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We're set for another betting prediction and pick for UFC 302 as we'll see a rematch bout taking place in the Welterweight (170) Division. After their first meeting in 2017 which was later ruled a ‘No Contest', Niko Price and Alex Morono will face-off seven years later for a rematch as their paths cross once again. Check out our UFC odds series for our Price-Morono prediction and pick.
Niko Price (15-7) has gone 7-7-0-2 throughout his UFC career since 2016 and he's built a brand on being an exciting warrior inside of the cage. Since 2020, Price has been able to notch just one win in his last six fights, with his last two losses coming by way of KO/TKO. Price will be looking to avenge his win over Morono once again after a failed drug test the first time around. Price stands 6'0″ with a 76-inch reach.
Alex Morono (24-9) has gone 13-6-0-1 inside of the UFC with his only ‘No Contest' coming against Price in their first bout. Since their first meeting, Morono has certainly looked more consistent and has six wins through his last eight fights. He's fresh-off a unanimous decision win over Court McGee and he'll be looking to get his revenge over Niko Price. Morono stands 5'11” with a 72-inch reach.
Here are the UFC 302 Odds, courtesy of BetOnline.
UFC 302 Odds: Niko Price-Alex Morono Odds
Niko Price: +210
Alex Morono: -250
Over 1.5 rounds: -180
Under 1.5 rounds: +150
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Why Niko Price Will Win
Niko Price has established himself as one of the more exciting and unpredictable fighters in the Welterweight Division and while he hasn't been as wild during his last few fights, he certainly has what it takes to get back on the winning track. During their first meeting, Price was the much more aggressive fighter and did a great job of stuffing Morono's takedown attempts and keeping the fight at a frantic pace. He took the victory in the second round, but his post-fight drug test later revealed traces of marijuana in his system. The fight ruled a ‘No Contest' and neither fighter saw a definitive result.
This time around, Niko Price will have to get back to his wild fighting style and pressure Morono from the opening stages of this fight. Morono tends to take his time and feel his opponents out, so Price should look to stun him early and keep the pace of this fight high. Both men have been susceptible to gassing out during the later rounds, but expect Price to show some extended work with his cardio as he tries to drag this fight out and catch Morono when he's least expecting it.
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Why Alex Morono Will Win
Alex Morono is coming into this contest after getting the job done against Court McGee through three rounds this last April. It was an all-around clean performance from Morono as he controlled the striking exchanges and looked dominant against a good wrestler like McGee on the ground. Morono is very sound with his fundamentals and doesn't typically take a ton of risks with his game. He's a steady striker and fights with a mean streak, throwing power into each one of his shots. He also does a great job of dialing it back and touching his opponent with the ends of his punches.
Alex Morono will have to get out of his own head and forget the first meeting between these two. Comparatively, Morono has had more success against tougher competition in the time since, so we can expect to see the best version of him on Saturday. However, he won't have an opportunity to settle into this one as Price will immediately bring the action to him. Morono should look to use some of his defensive jiu jitsu and catch Price in a guillotine upon the wrestling entry.
Final Niko Price-Alex Morono Prediction & Pick
Both men are looking forward to running this fight back and we should see a more refined version of each fighter compared to their previous meeting. Niko Price comes in as the moderate underdog, but he'll have the confidence knowing he's already taken Morono down once. Look for him to use his kicks actively in this one as Morono doesn't use his much.
Alex Morono will need to check the leg kicks from Niko Price while controlling the boxing exchanges. Morono is much cleaner when it comes to finding the target, so he'll just need to be patient through whatever Price is throwing at him.
This is a tough fight to call, but we'll have to lean with Alex Morono to get the victory here. He's been much more consistent over his last few fights than Price and I'm guessing Morono has had this one circled on his calendar for quite some time. Look for him to get a nasty finish and this fight just barely hits the over.
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Final Niko Price-Alex Morono Prediction & Pick: Alex Morono (-250); OVER 1.5 Rounds (-180)
