gore might have the reach advantage, some may say a physical advantage, but Bekoev is unrelenting with pressure, can score takedowns, and has knockout power in his fists. I know he lost to Yousri Belgaroui, but Belgaroui is a former multiple-time GLORY Kickboxing title challenger.

This is going to be one-sided, like feeding a jobber to a WWE star (and don’t get me started about some of the UFC’s matchmaking of late).

BET: Bekoev via KO/TKO (FanDuel: +135)

KAI KAMAKA III VS DAKOTA HOPE

Not all the sportsbooks have great odds, if any at all, for this fight with its short-notice nature. But I’ve watched Kamaka for years, and this is his second stint in the UFC. He’s a fun talent who should get the win here if you’re looking for a bonus play.

BONUS BET: Kamaka to win (Moneyline) (DraftKings: -148)