UFC 330 fight results: Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Garry live updates, card, highlights from Philadelphia

As with every numbered UFC event, we produced a best bet for every main card fight at Saturday’s UFC 330. Those picks include both of UFC 330’s championship bouts, and in the main event, we think there’s money to be made on Ian Machado Garry.

• Ian Machado Garry +9.5 (-120)
  
  As a reminder, a point spread in MMA betting means that if a fight goes to decision, you total the scorecards for each fighter and then apply the spread. So, if Makhachev wins 48-47 across the board, the score would be 144-141. Add the +9.5 for Garry and you would have a winning bet. A stoppage win or loss would also count, so you’re betting on Garry to lose by less than 9.5 on the combined scorecards, win on the cards or win by knockout, submission or disqualification.

  This is just Makhachev’s second fight at welterweight and Garry is a big, long 170-pound fighter who uses his reach very well. Makhachev has decent striking, but he’s likely heading into this fight with a grappling-first mindset. To get inside, Makhachev is going to have to navigate distance and then not only take Garry down, but keep him there. I believe Makhachev will be able to do that enough to get the win, but Garry can likely do well enough to steal at least one round. If Garry can win just one round and not get finished, assuming no 10-8 rounds for Makhachev, the final scores would be 147-138. Adding the +9.5 spread means a Garry bet would cash with his total at 147.5. That seems like a safe bet to place on a talented, natural welterweight like Garry.

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UFC 330 predictions, odds, best bets: Ian Garry prop and big underdog among top picks to consider

Brent Brookhouse