The action continues to roll at UFC 301 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as we bring you another betting prediction and pick for this upcoming bout in the Middleweight (185) Division. Brazil's own and always entertaining Michel Pereira will take on terrifying finisher in Ukraine's Ihor Potieria. Check out our UFC odds series for our Pereira-Potieria prediction and pick.

Michel Pereira (30-11) comes in with an 8-2 UFC record since 2019 and has quickly made a name for himself as a fan-favorite among Brazilian fighters in the UFC. He's won his last seven consecutive fights, three of which were unanimous decision and his two most recent finishes via submission and punches. He'll be looking for a ranking as he takes down another dangerous opponent. Pereira stands 6'1″ with a 73-inch reach.

Ihor Potieria (21-5) comes into this bout with a 2-3 UFC record since 2022. He's faced a line of killers since entering the big show and he notched wins over Shogun Rua and Robert Bryczek most recently. After a scheduled bout against Shara Magomedov, he steps in on 3 weeks notice to face off against Pereira. Ihor Potieira stands 6'3″ with a 75-inch reach.

Here are the UFC 301 Odds, courtesy of BetOnline. 

UFC 301 Odds: Michel Pereira-Ihor Potieria Odds

Michel Pereira: -600

Ihor Potieria: +425

Over 1.5 rounds: +115

Under 1.5 rounds: -145

*Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why Michel Pereira Will Win

Much can be said about Michel Pereira's style inside of the cage but since arriving to the UFC, he's come a long way in terms of his development and evolving into his own brand as a fighter. He's toned down his wild striking and favored a more methodical approach over his last few appearances, but he still possesses the ability to flip a switch and turn into the chaotic fighter he knows how to be. Potieria is a dangerous striker and Pereira will have to pivot his game plan from expecting to face Makhmud Muradov. Still, look for Pereira to be very measured in finding striking gaps and shooting for takedowns when he sees necessary.

Pereira will be a sizable betting favorite, but that shouldn't cause him to overlook Potieria as an opponent in the slightest. They're both dangerous strikers and if they choose to scrap in the center of the octagon, someone is bound to go to sleep. Michel Pereira has displayed a solid chin in his last few fights and he's a very tough fighter to finish on the feet. With only one loss by submission and one by KO, look for Pereira to drag this into deep waters if need be.

Why Ihor Potieria Will Win

Ihor Potieria has had nothing easy come to him in the UFC thus far and he's had to work for every win. His most recent fight against Robert Bryczek was his first time making it out of the second round and his first taste of seeing the judges' scorecards. It worked in his favor and his should have been a confidence booster for Potieria, who comes into this fight as a massive betting underdog. He's a very skilled striker and walks his opponents down with reckless abandon. While his defense could use some work, he's displayed a lot of mental toughness in not backing down from the fight when he's compromised.

This will be a big spot for Ihor Potieria to impress the MMA world and while Michel Pereira may be the more experienced fighter on paper, Potieria has been seeing top fighters in the division since his debut. While he hasn't come out on the right end of most of them, he's always good for an exciting fight and won't hold anything back in trying to end this one early.

Final Michel Pereira-Ihor Potieria Prediction & Pick

This should be an extremely fun fight given both of these fighter's willingness to stand in the pocket and trade shots. Michel Pereira is riding a seven-fight winning streak and has yet to be stopped efficiently in quite some time. Ihor Potieria, on the other hand, has had nothing but difficult fights and while his record doesn't show it, he's stood toe-to-toe with some talented fighters in the division.

With Potieria coming in on short notice, we have to give the advantage to Michel Pereira and his striking abilities. He's also fit to go all three rounds and with Potieria accustomed to quick finishes, the cardio could be on Pereira's side as well. He's a large betting favorite, so we'll add this fight to go over as both men refuse to give an inch in the striking.

Click here for more betting news and predictions

Final Michel Pereira-Ihor Potieria Prediction & Pick: Michel Pereira (-600); OVER 1.5 Rounds (+115)